I went to the Carrefour on Zhongming Road and after trying the curry restaurant at the Great World food court last time, I saw that Carrefour has a place called "San Shang Fresh Wudong," so I decided to give it a try.
San Shang Fresh Wudong seems to be a revamped version of San Shang Qiao Fu, shifting from selling beef noodles to selling rice bowls 😅. Today, I ordered the Java Curry Fillet Bowl (pork) and the Creamy Mushroom Cheese Chicken Bowl, along with two drinks and a side of burdock.
The Java Curry Fillet Bowl is highly recommended. Not only does it look good, but the batter is just right and fried to a perfect crisp without being harsh on the palate. The meat is thick and tender, and the rice is fluffy and distinct—it's a favorite for rice lovers. Just look at the lady at the next table who ordered a meal for herself and extra bowls of white rice to prove it 😚.
As for the soup, you can refill it yourself at the seasoning station, and drinks can be refilled for 10 NT dollars.
The Creamy Mushroom Cheese Chicken was just average.
Conclusion: Overall, the portion sizes are generous, the food is tasty, the environment is clean, and the prices are reasonable—great value for money!
This is a Japanese-style soup curry shop in the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park area of Taipei, which I visited for the first time after passing by many times.
I ordered the daily handmade hamburger soup curry. The spices in the hamburger patty were quite strong, and it was evident that there were too many binders, as the meat content might not be very high.
I also ordered the oyster soup curry, which had as many as five fresh and delicious oysters—definitely a recommendation.
The soup curry resembles a spiced meat sauce poured over white rice. However, the rice served with this dish was not very ideal; the grains were noticeably uneven in size and the texture was not soft enough.
The cast iron pot that the food was served in was not very hot. While this is safer, it also meant that the soup curry was not hot enough.
Lastly, it's worth mentioning that each soup curry can be customized for spiciness level, and level 4 is indeed quite spicy.
🍛 Won the championship at the 5th Kanda Curry Festival, affordable spicy curry from Osaka!
The high-quality curry is from a long-established curry shop in Osaka; "high-quality" refers to the premium ingredients they use. Originally a popular spot in Osaka known for long lines, it also gained recognition in competitions after opening branches in Tokyo.
This department store branch has a cash vending machine to purchase meal tickets, but if you want to pay by card or other electronic payments, you can directly order at the checkout counter with the staff.
Their curry is the Osaka style of Japanese curry—sweet with a hint of spiciness—and the portion size is moderately large, typically filling for most women. There is only one type of curry sauce, and the differences come from the main dishes.
This time, I ordered the signature fried pork cutlet. The thickness of the meat is moderate, but the outer crust is crispy and not greasy, pairing perfectly with the curry sauce. Water and pickled vegetables are available on the table for unlimited self-service. If you like spicy food, you can sprinkle chili powder to adjust the spice level in the sauce.
Overall, it's not a must-visit spot, but the price and taste offer great value. If you enjoy curry, I would still recommend giving it a try if you come across it.
#Vegetarian
Mu Lan moved from one side of the underground passage on Xida Road to the other side. The small Japanese-style old house shop was upgraded, making the overall environment brighter and the space more spacious. There are two floors and more seating available. However, whether before or after moving, during meal times there are always long lines. On weekend nights at 6:30, I waited in line for 1.5 hours. After ordering via QR code and being seated, the food took about 15 minutes to arrive.
The spiced, tender grilled chicken breast Japanese curry costs $250. The American-selected sous-vide beef Japanese curry costs $350. When the dishes were served, I was once again shocked by the portion sizes! My boyfriend and I exchanged glances and asked if we could finish it XD. Half the plate was filled with meat, along with lettuce, fruit, potatoes, and bread. The rice and curry sauce quantities weren't very large, but refills are free. The curry itself wasn't particularly impressive; I found it slightly salty. It had some black sauce on top (likely red wine vinegar), which was quite refreshing (๑•̀ᄇ•́)و ✧. The meat was at a lower temperature, so it was soft and tender, but the portions were really large, and we couldn't finish it QAQ.
In terms of price, the cost-performance ratio is very high, but parking nearby is not convenient. The waiting time in line is long. If you're not in a hurry or very busy, you might consider coming here, but the long wait during meal times and the portion sizes aren't a big incentive for me, so it wouldn’t be my first choice.
Today, I strolled to the food court on the 12th floor of the big department store next to the traffic hotspot in Taichung. Since it was lunchtime, I immediately ordered from the first restaurant that caught my eye, which was a curry house!
I always have trouble choosing, so I just went with set meal number 3, which was the Japanese-style fried chicken curry. To my surprise, the fried chicken was outstanding; it was juicy and tender, and the curry sauce was rich and flavorful without being too watery, definitely deserving of praise.
PS: Since it’s an open dining area, remember to return your utensils to the recycling area after you're done eating!
