I've never seen great pizza here in Tainan that didn't come from the recent May Jam or my own oven. If you've got some time, it's actually pretty easy to make a simple pizza that would run circles around any of the above mentioned places. Hell, toast, spaghetti sauce and some shredded cheese would give them a run for their money. Ha, ha.

Oh, and there are great steaks at the restaurant I always rave about, The Corner Cafe, (see the directory). But, in my DIY fashion, IMHO, the best steaks come from Zebra.ct, the south african run tea shop on Nanmen Road. I've had them everywhere from rare-well done and they've always been excellent.

The tea shop has steaks? I've had their special South African tea before (and I liked it) but never even thought to look for a steak... What is the price range?

The steaks, along with boerewors (South African sausage), were sold by another guy from South Africa, Hermann from Kaohsiung, but they left and handed over the valuable service to Stephen and Louis at Zebra.ct (http://www.zebradotct.com/). Yeah, you could be forgiven for not thinking steak when you look at a teashop. Ha, ha.

The steaks run NT$250 for 350grams of sirloin. They also have excellent beef sausages(several varieties) and biltong (beef jerky).

I haven't sorted out the steak and pizza situation yet as well. I remember paying $800 at this 24 hours Taiwanese place, its got an Eifel Tower outside, and is open 24/7. But, not worth visiting again. The guy has absolutely no mushrooms in the house for any kind of sauteed stuff to be put on the steak.

Dying for a slice of New York style plain cheese pizza!! As you all know, NYC has its own taste, when it comes to pizzas. A lot of them prefer simple, plain cheeze....sprinkled with some garlic powder and crushed red pepper.....yum yum.

Rob, you make your own pizza dough guy? Heard its hard to make and takes forever. Any place where you can just buy fresh ready made dough, like in a plastic bag, and do the rest of the magic in the kitchen? Can't imagine Pizza Uno (Chicago) or New York diner style pizzas here in Tainan. Pizza Hut has been pretty good. Napolis sucked (dough is too sweet), never tried Dominos. Napolis is OK for the price. Pizza Hut - gotta pay through the nose - like any other Western food in Taiwan. Pizza Hut, I eat a lot. A few simple toppings, MEDIUM, runs at $440, and their Medium is like a small, back in the States.

Pizza dough is just bread dough with a bit more oil added for elasticity. I make a ton and freeze it. I'll go for months without touching it and it's still fine. Even if it doesn't rise properly, it still tastes good. Yeah, it would be simpler to buy crusts but this is Tainan, not bright lights big city...much to my chagrin sometimes. Ha, ha.

Well hell Rob, I don't even know how to make the dough for bread. I thought they used yeast to raise the pizza dough - make it fluff up and rise. I remember Pillsbury stuff was easy to bake - buy and bake - simple.

Tried the Pizza at 515 American Kitchen today. Don't bother ordering it. Pizza Hut tastes better...but thats just my personal opinion. Its home made alright...thick, dry crust.

I had the Mexican pizza at Mexico to Go and find it bizarre that my favorite pizza in town comes from a Mexican restaurant. Maybe it is the jalepenos that have me digging it.

Jalepenos - WOW, one of my favourite toppings! Ya, THAT could have been IT Jazz. But heck, anyways, worth a try. I'll give it a shot...who knows?

No, I am yet to find New York or Chicago style anywhere around here. 515's pizza was like - THICK CRUST (dry), without the oily thick crust "feeling", yet it's "home made." Who knows? Some people might love it!

Hi everyone,
I am Darin the pizza guy from May Jam. I liked Tainan so much from meeting all of you and partying on the beach that I moved here. I have been trying to sell pizza at the night markets and when I don't get rained out I have had some good nights, but I have stumbled across nary a westerner in all my marketing. What do you guys suggest on us meeting up so I can make a living and you can have pizza that suits your fancy. I can do NYC style but I prefer the Cali. style I have been doing for health reasons. I like to think that my pizzas are actually quite good for you and the pizzadillas are quite healthy as well. I am struggling a bit on the business side so any suggestions you have are well appreciated. I really want to keep going on making my pizza dream succeed so let me know where to go. pizza n love, Darin aka Rock Starkey

Which night markets are you at?

Yeah. Let us know your schedule of places you will be at. That will be a good start at least. We could do a review of it too. We've been tossing the idea of a restaurant review crew around and you could be the first one.

Agreed, I'll take two New York style pizzas as well. Which night markets are ya at?

I will be either at An Ping beach or Golden beach on Saturday and Sunday, if the typhoon doesn't blow away the truck. On Monday I think I will be at Lin Sen, then Tuesday Shiao Bei, Wednesday Wu Sheng, Thursday I have no clue, Friday Shiao Bei. I would really just like to find a permanent spot and stay there until everyone figures it out. I am not a huge fan of nightmarkets. My truck is big and really difficult to get in them. By the way, if there are any graffiti artists out there, would anyone like to burn my truck? No experience necessary, but if it isn't good I'll run you down like a dog. Anyhow, my number is 095 E 8 Pizza. That's 0953874992 for those of you whose number pads are worn out. Call, text, holler, sing or shout. I am new to town so I am still getting my bearings. My newborn baby boy is coming down for the first time this weekend.
I will prepare a NY style dough for the order of two, no problem. Is that two larges?

