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Top 10 Innovative Sesame Oil Dishes Recommended | Comprehensive Analysis of the 2025 Sesame Oil Culinary Competition's Innovation Category

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Published at 12/02/2025

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The 10 selected establishments in the Innovation Category of the 2025 Sesame Oil Culinary Competition each reinterpret sesame oil dishes with a groundbreaking approach. They preserve the essence of sesame oil's nourishing and health-promoting qualities while giving it a fresh look and soul. Join Kinnso as we explore these astonishing innovative sesame oil dishes!

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2025 Sesame Oil Culinary Competition | Exploring the Infinite Possibilities of Innovative Sesame Oil Dishes

Sesame oil, a classic ingredient that has accompanied the people of Taiwan through countless years, is now undergoing a stunning transformation in the hands of chefs! Do you think sesame oil is only good for dishes like sesame oil chicken or sesame oil noodles? That would be underestimating the creativity of Taiwanese chefs! When tradition meets innovation, sesame oil transcends its role as a winter tonic ingredient and becomes a magical element that can bridge the gap between Eastern and Western cuisines, seamlessly integrating into various culinary styles. From five-star hotels to specialty restaurants, each establishment employs its unique culinary philosophy to infuse the warm aroma of traditional sesame oil into modern cooking techniques, creating a breathtaking new taste experience. The rich fragrance of sesame oil becomes the finishing touch, adding a distinctive Taiwanese flavor to the dishes.

1. HIU's Restaurant at Taipei Hush Hotel (Award Winner) | Hush Pineapple Cake

Located on the second floor of the Taipei Hush Hotel, HIU's Restaurant offers a cozy dining atmosphere with warm wooden tones. In the morning, a lavish breakfast featuring both Western and Taiwanese dishes awakens your taste buds. At lunchtime, a semi-buffet set menu skillfully combines seasonal Taiwanese ingredients with local snacks. In the evening, the chef presents thoughtfully crafted new Asian flavor creations, providing a diverse dining experience around the clock.

This award-winning innovative dessert transforms the classic snack from Tainan, the “Pineapple Cake,” into an exquisite sweet treat! The traditional Pineapple Cake is baked to perfection and then finely ground into a delicate powder. This is paired with a unique sesame oil ice cream, sesame oil glutinous rice balls, and specially marinated pineapple preserves. Finally, it is gently enveloped with a whole Pineapple Cake, allowing you to crack the surface and release the delightful aroma, creating a wonderful blend of multi-layered flavors.
Taipei Hush Hotel Hush Restaurant
Address: 2nd Floor, No. 172, Section 2, Chongqing North Road, Datong District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2553-1903
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 07:00-10:00, 12:00-14:30, 18:00-21:00

2. Qinyuanchun Restaurant Group at LaLaport Taichung (Silver Award Winner) | New Culinary Delights

Founded by Mr. Jiang Dongfu in 1949, Qinyuanchun is a renowned authority on Jiangsu and Zhejiang cuisine as well as Shanghai dim sum! Utilizing classic techniques such as stir-frying, braising, steaming, and frying, they showcase the rich flavors of traditional Chinese cooking. The restaurant is especially famous for its exquisite pastries and traditional Jiangsu and Zhejiang dishes! With over 70 years of history, Qinyuanchun has remained at its original location, serving the local community. It is not only a preferred choice for political and business banquets but has also gained widespread recognition for being recommended by the Michelin Bib Gourmand.

This award-winning silver medal dish features an innovative combination of four small bites: - The first consists of loofah, sautéed with egg floss in sesame oil, and wrapped in a steamed red turtle cake. - The second dish layers shredded taro on the bottom, topped with three-cup lion's mane mushrooms, steamed to perfection. - The third bite involves stir-frying a variety of mushrooms in sesame oil, which are then encased in spinach juice pasta. - Finally, the last creation utilizes a blend of ginger juice and milk to form a warm, sweet, and innovative dessert. Each of these four unique bites contributes to a complete sensory experience.
Ci Pai Ming Dining Group - Qinyuanchun LaLaport Taichung Branch
Address: 5th Floor, No. 600, Jinde Road, East District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-2211-2221
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11:00 AM - 2:45 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:15 PM / Saturday to Sunday 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:15 PM

3. Taipei Marriott Hotel's Cantonese Cuisine (Bronze Award Winner) | Sesame Oil Chicken Jelly

The Cantonese cuisine at Taipei Marriott Hotel is one of the most iconic high-end Chinese restaurants in the Eastern District of Taipei. The chef builds upon classic traditions while incorporating innovative twists to reinterpret Cantonese dishes. They are committed to highlighting the natural flavors of the ingredients, allowing each dish to showcase the authentic essence of Cantonese cuisine, while also delivering modern and surprising elements.

