Phusion Cafe

So nice on a cold winter day. I was not sure what to expect as I had not tried Taiwanese food before. Very comforting food with a uniquely different taste and presentation. Clevelanders are lucky to have this kind of food diversity. Service is with a smile and prices are more than reasonable. I am excited to try the menu on future visits.

On our way to Superior Phở when we saw signs for Taiwanese Beef Noodle soup – had never heard of Phusion Café (perhaps b/​c we always enter for Phở in the back?). Had to try it, since my wife had visited Taiwan and wanted to compare. For us, the immediate draw was the Taiwanese selection of menu items.
The food: My wife loved the Beef Noodle soup – hearty and delicious, even with the regular (not homemade) noodles. We also ordered the pot stickers – and these we DID take the homemade over the standard. They were large and delicious. For $ 1 more, you get 6 if you get the homemade and 7 if you just order the regular. We also looked on to other tables near us and the variety of dishes looked just as pleasing as ours. Crowd was a mix of students and others who, like us, were in the building for Phở and found this gem instead. Great, different flavors. Only the Asia Town Center can compete with such a variety of cuisines in one building.
The service: Here’s where we think they could improve. The staff and our server were delightful and eager to please. But they seemed a little green at basic service organization. I still think this place deserves 5 stars and have complete confidence the staff will get more organized. There seemed to be miscommunication between the staff handling take-​out orders and serving sitting customers.
Also, I would recommend all servers be able to explain the very unique Taiwanese dishes (both prep and flavors) – they feature «Hakka-​style» Taiwanese dishes but our server seemed unsure what that meant. If that’s your featured dish in your menu, you should be able to talk it up and sell it.
No one «wanders» into the 3030 Superior building… everyone entering this most nondescript building is there b/​c they know amazing food is inside.
Especially b/​c this little eatery is now competing with 2 additional «Asian» restaurants in the building, I’d keep emphasizing your Taiwanese dishes and very sweet, pleasant service.
Put your homemade noodle and dumpling options on the menu, too!
We’ll be back – glad to have your food in Cleveland!

Great Taiwanese food in CLE!
Recommended items are braised or stewed pork with rice, handmade potstickers, Sichuan green beans, popcorn chicken, green onion pancake, beef noodle soup, any Hakka stir fry, Peddler noodles, eggplant, any stir fried vegetable.
Service is fantastic. Support this business!

Everything is delicious here. I have been in Cleveland for half year, and this is the best place to eat

Rough, real rough. Had to talk the lady through the pick up order. Ok, maybe she’s having a bad day, is rattled and has language differences. Then we get there she has our food in hand but instead of handing it over she puts it down walks 8ft over to the register where we are and we pay. She doesn’t tell us it’s our food. We’re waiting and waiting. She asks can I help you? Oh so the bag you set away from us is our food? Alright. I get home and the spring rolls are instead deep fried egg rolls. The steamed pot stickers are bad. The dough is falling apart, wet and taste off. Wonton soup fine, egg rolls subpar. It’s only a 9 dollar meal but why is everything so wrong with it?

Best Taiwanese food in CLE
Great food great service
Love this place the service here is really awesome. They are really nice and helpful!

this place really has that home grown feel.
when you come here, don’t expect to be eating some take out general tso’s. that actually is on the menu, but prob won’t be what you’re expecting.
my family and i come here for all the vegetarian offerings. tofu this and tofu that. mmmmm…
a little bit inconsistent with the saltiness level but overall pretty delicious.
are they gonna start having taiwanese breakfast or what??? :D

I love this place so much. The staff here so friendly. Really nice and authentic Chinese food. Chicken tender rich my favorite.

A good friend of mine lived in Taiwan for about 10 years, and she approves of the unique (to Cleveland) Taiwanese fare here. The space is pretty basic, but the owners are proud of what they’re doing, and they are making some great dishes that you just can’t get anywhere else in town. Authentic and delicious.

$ 8 delivery charge. Beware. They don’t mention it at all over the phone which is illegal and try to screw you when they show up at the house. DON’T ORDER DELIVERY or don’t even give them any business to a shady establishment like this. They just called just now saying, oh sorry that was a mistake after i told them i am gonna put this on Unilocal.Trying to screw people over. What a joke.
You guys need to be out of business

Hakka style sautéed pork and squid
Scallion pancake
Three cups chicken
Ginger beef
Pork with preserved vegetables are great!