How about popping a menu up here for everybody!

Kick ass. I'll see you at Wu Sheng next Wednesday.

Cool, see you there. I have been spending time with the kiddo, but I will be at Wu Sheng Wednesday. Also, I can take orders on the phone and deliver if you are real extra hungry and real polite. I also have hand crafted White beer, Abbey 8%, Lychee and Honeydew Melon beer. They aren't cheap, but they are freakin' good and if you order a case at a time the price goes down 20%. One at a time they are a hunge.

If you're ever in Taipei, the Pig and Whistle makes a nice pizza.

Hey guy, do you still go to Golden Beach? What time? Which days please? and, does the mobile still work, to order pizza in advance for pick up please? Thanks

there is an all you can eat pizza/chicken/coke place near the university for like 230nt. you have to make reservations though... usually. sometimes you can get in without one. it smells great, weve gone a few times and tried to eat without reservation but they were full.

im not sure what road its on... but if you are going on minzu road past beimen, you go under the train tracks and pop out at this big huge awkward intersection. its right on one of those little lanes that connect there but if you are on a scooter you kind of have to go around a little ramp first and pass a few lanes to get there. sounds confusing... but if you look you'll have no problem making it.

all you can eat!!!!!!!!!! im sure its not special pizza... but it looks and smells better than pizza hut and dominoes.

Is the place called Jerry's, next to a bar called Malibu and 2 storefronts down from Go Dutch?

I tried a place in East District yesterday, which has Chicago-style Pizza. Reminded me of the Pizza Hut of old, granted it is still made in Taiwan. I was very impressed! Not too greasy, and a 9" pizza was going for about $200. The address is LinSen Rd, Sect 2, #86. It's in an alley across from the high school, not exactly easy to find, but if you ask students I'm sure they'll know. Oh yeah, they don't have an english menu =(

My buddy Daren has just set up a pizza truck, he makes a great whole wheat pizza with loads of different toppings. He will be doing night markets and is available for personal orders. I am a huge pizza fan and his is some of the best I've had. He lives near golden beach and can be reached at 0953874992.

I've been waiting patiently since May Jam to get some of Darren's pizza again. :-) When and where will he be set up?

Would you mind registering and adding the info to the directory?

Directory

Thanks. We all appreciate the effort.

Is Pizza Hut whole wheat crust as well? Is that the same crust in NYC?

Okay guys, thanks for being patient, but I am up and running after doing a pizza sabatical while my son was still very little. I will be doing Shiaow Bei nightmarket on Tuesdays and Fridays and Wu Sheng nightmarket on Wednesday and Saturday. If you want a particular flavor of pizza just let me know in advance and I can prepare any flavor you like. Otherwise, I will have many flavors already available as my standard M.O. Also and perhaps more conveniently, I will be selling pizza on Thursday evenings at the Armory. There has even been some talk of an Open Mic night so musicians can get a jam fix and pizza fix at the same convenient location. I will also be doing delivery in the future, but for now the nightmarkets are the best way to come pick up a pie. As far as the Pizza Hut question, the answer is no, they don't use whole wheat at all, not even close, I think they mostly use a very viscous oil and the cheapest flour that will roll out a crust. What they serve should not be called pizza. In NYC you can find lots of whole wheat crusts for sure but the standard New York pizza is a white high gluten flour. My pizza is like a brick oven style since my oven is gas flames. My pizzas cook for two minutes and are crispy in that amount of time because of the high heat of a flame oven. This seals the flavor in and leaves most of the enzymes intact. For this reason and that all of my ingredients are freshly made, you could eat my pizza as often as you like and know you are eating a hearty healthy meal. I am also doing Mexican food and now have available a burrito style wrap which I call a Pizzadilla, and a soft taco with fish or grilled chicken which has a homemade tartar sauce made with yoghurt and sour cream. I will soon have burgers and dogs and I still have that great beer from May Jam for those of you who would like to order a couple or a case. Just let me know in advance. My number is 095 38 74992.
Oh, also, I am having informal gatherings at my house on Sundays if you would like to stop by for beers and pizza and soon outdoor movies on the grass. I live at Kun Sen rd. alley 101 #13. It's very near the big beach house. Just give me a call before you come to let me know how many people to prepare for. The style is all you can eat for three hundred nt and it has been a nice mellow way to spend a sunday with the gang. Coolio. Cheers, Darin

Hey Darin,

is this information still valid? Are you still in Tainan? My friends and I would be interested in having a get-together with some pizza. Your idea sounds good. I can't reach you with number provided... Thank you for your answer!

Darin's place is up and very running. Check for Tin Pan Alley on facebook or in the restaurant section here. or places on facebook.