When the Taiwan Restaurant opened in 1956 it was the first one in country Victoria.
The restaurant was located upstairs at 221 Maude St, Shepparton.
Leo Chuck and Uncle Archie started the Taiwan and it had a reputation for great food and was extremely popular with the town’s people — there were about 100 dishes on the menu.
The Taiwan was also the first Shepparton restaurant to offer takeaway food, but different to how we purchase it today — there were no plastic takeaway containers.
Customers would take their own pots, pans or containers as the vessel to transport the food home.
Our favourite food
When a post was made on the Lost Shepparton Facebook page the followers were quick to share their memories about their experiences and the food (eat in or takeaway).
Anton van der Schoot: Still remember how sensational the food was at the Taiwan Restaurant when I was a young boy. Never gonna forget that joint. The pork fillets and the fried rice were my fave. I honestly haven't eaten better Chinese tucker anywhere else since.
Elaine Lenon: The food was amazing, best spring rolls ever — and yes, we did take our saucepans in for a rare treat!
Karen Pritchard: A friend and I went just about every Friday night after work. I usually had the crumbed pork fillet with gravy and never tasted anything like it since.
Gerrard Warburton: Their crumbed pork fillet was to die for and their fried rice, 'OMG'. I still remember us kids picking every last grain of rice off the paper it was wrapped in.
Janet Pullar: Wonderful memories of the Taiwan Restaurant in Shepp. Every second Sunday night — short soup, pork fillet, fried rice and banana fritters with ice cream. Then window shopping with an imaginary £10 each to spend.
Bruce Cumming: Had my 21st there with family. Think I had the chicken and cashews! Then went to the cinema.
Val Roberts: Yes, their special fried rice was the best I have ever tasted, and their pineapple and banana fritters were just the best also.
Rodney Brauman: Lemon chicken and fried rice, and loved watching the staff cook all of it.
Rodney Senior: I've been looking for crumbed pork fillet for 30 years!
Belinda Williamson: I used to think they were called Port Phillips! Yummy though!
Rod Simonis: Chucky's sweet and sour pork was awesome. Never found any that compares.
Karen Lethborg: Sure do, we used to go there for dinner Friday nights after shopping when I was a kid, always had the chicken chow mein and have never had it like that again.
Gay Gerrish: Crumbed pork fillet with gravy and a bowl of sweet and sour sauce to the side. Also, curried chicken and rice. Then for dessert — banana fritter, ice cream and maple syrup. Yummo, I am hungry for it now.
Rets McDowall: My mum had cravings for pork fillets with gravy when she was pregnant with me and then 29 years later I had the same craving when I was pregnant with my daughter. I do remember the Taiwan Restaurant as a little kid and those stairs were huge. My husband rang everywhere in Shepparton with no luck until I told him try the New China restaurant.
Kerry Alderuccio: Used to drive from Tat to Shepp for the pork fillet and the lemon chicken. Loved this place. Never the same after opening the big new restaurant.
Bruce C. Gow: Arch Young, Tommy Gee Sing, Evelyn and Peter Chuck. Wow! Watching the meals cook was great. Mrs Chuck’s spring rolls and the pork fillet gravy and chopped spring onions on the top, all great. A lovely family and lovely memories.
Carolyn Webster: Loved the crumbed pork fillets and fried rice and haven't tasted anything like it since. My mouth still waters thinking about it, even though it was so many years ago.
Ruth Tully: There was an older lady there who knew all our names when we went. Sweet-n-sour pork and some crumbed pork fillet. Yum!
Geoff Allemand is manager of the Shepparton Heritage Centre and admin of the Lost Shepparton Facebook page. Please share your pics of the past at pastpics@mmg.com.au