The beef noodle soup is awesome!!! So authentic
台湾牛肉面吃的满头大汗！
Noodle is chewy and the soup base flavorful with hint of tomato and savor of beef stew. The pickled vegetables garnished on top makes the noodle even more chewy! The baby Bokchoy is soaked with soup base as well!
The basil Eggplant dish is also very good! Has many vegetables and instead of being greasy and sweet, the basil and onions make it really refreshing!

So excited to find a good Taiwanese restaurant in Cleveland! I was in town visiting a friend and we had just come back from a long weekend at Cedar Point. Being from Houston and having frequented Taiwan several times, we were craving a soothing, hot bowl of beef noodle soup. We arrived around 815pm (closes at 9pm) and were seated right away.
My friends got the beef noodle soup, and I got the pork and pickled radish noodle soup. Both were excellent — the broth was so flavorful. The broth was definitely on par with that in the noodle soups I’ve had in the Houston Chinatown. The only complaints I could think of were the noodles (I wish they were thicker and/​or homemade) and the beef was a bit bland (but it was super tender). We also got some bubble tea — tea was yum but the actual tapioca was pretty overcooked.
If I lived in Cleveland, I’d frequent this place very often… great, authentic Taiwanese café with super nice owners and reasonable prices.

It’s an odd little restaurant that makes you wonder if you’re at the right place as you walk in. But the owners are super courteous, they recognize that confused look, and quickly usher you into the dining space.
You can see the menu I posted in the pictures, an appropriate variety of things to choose from. They also use ten ren tea for their milk tea beverages, kind of reminds me of all the great places back in LA. The Cleveland Asian food scene is getting much better these days with a good variety to consider.
Food:
Salt and pepper pork: It was over-​fried, dried out. The meat lost its texture. The seasoning was good, but left me disappointed.
Schechwan string beans: Well done with a good level of spice that most everyone would be able to tolerate. Hard to mess this up.
Taro & Pork: This item was not on the menu, but the owner recommended it so we went with it. Not bad, but not great. Lacked a little bit of seasoning.
In general, I went with great expectations based on reviews. I think maybe I didn’t try the best items and they likely deserve another shot. But based on what I already tried, I think I would choose to order all the same items from other pre-​existing restaurants. Their beef noodle looks really good… should try that next time.
— — — — — — — — — — — –
Explanation of my rating system —
5*: Epitome of something, the best I’ve had, would LOVE to go back
4*: Great food and happy to go back regularly, but not the best of the category
3*: Food is fine. I may spontaneously decide to go there based on convenience. But no need to go back either.
2*: If you insist, I guess I’ll come along. I’ll find something to eat. But I wouldn’t have picked it.
1*: No plans to come back. I’ll try to talk companions out of going.

I’m going to give this place a four because I feel as though the quality and taste of the food was very authentic. So much in fact that it tastes like my moms cooking, and she lived in southern Taiwan until she was about 25 years old. Dishes tried: Beef Noodle Soup. Braised Pork Belly with Preserved Veggies. («What she order?») Fish Fillet. Black Milk Bubble Tea.
However, keep in mind that I’ve been in Taiwan and have eaten the most drool-​worthy, dream-​inducing, taste bud-​exploding dishes. This place does not compare to the real deal. It is more of a home cooked taste. Now, that’s a good thing because it means it is made with love and care. However, in my life it is also a bad thing because I can literally stay at home and eat the same food. I likely won’t be making a trek to Cleveland solely to eat here. If I’m in the area though, I’d keep it in mind. Especially since the manager/​owner gentleman was extremely friendly, and the servers were very kind.
p. s. The tea was good, but the bubbles need a little extra OOMPH in my opinion.

