Let’s cut right to the chase. Mazendo isn’t anything particularly remarkable. It had its moment years ago as a place that had enough new hype it garnered a wait during dinner time. Now, long past its heyday, it’s more of a fast casual mainstay. Not something you’d go out of your way to seek out, but certainly a place that you wouldn’t be mad at dining at for a quick weeknight dinner.

As a reliable chain, Mazendo checks all the boxes. The cuisine draws from various Chinese culinary traditions, tailored for the casual Taiwanese palate. The menu is heavy on the carbs and generous on the spice. If you’re dining solo, they have noodle and rice dishes that stand well on their own, like their spicy beef noodle soup. In a group, there’s plenty of sharable plates, from dim sum dumplings to vegetable-forward sides.

First entering the Taipei food scene in 2010, Mazendo currently has four stores in Taipei. The brand has also expanded to focus more in the CPG space, with packaged noodles with signature sauces, soup bases and dumplings, as well as convenience store collaborations (with Hi Life).