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Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
March 2014
Eat eastern in western Pa. at Taiwan 101 COLBY HILL Staff Writer
clh5675@psu.edu
Are you looking for a relaxing environment to enjoy lunch or dinner and are hungry for authentic Asian cuisine? You don’t have to travel far. Taiwan 101 Asian Cuisine is located a few minutes away from campus in the Wal-Mart Plaza. It’s open seven days a week and also delivers. This family-owned restaurant makes everything fresh to order with the highest quality ingredients. Taiwan 101 has been a Gold Winner for the past four years, chosen by the readers of The Beaver County Times as the Best of the Valley among Asian restaurants. Manager Mike Huang said he takes pride in his parents’ restaurant. His parents opened Taiwan 101 in August 2008, after selling Empire
The ROAR/ Dante Massey
Though Taiwan 101 has many dishes, one of the most popular is the Amazing Chicken, shown with vegetable lo mein and white rice.
Palace in Hopewell Township in 2000. The lunch menu is available daily
until 3 p.m. All lunch entrees cost between $7 and $9, served with choice of soup and rice. There are
even special selections offered to the dieter without having to sacrifice great taste. “Our busiest time of day is usually Friday and Saturdays during dinner hours,” said Huang. Taiwan 101 has a variety of items to choose from such as Sichuan, Hunan, Peking and Thai specialties. Priced at $12.95, Huang said their most popular meal is the “Amazing Chicken,” which is sliced chicken breast dipped in a light batter and lightly fried to a crispy perfection, accompanied by a tangy, delicious sauce. Senior Abby Filippi said it is her favorite dish. “Perfect amount of crispiness and the sauce on it is so good. Plus, they give you a good portion. I highly recommend it.” Tucked on the far side of the plaza, don’t let the outside appearance fool you. Once you are inside
you will find a modern and spacious Asian sit-down restaurant, not like many of the Chinese restaurants where you walk in and order at a counter. There is a fairly large bar in the front entrance, with a black marble countertop which is neat and clean. Taiwan 101 has a peaceful and pleasant environment with a friendly staff. The attractive décor, purple hues and dimmed lighting makes for a cozy and quiet ambiance. Seniors Shannon McCullough and Nick Miller are fans of the restaurant, citing both the food and atmosphere. McCullough said she likes the environment and appetizers. “(It’s a) peaceful environment. It’s very kept. Good portion sizes. They have really good egg rolls.” Miller says it is the best Chinese restaurant in Beaver County, adding they have excellent service.