Are you ready to experience a completely different take on sesame oil chicken? Try this "Sesame Oil Chicken Crystal Jelly"! This dish cleverly merges the concept of traditional Chinese warming foods, making it easy to nourish your body even in the summer. Its translucent appearance features a delicate layering of sesame oil chicken broth and tender chicken, creating a stunning visual effect. With each bite, the savory and refreshing flavors burst in your mouth, completely transforming the traditional perception of sesame oil chicken. It's incredibly appetizing and leaves a lasting impression!
Evergreen Laurel Hotel Taipei - Cantonese Cuisine
Address: 8th Floor, No. 359, Section 7, Zhongxiao East Road, Nangang District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-6615-6528
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM

4. December Congee, Tea, and Private Dishes (Flavor Appreciation) | Ginger-Infused Slow-Cooked Duck

December Congee, Tea, and Private Dishes inherits the exquisite craftsmanship of Chaozhou clay pot congee, insisting on using top-quality ingredients while emphasizing service quality. The restaurant skillfully incorporates the best seasonal ingredients throughout the year into its dishes, representing the window flower design of December, which symbolizes inclusivity and warmth, welcoming talents from all corners. This spirit of warmth is infused into every pot of carefully simmered congee, allowing customers to savor delicious congee that is filled with sincerity and thoughtfulness!

Looking for a nourishing dish to keep you warm this winter? Try this recipe! It features seasonal old ginger and sesame oil, sautéed gently to release their flavors. Combined with warming ingredients like rice wine and paired with moderately fatty duck meat, this dish is slow-cooked for six hours. The broth is sweet, rich, and layered with complexity, while the duck meat becomes so tender that it melts in your mouth. Overall, this dish is robust yet gentle, making it the perfect choice for winter nourishment and wellness, providing you with the tender care that the season demands.
December Congee, Tea, and Private Cuisine
Address: No. 117, Section 2, Gansu Road, Xitun District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-2313-5353
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 11:00 AM - 1:00 AM

5. Grand Hotel Beitou Qiyan No. 1 (Flavor Appreciation) | Sesame Oil Matsusaka Beef with Fresh Shrimp

For many consecutive years, the Sichuan and Hunan restaurant "Qiyan No. 1" has been recognized in the Michelin Guide's list of 500 plates in Taiwan. With over thirty years of operation, the head chef is dedicated to handcrafting various spices, perfectly blending modern Sichuan and Hunan flavors with local ingredients. Each dish showcases profound culinary skills and innovative thinking.

This innovative dish showcases the chef's creativity by featuring blanched seasonal vegetables such as bok choy, cabbage, and mushrooms, which retain their crisp texture. The pork shoulder and diced shrimp are mixed with sweet potato cubes and seasoned with salt and rice wine, then shaped into meatballs. Ginger strips are slowly sautéed in black sesame oil until they turn golden and aromatic. The mixture is then combined with rice wine and chicken broth, creating a harmonious blend. Finally, the dish is steamed with seasonal vegetables, allowing the essence of the broth to infuse completely. Topped with a specially crafted sesame oil sauce, each bite offers a delightful combination of springiness, tenderness, and freshness, presenting a rich and harmonious multi-layered flavor!
Grand Hotel Beitou Qiyan No. 1
Address: No. 1, Qiyan Road, Beitou District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-5551-8888
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

6. Pearl Taiwan Delicacies (Xiangbin Catering Co., Ltd.) | Sesame Oil Egg with Matsusaka Pork

Pearl Taiwan Delicacies adheres to the culinary philosophy of "Seasonal Eating," carefully selecting high-quality ingredients sourced from both land and sea to ensure that each dish showcases the ingredients at their best. Whether it's a casual gathering with friends or a celebration of significant moments, the restaurant is dedicated to serving guests the most sumptuous and delightful classic flavors of Taiwan.

The secret to this sesame oil dish lies in the saying "slow and steady wins the race"! Start by bringing the broth to a boil and then add the sliced Matsusaka pork, simmering it gently over low heat. After turning off the heat, let the pork soak to achieve a tender texture. Next, use black sesame oil to sauté ginger slices, allowing their aroma to slowly develop. Add rice wine and cabbage to create a rich and comforting flavor. Finally, place the sesame oil poached egg and Matsusaka pork into a clay pot, pour in the sesame oil broth, and sprinkle with goji berries. The final dish is fragrant, with a rich and warm broth and tender meat! It’s truly a heartwarming delight!
Pearl Taiwan Delicacies (Xiang Bin Catering Group Co., Ltd.)
Address: B3, No. 1, Section 1, Chengde Road, Datong District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2552-6898
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM / Saturday to Sunday 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

7. Crazy Hotpot Dim Sum New Store at Eslite|Sesame Oil Hua Diao Chicken Hotpot

Crazy Hotpot is built on the core principles of "dedicated focus" and "innovative flavors," creating a dining experience that is both safe and delightful. Founded out of love for family, our commitment to ingredients and quality is akin to a love letter to the world. In addition to offering an all-you-can-eat "Surround the Stove" spicy hotpot, we will continue to expand into diverse culinary fields such as premium wagyu barbecue, consistently crafting more delicious and memorable dining experiences for you.

