Taichung, Miyahara 宮原眼科

many options for chocolate ice cream

Location: google map, Zhongshan Rd #20, Taichung City, Central District

Pros: beautiful architecture, beautifully packaged souvenirs

Cons: TOO CROWDED!!!

This place is huge! It is mainly a gift shop (cookies, pineapple cakes etc) and there is a restaurant upstairs (not sure if they have real food or just afternoon tea). We had to wait in line for ice cream for about a good 30 minutes on a Saturday afternoon. Was it worth it? hmm...it was good ice cream, and you certainly can get some unique flavors and toppings, but there was really no place to eat it. We stood outside the shop holding the ice cream cups while trying to dodge the many people walking by. If you are pushing a stroller, you certainly would have some trouble getting around. Plus there is nothing around to do (with kids). But if you happen to be in the area, it might be worth it to swing by and take a look.

Taichung, Lu Di Ice Monster 路地 氷の怪物

chocolate flavor - a very dark chocolate that was really good!

milk flavored 

Location: google map Wenxin Rd. Sec 2 #21 (upstairs by the seafood restaurant)
Pros: unique & cute
Cons: pretty expensive for what it is

We were eating lunch at a restaurant nearby so we decided to walk over here for a treat. It was very "snowflake ice" like, and you can pick the flavor of the ice cream with a selection of two "toppings" for NT$200. Great to try it once, I doubt we would ever go back again.