MINIMAL, a Michelin-starred Italian gelato in Taichung's West District, attracts even foreigners.

Address: No. 16, Lane 133, Section 1, Meicun Road, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403
Atmosphere/Facilities: Takeout only, cash only, queues on site
Features: Italian gelato with Taiwanese flair, smooth texture without ice chips
Price per person: NT$180
Rating: After lunch on Green Park Road, I happened to see a long line of people, including quite a few foreigners, at 3 p.m. in the summer. It's quite unique for Taichung. And the highlight is, it's in an alley.
I got closer and saw the 2024 Michelin star sign. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was an ice cream shop.
Seeing many foreigners lining up nearby, I decided to join in the fun and buy some. While I waited, other foreigners continued to join the line.
While waiting, I was surprised to hear from a local resident that the shop received a Michelin recommendation because it offered dine-in set meals in 2024. This year, dine-in is no longer available, and takeout is the only option. Because it couldn't be compared, it didn't receive a Michelin star. After enjoying gelato for several days in Rome, every time I try Italian gelato in Taiwan, I always feel like something's missing. I don't know if it's the lack of a dampener or the slow cooling process, but I often get a shattered ice texture that makes me crave sorbet.
This time, I was also prepared for a disappointment.
We ordered the much-discussed Biluochun and Vanilla ice creams while waiting in line. Both cost NT$180 a cup.

Biluochun Ice Cream
Although it's a Taiwanese tea-flavored ice cream, I was prepared for some shattered ice. I was surprised to find it actually gelato. Despite the scorching heat, it melted quickly, yet its texture was surprisingly smooth. The aftertaste was a refreshing, delicate tea aroma. The freshness and smoothness of the flavor are perfect for Taiwan's climate.

Vanilla Ice Cream
The vanilla ice cream, with a light milky flavor, was equally smooth. This flavor, even with the best ingredients and technique, can easily become unpalatable. But the creaminess of this vanilla ice cream was surprisingly non-cloying. That's a real bonus.

The combination of these two flavors makes for a delicious milk tea! This was the last laugh we had at the end of our meal.

As someone who hates waiting in lines, we were willing to wait again in the scorching heat. Although the cash-only option was a bit of a hassle for us, who are used to paying on the go, the delicious food outweighed everything else.