A more down-to-earth curry rice, a chain store that has been open in Kaohsiung for a long time. The portion is too small, with a very small lump of rice. However, the curry sauce is fragrant, and the fried pork cutlet is very delicious. But the pork cutlet is very thin and served in a small portion, which is not satisfying. There are no drinks, and the soup has to be purchased separately. Compared to typical curry bento stores, I feel it's too expensive. The attitude of the staff was not good.
"Shin Takoh" is located inside Taipei Station, making it a convenient spot that specializes in Japanese curry and a variety of Japanese set meals. The curry here leans towards a sweeter taste with a strong Japanese flavor; adding some spiciness can further highlight the layers of the curry. Although it resembles the taste of Japanese curry cooked with blocks at home, Shin Takoh's curry is evidently richer and more robust. I tried their beef short ribs, which were tender and juicy, more to my liking compared to ordinary beef. As for the karaage (fried chicken), it is undoubtedly one of the highlights of this restaurant—crispy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside, each bite brings out the tender chicken and aroma.
However, the dining environment here slightly affected the overall experience. The tabletop of the two-person table was unstable, shaking to the point where I began to wonder if I was seated on a train. In the end, I had to use some napkins to stabilize it. Although it's a minor detail, an unstable table can really diminish the dining experience.
In summary, the curry and set meals at Shin Takoh are indeed of good quality, especially the karaage, which is worth trying. If you're a traveler coming to Taipei Station and looking for Japanese set meals, and you don’t mind minor environmental flaws (maybe it’s just my bad luck 😆), it’s worth giving it a try.
The "Old Gourmand Curry Specialty Store" is located on Zhongshan South Road in Yongkang, Tainan. It's a restaurant that specializes in Japanese curry. I ordered a beef curry, which uses beef shank, and it tasted alright, but it didn't have that wow factor. The curry itself also leans towards the sweet side typical of Japanese style, which for me lacked the stimulating spiciness, feeling much like the ordinary curry you would eat at home. While this might be the restaurant's style choice, I personally prefer a slightly spicier curry to enhance the overall flavor.
The curry sauce and white rice here can be refilled indefinitely. I saw several university students refilling one bowl after another with rice and curry, and the restaurant is very generous, showing no hesitation in giving large portions. For those students with big appetites, this must be a great deal, but I have already passed the phase of being able to eat that much 😆.
Overall, while "Old Gourmand Curry Specialty Store" doesn't excel in flavor, it makes up for it with generous portions. If you're a big eater or just want an all-you-can-eat experience, their unlimited rice and curry refills might be a choice you enjoy. However, if you have a higher demand for the flavor of curry, this place may not be to your liking.
🎉 Hsinchu City's Popular Instagram-Worthy Restaurant 🎉
🎉 Crazy Large Portions of Extravagant Food 🎉
The newly renovated Mu Lan store features a fresh design with a combination of white and wood tones, giving it a very Japanese style✌️. The restaurant limits orders to 150 portions daily, so there’s a long line before meal times😂. The shop opens at 11 a.m., and we arrived half an hour early to order, allowing us to be the first group to savor this delicious meal, which was truly wonderful👏. I heard the next wave wouldn’t be able to eat until one o'clock, and just hearing that made me break out in a cold sweat😆.
Currently, the restaurant uses online ordering, and if you’re not familiar with it, you can also order through the ordering machine (staff can assist you). Online ordering is much more convenient and supports Line Pay👍, which is very friendly for someone like me who enjoys using payment options😉.
After ordering, the staff will bring your food to your table, saving a lot of questions😁. The utensils are self-service, and there are three types of chili in the self-service area to choose from according to your preference☺️.
After being seated, the restaurant first serves a cup of chicken soup😳. The flavor is rich but not overwhelmingly salty, very delicious🤤.
Soon after, the meals are served 😳 Wow‼️ The portion sizes are insane! Is this what they mean when they say: there's a kind of hunger that makes the boss fear your hunger?😆
Secret Recipe Tender Fried Chicken: (250 NT)
The presentation is beautiful😆. The fried chicken is generously portioned, with a crispy and slightly fluffy coating – that classic Japanese texture😋. The chicken is tender and delicious.
👍 There’s a generous side of vegetables that perfectly balances out the richness of the fried chicken, and the bread on top is incredibly crispy, pairing excellently with the curry sauce‼️
Braised Beef Tendon with Salt Grilled Steak (Hidden Version): (390 NT)
This plate comes separately from the main course, and the braised beef tendon is very tender. Although it’s labeled as salt grilled steak, if you look closely, you’ll find two or three different cuts: in addition to the steak, there are beef ribs and sous-vide beef. This plate has everything, which is very satisfying😋. The Thai lemongrass chili pairs wonderfully👏.
To summarize:
This restaurant is not only great for photos, but the food is also extremely delicious😋. The only downside is that the tables are quite small; dining with two people while ordering two dishes barely fits everything on the table. I saw some people at the next table ordering extra, and they barely had space to set their hands down, awkwardly trying to pick up food as if writing calligraphy with their fingers suspended in the air🥲. Other than that, everything is quite nice🥰.
