Edible Excretions?

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These days, running a F&B business is no easy job. Even Ferran Adria, chef of the world No. 1 restaurant elBulli, decided to close it down due to fatigue and the need of time to re-structure the business. For those who are thinking of venturing into the world of gastronomy, "creative dining" is the keyword.

One must get creative to attract business. Have you tried dining behind iron bars (jailroom), being served by harajuku lolita girls, or eating out of surgical equipment? Novelty is one thing, but certain concept is over the top for some faint hearted.

There is this Taiwanese popular restaurant chain which takes the restroom out into the dining area. The name of the restaurant is called Modern Toilet. Sounds gross? Well, the locals seem to embrace with enthusiasm with twelve outlets throughout Taiwan and it is expanding into China, Hong Kong and other parts of Asia. As it was raved about so much, we decided to "open our eyes" when we were in Taipei. We went to the Ximending outlet which is situated atop some fashion/apparel shops. Just take a look at the pix below, wouldn't you mistaken it as a real public toilet?

Modern Toilet Restaurant, Ximending, Taipei

Generally, the decor is cute rather than disgusting. Walls are cladded either in bright colours panels or mosaic tiles. Shower faucets are hanged along the walls. One gets to sit around glass table with either sinks or a bathtub underneath as the base. Toilet paper and marker pen are available on the table for patrons to leave notes/messages to be left inside the sink/bathtub. Smashing, even the lights are poo-shaped light fittings.

Patrons will have to plonk their asses on these stylish acrylic toilets, with services disconnected of course, if not, it will be the Chinese saying, "What goes in must come out." The toilet seat covers are designed with images of flowers, leaves, seashells or Renaissance paintings.

It took me quite a while to browse through the somewhat comprehensive menu, while my kids were busy snapping away. Fusion food are served, ranging from Japanese curries, pasta, hot pot, fried chicken, noodles and shaved ice desserts. The names and descriptions of the dishes are disgusting and will definitely freak you out if you are obsessive-compulsive about cleanliness. Ha, I did capture the dessert menu. Diarrhea with dried droppings means chocolate flavour, bloody poo is strawberry whereas green dysentery is Kiwi.

Patrons are given a printed menu to tick their orders. For drinks, they are either served in an ordinary mug, a urinal, a plastic portable urinal or plastic commercial detergent (Kao bleach, for example) container. Pick your choice.

The plastic urinal with lid is given to patrons as a souvenir.

This is my sour plum juice. The 2 sour plums do resemble goats' dropping swimming in the yellowish liquid ... eeewww

Spaghetti with meatballs served in a mini wash hand basin.











The Japanese hotpot served atop a mini toilet bowl. The serving dishes/plates all resemble some aspect of the bathroom, albeit them being not actually to scale.

The southern fried chicken with chips and corn fritters served in a mini bathtub.






Two happy faces, having a jolly time, eating out of toilet bowls.

A mega portion of rainbow colour shaved ice, laced with ice-cream, nato de coco, pineapple cubes, marshmallows etc. served in a mini squat toilet.

The dual coloured faeces-shaped soft swirled ice-cream.

Reasonably priced food. Among the three of us, we only ordered 2 sets and ended up so bloated! All these food for RM70!

Okay, I am mean and disgusting. I show you the real toilet. But, hang on. This is NOT a toilet. This is indeed a wash hand basin in the ladies. Note the tap. Amazing, isn't it?


Overall, it is a unique dining experience although the food is mediocre, nothing to shout about. The toilet humour does appeal to the youngsters and the restaurant was packed with students and office workers. The Modern Toilet chain has been "flush" with success ever since. For your info, a toilet-themed cafe was opened recently in Sungai Wang, if I am not mistaken, it is called T-Bowl.



Let me quote what the owner said,


"It is supposed to shock and confuse the senses."