The Battle of Department Store Dining Kicks Off in November: MORTON Steakhouse vs N°168 PRIME

▲ N°168 PRIME Steakhouse Sogo Tainan Branch will open soon in November. The photo shows the Gourmet Ribeye Steak. (Photo / Provided by Victoria)

Reported by Huang Shiyuan / Taipei

In recent years, department stores have not only been actively expanding their fast fashion offerings but have also targeted the food and beverage market. From early ramen and pork cutlet specialty shops to recent Michelin-starred restaurants such as Tim Ho Wan, Shanghai Night, and Liji Cuisine. The upcoming Breeze Xinyi will also bring in multiple dining options, such as MORTON Steakhouse, while Sogo Tainan’s new F&B brands, Han Lai Harbor Restaurant and N°168 PRIME Steakhouse, are also set to launch in November.

Currently, the official list of dining brands announced for Breeze Xinyi includes the renowned American steakhouse chain MORTON Steakhouse, RAKU Tokyo, and others. There are also plans to introduce other high-end concepts such as the highly anticipated “Gourmet Emperor,” as well as an outlying beef noodle restaurant from Regent Taipei.


▲ Han Lai Harbor Restaurant will also enter Sogo Tainan. (Photo / Photographed by Huang Shiyuan)

MORTON Steakhouse opened its first location in 1978 on Chicago’s National Avenue in the U.S. It now has 76 global outlets, primarily using USDA PRIME-grade beef, with Australian wagyu as a secondary option. Following the entry of Tim Ho Wan from Hong Kong into Taiwan, Singapore’s Paradise Dynasty is one of the largest dining chains in the country. Its legendary “Eight-Colored Xiao Long Bao” leave a lasting impression on diners—the colors are all made from natural ingredients, yet the price remains comparable to regular xiao long bao. As for RAKU Tokyo, it is a modern Japanese izakaya.

▲ The Prime Gourmet Ribeye Cap Steak (USDA Prime Ribeye Top Cap Steak) uses top-grade American beef, taken from the cap, which resembles an eyebrow—commonly known as the Gourmet Steak. It is tender, juicy, and flavorful. (Photo / ETtoday Video Department)

Meanwhile, Sogo has also begun aggressively expanding its dining offerings. Tainan Branch will open two major new restaurants in late October and November—one is the all-you-can-eat buffet king, Han Lai Harbor Buffet, and the other is N°168 PRIME Steakhouse from Victoria Hotel. Aside from the flagship Han Lai Hotel, Han Lai Harbor Buffet has four other branches: the Dome location at Hanshin Dome, the Taichung branch at Guang San Sogo, the Taoyuan branch at TaiMall, and the Tainan branch at Namchow Dream Mall. The fifth branch is scheduled to open on the sixth floor of Pacific Sogo Tainan.

As for the Victoria N°168 PRIME Steakhouse, the Sogo Tainan location will be its first out-of-hotel branch, opening in November. N°168 PRIME was once home to renowned chef Deng Youkui. It features a premium beef aging room, open grill stations, and vegetarian options. Its signature Gourmet Steak, with a crispy crust and tender, juicy interior, is a must-order favorite.

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