Cleveland, I hate you.
Let me explain. Five years ago, I was warned by someone that decent Asian food did, in fact, exist in Cleveland, but there was only one good one of each cuisine (i.e. one good Korean, one good Chinese, one good Vietnamese, etc.) When I moved here five years ago, I found that statement to a little exaggerated, but somewhat accurate. It was really depressing, because I grew up in an area where crab rangoon and egg foo young and chop suey were as foreign as the foreign language movies section as my local library.
Over the years, Cleveland got more Chinese restaurants. Legit ones. In fact, now, I can claim that there are 4 – 5 Chinese restaurants I frequent in Asiatown, all different subtypes of Chinese cuisine.
So why do I hate Cleveland? I’m moving in two weeks. Just as more and more great Asian restaurants pop up in Cleveland… thanks.
So after seeing the strong reviews on Unilocal,I had to go check out this place myself. The name doesn’t exactly inspire confidence (ehhhh…fusion food…). Like others have mentioned, the space is a little odd, as though the restaurant is in the lobby of a building and you need to walk through it to get to the other end. There are about 8 tables, plus others on the other side of this «wall» that I’m not sure whether it’s is part of the restaurant. It’s a mom-​and-​pop restaurant, which I love supporting. I overheard one of the chefs/​waitresses saying she was helping her brother out at the store. Awesome.
Got a beef noodle soup (台灣牛肉麵) and a regular milk tea (奶茶). Steaming hot and huge portions – I almost couldn’t finish it and I’m a pretty big eater. At least 5 large pieces of braised beef and lots of bok choy that was fresh and crisp, not soggy or wilted. Noodles were abundant and chewy, but not house-​made. The soup was on point, definitely one of the best I’ve had. Taiwanese-​style beef noodle soup is basically my favorite dish in the world. Even the green onions were fragrant and crisp! (this restaurant should use them and make green onion pancakes!!) You know that if I’m praising something as silly as green onions that this place must be awesome.
The milk tea was all right. Maybe it’s because I waited until the ice melted so it was a bit diluted. But you know what that means?
Means I have to go back again before I move. :D

First time here. Will come back to try more. We ordered
— milk tea: it is made of Ten Ren tea and full fat milk (so not condensed milk or powder). When ordering, it’s a common custom in Taiwan to request to «half the sugar» (半糖), so that you get to savor the tea flavor better. And the staff here immediately understood my request.
For those wondering what’s the big deal of ten ren tea– it is taiwan’s (possibly SE Asia’s) biggest tea shop chain, having store fronts globally.
— R7 Taiwanese sausage fried rice: normally I never order sausage or fried rice at restaurants. Boy was I glad I made an exception today! I enjoyed down to the very last bite. It’s like each grain of rice has its own personality, but collectively they create a spoon of harmony too.
— T13 reserved vegetables with pork belly («Kao kar moo» in Thai cuisine): oh so heavenly fattening. I’m sure Anthony bourdain would appreciate. A bit too salty for me but may not be for most people.
— R5 beef tendon with rice: the tendon should be a bit softer, should be cut into smaller cubes, otherwise it can be too chewy for those who are challenged in the dental area, like my mother. Flavor is good though.
For future reference:
— their specialty: thin rice noodles: Mi Fen 米粉.
I chatted with the owner and his sister. Their family is Hakka Chinese, the second-​largest ethnic group in Taiwan, from shin-​chu/​taoyuan area.
Their specialty is thin, translucent rice noodles, dry application as in fried noodles or wet as in soup. When you go, make sure to ask the owners to recommend you a mi fen dish.
Try to order items from their Taiwanese menu (see my photo).
— Taiwanese breakfast to come:
They previously own Phuel Café near Play House Square, currently rated 4.5 stars by 36 reviews. It’s a regular diner serves American breakfast with a health focus, think cage-​free eggs, organic salad, osmosis filtered water.
So the owner plans to bring some of the American breakfast over here, plus traditional Taiwanese items, think turnip pancake 菜圃蛋. I’d be down for that.
— due to its unusual location, I’m not sure the space is air-​conditioned. Reminds me of typical hole-​in-​wall food stalls in Taiwan 熱炒店. You get the true local experience.

Great start to a new Taiwanese (not Thai) café! To me, it feels like home.
My hubs and I were so happy to find this place. It’s our roots, you know. We were so happy that we went back 2 days in a row!
It’s currently really the only Taiwanese-​style restaurant in Cleveland!
We tried:
— Hakka style pork and squid with vegetables
— Beef noodle soup (!!! on point)
— Mei Cai Ko Rou (stewed fatty pork belly)
The flavor is on point and it reminds us of home. The beef noodle soup is a must try. EDIT: Hakka style pork and squid is FAST becoming a favorite. Everything else was great too! Other dishes that we’ve tried — salt & pepper pork — not oily with perfect tenderness.
In addition, it was VERY affordable.
Finally, they have TEN REN TEA! It’s a legit tea shop in Taiwan. The Phusian Café owners are friends with the Ten Ren folks in Taiwan, so their milk tea is a must try. (Their fruity ones are more sugary, fyi…)
As for environment, the place has just opened up and it’s more café style/​casual. I loved that they were playing R&B/soul/hip hop. One of the Taiwanese restaurant owners used to cook soul food: D
We can’t wait to go back. If you’re looking for something new for Asian food — try Phusian Café!