Looking for a creative and warming chicken soup? Try this delightful recipe that combines the essence of Taiwanese Three-Cup Chicken with Huang Jiu (flower wine)! We use CAS-certified fresh chicken thighs and replace traditional rice wine with Huang Jiu, elevating the flavor to new heights. The dish features local black sesame oil to sauté ginger strips, onions, bell peppers, and garlic, layering the aromas beautifully. Finally, we add organic wild vegetables to simmer, resulting in a rich and sweet broth that is fragrant and nourishing, perfect for warming the stomach and revitalizing the body!
Crazy Pot Dim Sum Hot Pot New Store at Eslite
Address: No. 70, Section 3, Zhongxing Road, Xindian District, New Taipei City (Eslite Life B1)
Phone: 02-8911-9818
Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM / Friday to Saturday 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

8. Dongshi Beef House | Sesame Oil Marbled Pork with Burdock Noodles

Established in 1960, Dongshi Beef House, founded by Li Yundan, has distilled years of experience into a unique Hakka beef flavor. They select yellow cattle raised on the banks of Dajia River and fed with Kinmen's wine lees, ensuring that the meat is freshly slaughtered, cut, and cooked on-site, showcasing the deliciousness of each part! From oxtail to beef tendons, and from assorted beef dishes to cold salads, they offer over 12 classic Hakka recipes. Looking for the freshest and most diverse Hakka beef dishes? This is the place to be!

Have you ever tried Matsusaka pork with vermicelli? First, the top-quality Matsusaka pork is blanched to medium-rare to lock in its juicy sweetness. It is then pan-fried in sesame oil until the exterior achieves a tantalizing golden and crispy texture. The vermicelli is separately blanched to perfection and drizzled with a secret sauce. This dish is complemented by the sweetness of goji berries, the freshness of cilantro, and the crunch of burdock root, along with local specialty plum balls. The combination brings out a refreshing yet rich complexity, showcasing both intense aromas and elegant visual appeal!
Dongshi Beef Farm
Address: No. 19, Xinfeng Street, Dongshi District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-2587-3488
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Monday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM / Closed on Tuesday 

9. Flying Flower Falling Courtyard | Muzi Claypot Rice

Flying Flower Falling Courtyard is located at an altitude of 465 meters in the mountainous area of Taichung's Xinshe. This picturesque spot features a stunning Japanese garden and offers breathtaking sunset views. Founder Wei Xingyi is dedicated to the philosophy of "making guests feel understood." In line with the changing seasons, the menu is updated three times a year, using only the finest seasonal ingredients. Here, guests are treated not only to exquisite cuisine but also to a sensory dining experience.

The Kamameshi, cooked slowly in a Japanese Ishigama pot, is enhanced with a blend of soy sauce and sesame oil. It features a delightful combination of roasted portobello mushrooms, stir-fried diced shiitake, and dried enoki mushroom strands, creating a rich layering of flavors. To add a satisfying chewiness, chopped seaweed is incorporated, and the dish is elegantly garnished with crispy, fried kale. This dish is a feast for both the eyes and the palate, making it an exceptional creative culinary experience!
Falling Flowers in the Courtyard
Address: No. 111, Section 1, Zhongxingling Street, Xinshe District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-2582-2388
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM /  Closed on Monday and Tuesday

10. Fu Yan International Creative Cuisine | Sesame Oil Matsusaka Rice

Chef Tsai Jin-Chuang learned the art of cooking from his father at a young age and dedicated himself to the culinary world starting at the age of seventeen. His passion for Chinese cuisine led him to establish Chingshui Fu Yan Seafood Restaurant in 1995, which he gradually expanded over the years. By 2007, he had created an enormous innovative dining establishment covering 1,500 square meters, capable of hosting grand banquets for 190 tables! This venue perfectly blends traditional and innovative cooking techniques, making it an excellent choice for hosting guests and enjoying Chinese delicacies!

Begin by sautéing minced scallions and shiitake mushrooms in sesame oil until fragrant, then set aside the cooked Matsusaka pork slices. In a separate pot, season with soy sauce and broth, adding sesame oil for extra aroma. Gradually incorporate enoki mushrooms and lion's mane mushrooms, allowing them to simmer on low heat. Next, add the white rice and let it cook slowly, enabling the grains to fully absorb the essence of the broth. Once the rice is plump and glossy, mix in garlic sprouts and celery, then top with the golden Matsusaka pork slices, garnished with vibrant goji berries. This dish is visually appealing, aromatic, and packed with flavor! Each bite delivers a warm, rich, and multi-layered taste sensation!
Fu Yan International Creative Cuisine
Address: No. 18, Zhongshan Road, Qingshui District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-2622-8757
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Recommended Travel Information for Taiwanese Sesame Oil Cuisine

After reading this, have you been completely blown away by the innovative sesame oil dishes from these 10 restaurants? The chefs are not just cooking; they are conducting exciting culinary experiments. Each of the 10 establishments successfully incorporates the warm aroma of traditional sesame oil into modern innovative dishes, showcasing an astonishing ability to blend this familiar flavor with a variety of international tastes. If you are eager to try new flavors or want to witness the stunning transformation of traditional ingredients, don’t forget to visit these creative eateries and personally experience this new culinary sensation!

For the complete list and more information on the 【2025 Sesame Oil Cuisine Contest】 e-book, visit: https://www.tw-cuisine.tw/2025sesameoil/

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