Stir-fried pork with kimchi paired with poached eggs — a unique Korean twist on brunch

▲ Stir-fried pork with kimchi paired with a tender organic poached egg — surprisingly delicious.

Reported and photographed by Huang Shiyuan / Taipei

Brunch seems to be making a comeback lately, with new brunch spots popping up all over. While most brunch menus feature American-style dishes, have you heard of Korean brunch? Major K, a restaurant dedicated to creative Korean cuisine, has just launched six new brunch items: stir-fried pork with kimchi served with poached eggs, Korean fried chicken with pancakes, Korean-style grilled beef short ribs, Korean-style Mexican quesadillas, and Korean yuzu pancakes — breathing fresh life into the traditional brunch routine.

The Western classic eggs Benedict gets a makeover at Major K Brunch. Instead of the usual ham, they use stir-fried pork with kimchi paired with a silky organic poached egg, topped with spinach in rich hollandaise sauce and served on a Western-style hamburger bun. The golden egg yolk, sweet hollandaise, and stir-fried kimchi pork surprisingly complement each other perfectly.

▲ The Korean-style grilled beef short ribs are made using bone-in American beef short ribs.

The Korean-style grilled beef short ribs are made using bone-in American beef short ribs. Chef Chien Chi-chih explains that the ribs are marinated for 48 hours with Asian pear, Korean soy sauce, sesame oil, and sesame powder. You can also choose between a sunny-side up, over-easy, or American-style scrambled egg, served with whole wheat toast. Starting your day with beef short ribs is not only hearty but also packed with nutrition.

▲ Pancakes paired with Korean fried chicken.

Pancakes paired with American-style fried chicken have long been popular in places like New York and San Francisco, and are also common in Taiwan. At Major K, however, the Korean-style fried chicken replaces the American version, served with ultra-thick, crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside grid pancakes. Chef Chien Chi-chih says that unlike traditional Korean fried chicken which uses chicken breast, they use chicken thigh meat for a more tender texture. The grid pancakes are made with a 1:1:1 ratio of butter, milk, and pancake mix, resulting in a crispy exterior and soft interior.

▲ Popsicle with 7-UP drink.

Major K’s quesadillas feature Korean-inspired fillings paired with traditional Mexican tortillas and topped with Mexican salsa. A specially made Korean sauce, infused with naturally sweet fruits, is used to marinate thin slices of beef tenderloin until tender, then quickly stir-fried with vegetables before being stuffed into the tortilla and topped with melted stretchy cheese and grilled until golden and crispy.

American-style pancakes get a new look at Major K — in addition to the classic maple syrup, they’re also served with Korea’s signature yuzu sauce.

Major K Brunch
Address: No. 116, Section 2, Anhe Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2736-3737


▲ Aside from brunch, the restaurant also offers a special dish called pork kimchi with shredded pork — the outside and inside are made with two different flavors of kimchi. In addition to kimchi, the dish also includes shredded Asian pear, chopped baby octopus, red dates, and chestnuts.