Popular Korean restaurant in Taichung！Try the “hand-shaken” lunchbox popular among Korean elementary students

Text & Photos /Orange Dog Loves Candy

Recently, in the alleys of Jingcheng Road behind my house, this 【KATZ Composite Restaurant】 popped up and became super popular—so much so that there was already a long line before it even opened. I live nearby but had never heard of it until I walked by and saw it. Turns out, when it comes to Korean trends, K-dramas, or Korean food, I’m really not that in the know, so I often find myself a step behind the latest trends.

Although I do like Girls' Generation XDD, and I occasionally follow some K-dramas like others do (I’ve recently been watching Dragon Ba and Night Book Society), maybe because I’m not that into Korean pop culture, I ended up missing out on such an amazing Korean-style restaurant. I only decided to come when it was super crowded, mainly because it’s located in the alleys of Jingcheng Road, which can be a bit of a hassle for drivers and parkers—but riding a scooter here is much more convenient.

At first glance, you can’t really tell from the name 【KATZ Composite Korean Restaurant】 whether it’s a restaurant or a café. I heard the owner is Korean (or is she?), but they aimed to create dishes that aren’t too traditionally Korean. Just the transparent glass house design alone is enough to pique your interest and make you want to step inside. They open promptly at 12 noon, welcoming all guests.

Before 12 noon, the busy staff were doing their final tidying, cleaning, and table setups, while outside the door, there was already a crowd of eager customers. If you come here without a reservation, remember to check with the staff and register for a waitlist, as it gets pretty crowded. But if you can come during off-peak hours, you’ll find that the space design is actually quite lovely. Though it’s a restaurant, it also feels like a design brand—the tableware, chairs, and many decorative items.

Almost everything looks like it’s designed in-house. Even if it weren’t a restaurant, it would still be a fantastic spot for photos. Too bad it gets crowded as soon as it opens (we went on a weekday). Generally, the first floor is fully packed, while the second floor has a bit more space. You can walk around and check out the various displays—they have a lot of design items for sale, all with price tags. But my favorite are their furniture pieces.

The seemingly high-legged stools have an industrial-style design on the frame, yet the cushions are ergonomically designed for comfort. There are also charming little lights hanging around—it’s hard not to keep looking around. No wonder it’s so popular with young people, though it’s not just youngsters; there were also a couple of tables with aunties and grandmas, who seemed to be K-drama fans based on their conversations.

When you open the menu, you’ll see a wide variety of choices. Aside from Korean BBQ, they offer everything from Korean fried chicken and hand-formed rice balls to hand-shaken lunchboxes, stewed chicken, burgers, and seafood pancakes. It takes a moment to go through, and the prices aren’t too expensive, but they’re not exactly cheap either. For Korean fried chicken, half an order is a little over 200 NTD, which is fairly acceptable.

However, there are no set meal combos for one, two, or four people like at regular restaurants—almost everything is à la carte. They also serve alcoholic beverages, with plenty of beer in the fridge—you can start drinking as early as lunchtime. The staff mentioned that the current menu prices are ‘promotional trial prices,’ so they might adjust after the official opening.

● 《ET News Cloud》 reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive if you’ve been drinking.

【Cheese Topped Potato Stew with Chicken │ 250 NTD, Mild Spicy │ Must-Try Favorite】
This was something I ordered on my second visit, as many netizens recommended it. And sure enough, the presentation was mouthwatering—the pot of cheese-topped chicken was bright red and spicy, paired with a pot of nori rice balls and a Panini bread, making for a very hearty meal. The cheese-topped chicken lived up to the hype, with big chicken thigh pieces and some breast meat that were tender and juicy. The potatoes were also well-infused with flavor.

The bold spiciness had a fragrant aroma that made me fall in love instantly—I even loved the sauce. The nori rice balls are supposed to be shaped by hand, but looking at the result in the bowl, I think I lack the skill.

Both the rice balls and the bread tasted great dipped in the cheese sauce, making them quite appetizing. That said, although it’s labeled as mild spicy, the heat level is actually pretty strong, so those who can’t handle spice should be cautious.

【KATZ Rock ‘n’ Roll Lunchbox │ 100 NTD │ Approx. One Serving】
When I ordered this lunchbox, I wasn’t really that interested in eating it—not because of the taste, but because I knew what it would look like after shaking. This lunchbox is somewhat similar to bibimbap. When it’s served, the colors are nicely separated and neat, but then you’re supposed to mix it up into a mess. I get that it’s partly about eating habits and also makes it easier to eat with uniform flavor, but the presentation isn’t great. Speaking of hand-shaken lunchboxes, some say it’s because Korean elementary students pack their lunches in their backpacks and run and jump to school.

