Urban Alley 逅巷 Gastropub Taipei: Craft Beer and Squid Ink Pasta
By Kalen Johnson · · Part of Some of the Best Craft Beer in Taipei (Oct 2026)
It was a quiet Monday. I was in Taipei to pick up something from Marketplace, with no real plan for dinner. There's a tendency, especially in places like Taiwan and Japan, to feel like every meal abroad should be local cuisine, but when you actually live somewhere, you eat what you want, and that night I wanted a beer and something Western. Urban Alley Gastropub came to mind. I've been there enough times that the staff recognize me; they serve local craft beer, and the food has been tasty without being really expensive for a pub.
Urban Alley is true to its name; it's tucked into an alley, though a busy one, right near a Hi-Life and other restaurants. Arriving around 7pm, there were others there, but it wasn’t packed. I ordered one of my favourites from Ugly Half brewery, the Double Happiness DIPA. Pretty high alcohol at over 8%, but super hoppy and crisp.
I’ve had the aglio e olio pasta, which is very good. The fish and chips are worth ordering, too. However, that night I decided to try the squid ink pasta for the first time. So when it came out, I was expecting the pasta to be black, but I didn’t know the sauce would be squid ink, too!
The sauce was briny and salty but not overpowering. I really enjoyed it. The noodles are linguini, not al dente, but still have some chew. The shrimp was cooked well, not overcooked, and pairs well with the squid ink sauce. The thing with the squid ink sauce, though, is that it’s super black. Eat with care. It’s been a long time since I was so self-conscious about eating something. After seeing how black the sauce was, I would take a bite and immediately wipe my mouth, with a little black sauce showing on the napkin. I wondered if anyone saw the black sauce on my lips. The three pieces of pickled red onion were a bit of a surprise, but made for some nice pops of freshness.
At NT$360 (US$11.45), it’s not a cheap bowl of pasta (for Taipei), but I think it's reasonable for the amount of shrimp. I assume squid ink isn’t super cheap either. Overall, I’d definitely order it again.
After finishing, I pulled out my laptop and got some work done. There are many pubs that get quite rowdy even on weekdays in Taipei, but many are quite chill, and I’m not usually the only one with a laptop out while enjoying a beer.
After about an hour, I was still feeling a little peckish, so I ordered the grilled zucchini. It’s nicely grilled, with salt, pepper, and a little parmesan. A simple dish, but fresh, and I assume at least somewhat healthy, it's not heavy with oil. I did want to order the spicy garlic fries, but I figured I’m already having a ton of carbs, so I should try to order something a little healthier.
I’ve been to Urban Alley quite a few times, and I always enjoy the food and beer. Looking forward to my next visit.
Kalen Johnson
A Canadian born husband and father, living in Taiwan for the last two years. He does web development during the day, but is always excited to try out new food from all places and cultures
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