AI Spot Summary
Zipang Curry offers rich and spicy curry options, such as Hokkaido fried chicken and fried pork loin, with the meat cooked just right for a lingering taste. The rice is molded into a Taiwanese shape and can be served in larger portions for free. The side dishes feel somewhat sparse.
The seating in the store is limited, but everyone eats quickly, so the waiting time isn't too long. The transparency of the store gives a feeling of being in Japan.
The staff are kind and fluent in both Chinese and Japanese, making customers feel at home.
Reviews
【Foodholic Niko @ Taipei】
"Zipang Curry Kitchen" is a small Japanese curry shop located not far from Zhongshan Station and Shuanglian Station, about a 10-minute walk. The entire shop is very transparent, allowing you to clearly see inside from outside. There aren't many seats, about 10 in total, divided into counter seats and high stools for two people.
The owner of this shop seems to be Japanese since I heard the owner communicating in Japanese with the kitchen staff, and they also say thank you to customers in Japanese when serving. Eating inside gives you a feeling like you suddenly arrived in Japan, which I really like!
We ordered Hokkaido Fried Chicken Curry Rice for $200 and Fried Pork Loin Curry Rice for $200.
Aside from the different main dishes, everything else is the same. One cute thing about this shop's curry rice is that the white rice is shaped like Taiwan, very pleasing!
P.S. You can get a free upgrade to a larger size without extra charge! Just let the owner know when you order, or you can ask for more if you feel it's not enough halfway through your meal~
The curry flavor is of the type I like—very rich, with a slight spiciness, suitable even for those who can't handle spicy food; and I love that they sprinkle something like crispy shallots on the rice, suddenly adding a Taiwanese flavor that is very fragrant and delicious!
One small disappointment is that the side dishes only include a few green beans and pickled vegetables, which are a bit lacking~
As for the main dishes, the fried chicken comes with three pieces, and the batter is a bit special, appearing somewhat white when fried. The first bite had a slight chicken gamey taste, but that sensation disappeared after a few more bites. Personally, I prefer the pork cutlet, which is also fried very crispy. However, both main dishes are not very large in portion size.
Overall, the price of the curry rice is not expensive, and the taste is quite good. It's a place I would consider visiting again occasionally~
A curry shop run by Japanese people near Nakayama 🍛
They offer curry that suits Japanese tastes, and I noticed a few Japanese customers as well!
The prices are not too high, and above all, the rice shaped like Taiwan is very distinctive, making it a memorable curry for tourists visiting Taiwan ✨
【Atmosphere of the shop】
The shop itself is small and does not have many seats. I visited during a weekday lunch, but it was full, and I had to wait for about 10 to 15 minutes.
The walls inside the shop are covered with the menu, and they offer regional specialties like Nagoya miso katsu and Hokkaido zangi, making it a delightful place for Japanese customers!
The woman who handled the billing was Japanese (the owner?) and was very friendly.
I felt an illusion of returning to Japan after a long time, which made me really happy 😂
She was also fluent in Chinese, so you can confidently order and settle your bill in either language!
【Food review】
I topped my Hokkaido zangi curry with cheese 🧀
First of all, the rice shaped like Taiwan is really cute! I took a picture ✨
The zangi was crispy on the outside and very juicy on the inside! It matched perfectly with the curry ◎
The taste of the curry was slightly spicy, making it suitable for adults. It was a rich and mellow Japanese curry!
There are many types of toppings available, and the prices are reasonable, making me want to visit again and try different dishes!
Zipang Curry is located in the Zhongshan District and is a curry specialty store run by Japanese people, with all staff members being Japanese as well! The curry at Zipang is rich and spicy, considered to have a higher level of heat from the spices— it gets spicier the more you eat, but also becomes more enjoyable!
The prices at Zipang are very reasonable. For the price of curry rice in Taipei, it could even be described as "cheap." The Hokkaido fried chicken curry is 200 TWD, the beef tongue spinach curry is also 200 TWD, and the pork loin curry is also priced at 200 TWD.
The Hokkaido fried chicken is juicy and delicious, while the pork is unexpectedly flavorful, reminiscent of seared braised pork— it’s recommended! If you like spinach, you can also order the spinach Hokkaido potato, which is a whole potato, quite special (spinach curry is rare in Taiwan!). You can also add on other meat options!
Additionally, you can get a larger portion of rice at no extra charge, and the white rice is shaped cutely like Taiwan. 😂 There aren’t many seats in the shop, but most people eat pretty quickly, so the wait isn’t too long!
Overall, I believe the cost-performance ratio is very high, the meats are all cooked very well, and I am very willing to return!