By the time they open their lunchboxes, they’re already shaken up like this. But when I was in middle school, I brought my lunch to school and it didn’t end up like this XDD. Anyway, let’s talk about the taste—the flavor is decent. It’s not that I’m not used to Korean flavors, but it’s actually quite mild, and there doesn’t seem to be much kimchi, so it’s not very spicy. Overall, it’s pretty average. There is pork, but the seasoning is nothing special. I expected more flavor based on the presentation, but in reality, it was rather plain. I ended up leaving about a third uneaten. It felt more like a fun, anticipation-filled experience than a dish that truly wowed my taste buds. A bit of a shame, but the lunchbox itself is a designed piece with their logo printed on it, which I actually quite like.

【Korean Sweet & Spicy Red Sauce Fried Chicken │ Half Order 290 NTD │ Recommended for Two】
Finding Korean fried chicken here was an unexpected delight (since I thought it was more of a café serving light meals). The presentation was pretty good—there were probably five or six pieces, including wings and thighs, served with thinly sliced crispy fried potato chips. The flavor was solid. At first bite, it tasted like sweet and sour, but then the spiciness gradually kicked in.

It wasn’t overwhelming, but rather a pleasant, appetite-stimulating spice. The chicken skin was crispy, and the meat was not overly juicy but firm with a decent tenderness. The taste was great, and paired with the crunchy fries, it felt like this fried chicken deserved to be enjoyed with a few bottles of beer.

【Chicken Pasta Salad │ 200 NTD │ Approx. for Two】
This seemed to be the most Instagrammed dish here. The presentation was indeed quite nice, and I really liked the bowl—it actually looked more like a pot, with the silver KATZ logo engraved on it, making the colorful romaine lettuce, egg yolk, and noodles pop even more. It was drizzled with balsamic glaze and sprinkled with cheese powder. It’s actually a creative fusion of salad and pasta.

The pasta used was a slender type that retained some firmness in the center, but it felt more like it had been cooked and then chilled, which suited the salad vibe. The greens were very fresh, and honestly, all the ingredients in the bowl were good. What I wasn’t used to was the seasoning—it seemed like not enough balsamic was used, so even after mixing, I couldn’t really taste much of the vinegar. The cheese powder was also subtle. While salads are usually light, this one was almost too bland, which made it hard for the pasta to shine. Otherwise, the presentation was excellent, the utensils were great, and the ingredients seemed top-notch, but it ended up feeling like it was ‘missing that final touch.’

【Korean Cheese Ramen │ Price Forgotten】
Well, I got this photo from the neighboring family gathering table because the smell of the ramen and the authentic copper pot gave off a very authentic Korean vibe. It actually looked pretty tasty, but we were too small a group that day, so we could only order the three dishes above to feel satisfied.

【Rose Mixed Berry Sparkling Water + Purple Grape Mint Sparkling Water │ 130 NTD Each】
Although they serve beer here, I was more interested in their fruit sodas. The colors looked very elegant and stylish, the price wasn’t too high, and the serving size was quite generous. The rose berry flavor didn’t have an overpowering floral scent, but the berry taste had a nice mild acidity with a subtle fragrance. The purple grape flavor was slightly milder, with the grape aroma coming through more in the aftertaste—you could even taste bits of grape seeds and skin, as if it was made with fresh fruit. I found their sparkling water flavors unique—not cloying and very refreshing. No wonder almost every table ordered several cups.

The area around Jingcheng Road’s alleys actually offers a very diverse range of dining options—there are American-style restaurants loved by foreigners, upscale yakitori izakayas, design cafes popular with the hipster crowd, and brunch spots set up in renovated heritage homes. It’s also a great place for me to walk my dog. Whether you’re into photography or food hunting, it’s worth strolling around here. The decor of each shop is quite charming. That said, although the food at KATZ had its hits and misses on the day I visited, I still overall enjoyed it—maybe it was just a matter of taste adaptation (though I’ve heard Koreans usually don’t eat so lightly). But the stewed chicken I ordered later was really excellent, with both flavor and texture hitting the mark. Highly recommended to stop by and give it a try.

[KATZ Composite Restaurant 卡司复合式餐厅 Jingcheng Road │ West District]
◎ Address: No. 4, Jingcheng 5th St., West District, Taichung City
◎ Phone: 04-23267355
◎ Business Hours: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM + 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
◎ Consumption Reminder:
Temporary closure days not yet determined; if crowded, it's recommended to make a reservation in advance to avoid waiting in line
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM + 8:30 PM - 9:00 PM are non-meal service periods, only drinks and alcohol are available

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