Tulip Timeout: Authentic & Inexpensive Danish Hot Dogs
[UPDATE: When we first wrote this, there was only one restaurant in Gongguan — now there is a branch in Ximen, too.]
Tulip TimeOut is a newly-opened Danish hot dog restaurant in Gongguan that’s been getting lots of attention on social media. Located about a four-minute walk from Gongguan MRT Station, very close to Gongguan Night Market, it’s yet another interesting addition in an area already known for great food.
Immediately upon entering, you can see the open kitchen where all hot dogs are assembled. There were two foreign chefs working behind the counter, and we recognized one as one of the founders, a Danish man who has been living in Taiwan for 8 years.
The restaurant is decorated in a minimalistic style with a Danish twist — one wall has a huge, blown-up photo of the Copenhagen waterfront, and there’s a trash can disguised as a Danish telephone box. Danish tourism leaflets and children’s books are spread around the restaurant. During a chat with someone from their Facebook page, we learned that one of the reasons why the restaurant was opened was so that local people could learn more about Denmark. What a nice idea!
There’s a decent amount of seating, so getting a table was no problem. In addition to the seats in the front, there’s a back area with four tables and lots of bar stools. There were plenty of customers on a Friday night but more than enough seats to accommodate them.
The back area is simple but nice, with astroturf on the floor, decorative lighting, and wall panels depicting a sunny Danish forest.
We lined up at the counter to place our orders. The hot dogs vary in size, with the highest number on the menu corresponding to the largest hot dog. All hot dogs and sauces are directly imported from Denmark to make them as authentic as possible. The brand that makes them is called Tulip, which has the oldest trademark in Danish history — about 130 years.
Our efficient server spoke excellent English. She gave us a number and asked us to sit anywhere we like. We took our beers with us and waited for the food, which arrived within ten minutes.
We ordered two hot dogs: the Danish ($139) with gherkins, onion, relish, fried onions and lots of sauce, and the Viking ($189) with the same toppings but a larger sausage and jalapenos. From the very first bite, the hot dogs were great. We hadn’t had Danish hot dogs before (though we have tried their Norwegian counterparts — very similar) so we can’t compare, but these were absolutely amazing. They were juicy and perfectly cooked and seasoned, with each ingredient complementing the others to provide a flavour and texture that puts American hot dogs to shame.
We didn’t have high hopes for the cheesy fries ($65), but to our surprise they vastly exceeded our expectations — they were just right; crisp and well-salted. They didn’t even need ketchup, though we would probably request some if we returned.
These hot dogs and fries were fast food at its best: cheap, speedy, delicious, and still unusual enough to leave you feeling like you’ve tried something new. We washed them down with a pint of Red Point Beer ($99 for a large), feeling impressed that the only beer on the menu was locally-brewed in Taiwan.
Overall, we were pleasantly surprised that Tulip TimeOut delivered a great meal and wasn’t just a gimmicky new fad to sweep Taipei. Hot dogs are pretty underrated, but when done right they can be delicious.
Check out their menu, which we pulled from their Facebook page:
What’s the vibe?
Sleek fast-food restaurant with efficient service and a small but satisfying menu using lots of imported Danish ingredients. Customers have a range of ages and nationalities.
Worth it?
Absolutely! The quality of the food was great, and the prices were completely affordable.
Would you go back?
We sure will. Even though there are lots of great food options in the area, we felt that Tulip TimeOut distinguished itself enough with its reasonable prices and delicious food that we’ll definitely go back again, and spread the word to our friends!
| Tulip TimeOut |
| Hours: Sun-Mon 11:30am - 10pm Fri & Sat 11:30 - 12am |
| Phone: 02 2365 2338 |
| English Address: Taipei City, Zhongzheng District, Tingzhou Road Section 3, No. 273 |
| Chinese Address: 100台北市中正區汀州路三段 |
| Tulip TimeOut |
| Hours: Sun-Mon 11:30am - 11pm Fri & Sat 11:30 - 12am |
| Phone: 02 2370 8118 |
| English Address: No. 6, Chengdu Rd., Wanhua Dist, Wanhua District, Taipei City, 108 |
| Chinese Address: 台北市萬華區成都路6号 |
