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• Tasty vegan burgers in Taipei, but smokers!

Several years after it opened, I finally visited About Animals. It's very convenient and rather easy to get to from Wanlong MRT station. It's obviously a very small location with limited seating. When every chair or stool is taken, inside and out, it can get quite busy and slow. But, along with friendly staff, it might be worth waiting for as long as a half-hour for food to be ready. Based on the reviews, I first tried the wasabi burger. The burger buns are delicious. But, I was left disappointed by the tofu-based patty, which tasted vaguely similar to what I remember fried fish-type sandwiches tasting like. Not to my liking. Also, there wasn't much of a hot wasabi taste like I was somewhat expecting. The fried and non-fried mushroom burgers, however, were more of what I was expecting, with their really delicious tangy and spicy mayonnaise, and other common burger toppings which helped me recreate the veggie burger-eating experience like none other in Taiwan. The limited mushrooms were almost barely noticeable, but that didn't take away from the experience as others in Taipei have done with their awful faux meat patties. Hopefully, About Animals and others in Taiwan can be more creative with their burger patties, like using chickpea powder and lentils. Come on, Taiwan, you can do better than this! Set an innovative standard! The food presentation was excellent, and sides like fries and cherry tomatoes and orange slices were a nice treat. Food is served on wooden cutting boards which really works for me instead of plastic or something disposable. But, I could do without a wooden sandwich pick with a flag stuck through the burger, that would only just be thrown away. Decorations with all sorts of positive messaging give lots to glance at while waiting or enjoying the food. Lastly, a big challenge for my further returning is that smoking is permitted in the outdoor bar-style seating area. This is in front and is a real turn-off to experience when leaving or entering, or when the slide door is opened. No patron or worker should be exposed to second-hand smoke! One visit, when it wasn't busy, it even appeared that a staff member was smoking outside. That person might have handled the food and that's really gross. Whenever I see this nasty habit by those working at veg establishments, I seriously question judgments and whether I should ever go again, despite how tasty the food might be. I hope About Animals will address these critical issues!