Yaboo Cafe (鴉埠咖啡)
No. 26
Lane 41
Yongkang Street
Da’an District
Taipei 106
Taiwan
https://www.facebook.com/yaboo.lalala/
 |
| Mugs Of Valrhona Hot Chocolate |
Great Place To Chill
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 7
Value for Money: 6
Spent about NTD $315 / SGD $14 per person.
.....
Established in April 2010, Yaboo Cafe (鴉埠咖啡) may be located at the famed Yongkang Street lifestyle area, but it still manages to stand apart from the other modern cafes here. Tucked in an accessible and quiet alley, Yaboo Cafe offers good coffee and hot chocolate, as well as a simple menu of snacks, but their main draw is the relaxing ambience suitable for lingering.
Ambience at Yaboo Cafe is a highlight. The spacious, spot lit interior has eclectic yet comfortable wooden cushioned furniture, fast and stable wifi, and stocked bookshelves for browsing. The exterior hosts the smoking area, and decor consists of modern contemporary artwork from local artists, all of which are for sale. I see people coming in to work or study, and the place is well suited for lingering and relaxing.
Service at Yaboo Cafe is decent. Staff converse mostly in English and Chinese Mandarin, and the menu is in both languages. I note the mostly young staff are friendly, polite, and display good product knowledge on the menu, helpfully offering recommendations. They also clean empty / dirty tables quickly and efficiently when diners leave. A memorable point; the fiesty female barista is really pretty, and makes the effort to engage with customers.
Food at Yaboo Cafe consists of simple, modern Western style snacks, such as sandwiches or pasta. Dishes are decent in execution, I personally prefer the sandwiches here. The signature items are actually beverages; they have a wide variety of coffee, hot chocolate, and tea, which can be customised. Personal preference; I like those with alcohol. Portions are medium sized for individuals. Prices are comparable to other cafes, budget about NTD $315 / SGD $14 per person here.
.....
 |
| Yaboo Cafe (鴉埠咖啡) Exterior |
 |
| Yaboo Cafe (鴉埠咖啡) Interior |
 |
| Yaboo Cafe Menu - Drinks |
 |
| Yaboo Cafe Menu - Food |
 |
| Seating Outdoors |
 |
| Seating Indoors |
 |
| Secret Code |
 |
| Counter |
 |
| Water Jug & Glass |
 |
| Mugs Of Valrhona Hot Chocolate |
The Latte (NTD $160 / SGD $7.20) is straightforward and well executed. Has a robust depth of body, with a fragrant aroma of roasted coffee beans.
 |
| Latte (NTD $160 / SGD $7.20) |
Love the Valrhona Hot Chocolate Classic (NTD $170 / SGD $7.70), which is thick and creamy rich in texture, with good depth of chocolatey sweet flavour, with a touch of bitter notes. Can be cloying if drunk quickly, it's meant to be slowly savoured and enjoyed over time. There's complimentary water served here if you need to alleviate your palate. Good!
 |
| Valrhona Hot Chocolate Classic (NTD $170 / SGD $7.70) |
The only thing better than hot chocolate, is hot chocolate with alcohol. The Valrhona Hot Chocolate With Malibu Coconut Rum (NTD $180 / SGD $8.10) has that same excellent base of hot chocolate, but enhanced with coconut rum, giving this beverage a layer of floral earthy nutty boozy flavour. Super shiok. Highly recommended!
 |
| Valrhona Hot Chocolate With Malibu Coconut Rum (NTD $180 / SGD $8.10) |
 |
| Valrhona Hot Chocolate With Malibu Coconut Rum |
For those who want an 'omakase' style beverage, the Barista's Special (NTD $185 / SGD $8.30) is the way to go. The pretty and fiesty female barista came by to see if we could guess what she used - I tasted notes of apple tea and milk, with cinnamon powder. Got it correct, except that I missed the flavour of rose water, which she used to make this special drink.
 |
| Barista's Special (NTD $185 / SGD $8.30) |
Served with a fresh salad, the Ginowa Panini With Bacon And Pesto Sauce (NTD $180 / SGD $8.10) was my favourite dish here. The warm, crisp toasted panini bread nicely sandwiches smoky savoury salty pork back bacon, gooey cheddar cheese, and a bright, earthy herbal zesty tangy pesto sauce. Good!
 |
| Ginowa Panini With Bacon And Pesto Sauce (NTD $180 / SGD $8.10) |
 |
| Ginowa Panini With Bacon And Pesto Sauce |
The yolo waiter recommended the Yaboo Signature Spaghetti Pasta In Meat Sauce (NTD $260 / SGD $11.70) as his personal favourite. While I would have liked the spaghetti pasta noodles to be more al-dente instead of soft, the meat sauce of minced pork, broccolini, and tomato, is nicely savoury salty sweet in flavour. Decent enough.
 |
| Yaboo Signature Spaghetti Pasta In Meat Sauce (NTD $260 / SGD $11.70) |
 |
| Yaboo Signature Spaghetti Pasta In Meat Sauce |
The French Toast With Home Made Raspberry Jam (NTD $120 / SGD $5.40) is a cross between an all-day breakfast dish and a dessert. The eggy buttery French toast bread is soft and warm in the middle, with crisp edges. Garnished with a sweet sour home made raspberry jam, tangy and airy crème fraîche, then laced with sweet condensed milk. Lovely and satisfiying.
 |
| French Toast With Home Made Raspberry Jam (NTD $120 / SGD $5.40) |
 |
| French Toast With Home Made Raspberry Jam |
.....
.....
CONVERSATION