Free rice refills available at this Taichung vintage-style curry spot—only two types of curry on the menu

Text and photos byOrange Dog Loves Candy

We’ve been eating curry rice since childhood—the familiar version features thick yellow curry sauce with plenty of diced carrots and radishes. But lately, rich Japanese-style curries, where ingredients are simmered into the flavorful sauce, have gained popularity. This year, several specialty curry shops have opened in this style, such asDon’t Choke, Uncle,Ogawa Family, andKoji Otoko Curry Spot. Having recently tried all three, my current ranking is roughly 【Ogawa Family→Koji Otoko Curry Spot→Don’t Choke, Uncle】.
While that’s how I rank them, none of the three are bad—so this post is dedicated to Koji Otoko Curry Spot.

This 【Koji Otoko Curry Spot】 is located in central Taichung, an area that was once the city’s most bustling district. Historically centered around Taichung Railway Station, neighborhoods like First Square, Jiguang Street, and Dragon Heart Department Store used to be lively hubs. Though the commercial vibe has shifted in recent years, places like Miyahara Eye Clinic have drawn many young people back to this old part of town. Situated near the intersection of Chenggong Road and Ziyou Road, Koji Otoko Curry Spot embraces the "old house revival" trend. The young team behind it is pretty impressive—they’ve also created buzz with MEN Ramen and Koji Japanese Cuisine. The front entrance of Koji Otoko Curry Spot is quite striking, featuring a Japanese-inspired, minimalist design with a tasteful vibe.

A small signboard at the entrance lists their menu offerings—and no, you’re not seeing things—they only serve two types: beef curry and pork curry. That’s it (though they do have drinks). So if you’re not here for curry, you’ll have to settle for a drink.

Inside, however, it’s completely different from what I expected—a somewhat rugged-style canteen. "Rugged" refers to the decor, which is a far cry from the entrance’s style. Aside from the counter and seating, the walls are left completely exposed in their raw state.

There aren’t many seats—about ten counter chairs and four four-person tables, each adorned with small table lamps. The atmosphere is nice, but the overall style leans more toward a hard-edged, slightly worn-down vibe rather than the typical delicate, hipster aesthetic.

The staff’s outfits are quite street-style, mixing various elements. Bottom line: the most important thing is that the curry rice tastes great (oh, and there’s only one floor—the second floor is still under renovation, so you’ll only go up there if you need the restroom). The lighting inside is fairly dim, so if you’re looking to take photos, I’d recommend sitting at a four-person table for better lighting.

Business is pretty good—the place fills up quickly within about half an hour of opening. On weekdays, they haven’t reached the point of handing out numbered tickets yet.

Help yourself to water from the small cabinet. Utensils are also self-serve.

The restroom is on the second floor, but be very careful—the stairs up are so steep they feel a bit dangerous.

The MENU is also the order form, clearly listing all the available dishes. The layout is a bit unconventional—the main curry dishes are listed at the bottom. They only serve two types of curry, with optional cheese add-ons, priced at NT$170 and NT$190. It’s not overly expensive, but not cheap either, considering it’s à la carte. Adding a soft-boiled egg costs an extra NT$10, and ordering a meal gets you a discount of NT$20–30 on drinks (though beer isn’t included in the discount).

【Signature Pork Curry (Koji Curry) NT$170 │ Soft-boiled Egg NT$10 │ Unlimited Rice Refills】
Visually, the pork curry and beef curry look quite similar—served on Japanese ceramic plates with half curry sauce and half rice, unlike Taiwanese curry where the sauce is just poured directly over the rice. You can clearly see plenty of meat chunks in the sauce, and the richness is quite satisfying (I think it’s even thicker than ‘Don’t Choke, Uncle’). The aroma is also nice—bold but mild.

Taking a bite of the big meat chunks with a mouthful of rice is truly satisfying. The pork is tender but still has a firm texture. However, based on online feedback, the portion of meat chunks seems inconsistent—that’s definitely an area that could use improvement. The rice is cooked well, not turning into a mushy mess. It’s surprisingly delicious curry—not just a gimmick with the vintage house vibe. And the rice is refillable, so if you have a big appetite, it’s no problem to get full (though I’m not sure if the curry sauce is refillable too).

【Signature Beef Curry (Beef Koji) NT$190 │ Soft-boiled Egg NT$10 │ Unlimited Rice Refills】
Okay, it looks pretty similar to the pork curry, but honestly, I think the beef curry has slightly larger meat chunks. The curry sauce has the same rich aroma (obviously XD), and the beef is not only bigger but also incredibly tender and flavorful.

And when you bite into it and chew, the aroma of beef fills your mouth. Both are delicious, but the beef one really won me over more!

Then there’s an interesting thing about the ‘spicy option’—it’s not just added directly to the rice, nor do they bring over a bottle of hot sauce. Instead, a small piece of paper holds a dollop of spicy sauce and is placed on the table. It’s quite unique and creative, but I accidentally ended up losing it somewhere, XD.

【Drinks │ Tropical Pineapple Sparkling Drink 70 TWD │ ? Fragrant White Peach Sparkling Drink 70 TWD】
The drinks are actually quite nicely presented. Regardless of the flavor, a large slice of fruit is added to each. There’s also fruit jam at the bottom, so remember to stir before drinking (otherwise the first sip can taste super sweet). They’re actually pretty tasty.

Finally, I got to try the three curry rice spots that have been frequently spotted on social media lately. Based on my personal experience, my ranking by taste preference is: Koide’s → Shogorou Curry Shop → Don’t Yell Uncle. Price-wise, Koide’s is definitely the cheapest. But if you’re into taking photos, then Shogorou and Uncle have more stylish decor for some artsy IG check-ins, and the ambiance is more comfortable too. That said, all three serve pretty good curry, so you can try them out and see which one you like best!

Shogorou Curry Shop, Taichung Railway Station │ Central District

Address:No. 156, Chenggong Road, Central District, Taichung City
Phone: None
Business Hours: 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Notes: No days off. No reservation service available at the moment.

Orange Dog Loves Candy Blog　Orange Dog Loves Candy Facebook Fan Page