Impressive. Tasty. Random location but good.
After hearing fellow Unilocaler Ferdinand and Unilocaler Joyce rave about this place this past weekend, we decided to give it a try. With them with us, of course (well it was opposite, they invited us!).
I had been wondering about this restaurant– ironically, I get facials next door and have been hearing them make noise for the last couple of months. So truly happy they’re open now!
Located in the middle of the superior Asia plaza (behind superior phở, and literally in the middle) is Phusion Café. It’s definitely café style, but with legit Taiwanese food.
We tried a multitude of dishes-​the three cup chicken, salt and pepper pork, ground pork with rice, pork with veggies, and my fave– beef noodle soup. I particularly liked their beef noodle soup the best– it wasn’t oily, wasn’t too sweet, but was just right. Overall it was good. I was satisfied. Overall every single dish was cooked well and was good– I really have no complaints.
They also use TenRen tea (oh I missed it) for their milk tea. Mmmmmm…
If you’re looking for a legit Taiwanese food place to eat, you got to check out Phusion Café. It’s in a random location, but it’s definitely worth the stop– good prices, good food, and super nice people who own the restaurant– I’m happy it’s in CLE!

Once upon a time, Cleveland had Taiwanese food… Not Thai food, Taiwanese. There may have been others, but the one I remember was in the complex where Han’s skewer shop is now. You could get Taiwanese beef noodles and other things, but it wasn’t always open, and … obviously it’s gone.
Fast forward, the team that used to run the Chinese shop near playhouse Square opened a new location in the same complex as Superior Phở.
How did I find this out?
Well, my brother and I were off to get some Phở, and we saw… PHUSION CAFE. What on earth?
THere’s nothing at all in the title that suggests what it might be fusing — but a glance at the menu indicated that there were a lot of Taiwanese dishes — which warranted a much closer look.
How close?
Well, two people ordered 4 entrees —
Hakka style dried bean curd
Taiwanese beef noodle
Taiwanese sausage fried rice
Braised bean curd.
All were good, authentic, and, with exception of the braised bean curd, unavailable at other venues in Cleveland. The bean curds were very fresh — and the braised version was very crispy on the surface, something that isn’t always managed correctly. Ideally, it should be moist within, with only the surface seared. They know what they’re doing.
I’m half Hakka, so getting the dried bean curd sauté was also quite a treat.
Fried rice and noodles are standard fare, but well executed.
So — how do you spread the word?
Get a party together…
The next day, a party of 28 descended upon Phusion Café, and they served buffet style Taiwanese Beef Noodles, Beef Sauce Rice (This sounds nasty, but is actually divine.) Hakka styled pork belly (Divine)… actually let’s do this dish by dish.
Beef Sauce +Rice
This is essentially mince-​meat sauce that’s got flavor to die for. You put it on your carb of choice, and eat until your belly decides to either expand, or burst — either way, you keep eating. For all of those with a weakness for carbs+meatsauce, try using Quinoa instead. I love this combo.
Hakka Pork Belly — (MeiCaiKouRou/​梅菜扣肉）
Another tremendous Hakka dish seasoned with Chinese Mustards and soy sauce that is stewed until the flavors permeate deeply, leaving the gastronomist oh-​so-​much to taste and savor.
Had fish cakes, beef noodles and a number of other dishes on the menu, all of which were satisfying.
On the down side:
The space is odd, since it forms almost an antechamber for the rest of the building — walking through one restaurant to get to another is a bit different. I also don’t know what the décor will ultimately look like, but the current setup remains unusual.
Interesting tidbit–
They have a brunch menu that looks positively hipster with bulgar wheats, yogurts and the like. Haven’t tried it, but maybe this is the fusion.
Another interesting tidbit —
Word is, they will start serving Taiwanese Breakfast during weekends.
That’s HOT.
Word to the wise:
If you come here, I suggest a deep foray into the Taiwanese dishes. It’s their specialty, and for now, it’s a cleveland Monopoly.
Play ball!