Miacucina

Miacucina (stylized as m!acucina) is a Taiwanese vegetarian restaurant brand based in Taipei, Taiwan. The name is derived from Italian, meaning "my kitchen", reflecting the brand's emphasis on home-style cooking using fresh ingredients. MiaCucina is generally categorized as a vegetarian restaurant rather than a strictly vegan establishment, as some menu items contain dairy and eggs. MiaCucina specializes in vegetarian cuisine influenced primarily by Italian cooking, while also incorporating elements from American, Mexican, and various Asian culinary traditions.[1]

Miacucina was founded in July 2012 in the Tianmu, Shilin District of Taipei by Jimmy Liu (劉人銘), an entrepreneur with a background in design who had studied and worked in the United States.[2]

The menu at Miacucina offers items across categories such as appetizers, salads, pizzas, pasta dishes, sandwiches, burgers, soups, and desserts. Many dishes emphasize minimally processed vegetables, grains, legumes, and dairy products. Common offerings include garlic-based pasta dishes, egg-topped pasta, vegetable soups prepared without thickeners, and salads featuring grains such as quinoa. Some dishes use plant-based meat substitutes made from soy. Bread, salad dressings, and sauces are prepared in-house.[3]

Miacucina is operated by the Yechun Group (野椿集團), which also manages several related brands, including MioPane–a bakery brand specializing in bread products which was developed following the popularity of Miacucina's house-made bread and baked goods, Herbivore, and Dreamers Coffee.[4]

The brand has expanded beyond its original location and operates multiple outlets in Taipei and Taichung, including locations within department stores. Miacucina has been noted for attracting customers who do not typically follow a vegetarian diet, with some diners reporting that they were unaware the cuisine was vegetarian until after dining.[5]

In September 2023, the Taipei City Government Department of Health announced that a routine inspection of fresh produce found pesticide residue exceeding regulatory limits in green beans sourced from Miacucina's Xinyi branch.[6] The product was ordered to be removed from sale, and the case was referred to the relevant health authority in the supplier's jurisdiction.[7][8]

See also

• List of vegetarian restaurants
• List of restaurants in Taiwan
• Vegetarianism and veganism in Taiwan