Top family-friendly restaurant in Taichung: Creative Grandma’s Salted Egg Pasta

Text & photos byKui Xiaosun

I believe almost every local in Taichung has probably been to ‘Pearl Café’ at least once. My first visit was to the branch on Jinhua Road, hidden within a church, giving off a modest yet heartwarming vibe. Later, I often visited the Zhongke branch of Pearl Café, which is consistently ranked as one of the top family-friendly restaurants in Taichung. And this ‘Pearl Café Chongde Branch’—I personally feel it’s the largest among all outlets, making it perfect for group gatherings and events.

Thanks to the numerous private rooms available on the second floor, accommodating from ten to twenty or even thirty people is no problem. So if you enjoy this kind of atmosphere, it might be a great spot for hosting engagement parties or weddings here. Plus, with its beautiful space and refined dishes, it would definitely be a bonus.

The location of this ‘Pearl Café Chongde Branch’ is just behind Qigexiaorizi on Chongde Road, right at the intersection of Songzhu Road and Chongde Road, and it also has its own outdoor parking lot. Very convenient. Moreover, this shop holds lectures, small events, and book clubs almost every week, making it ideal for friends who love to participate in activities. For example, the summer issue features many attractive events such as creative workshops using dried flowers and deadwood, couples' happiness seminars, financial planning, healthy eating for middle-aged and seniors, and even celebrity guests—like the previous invite of Huang Meizhen for a sharing session of Da Ba Liu Jiu’s new songs. There really is a wide and rich variety.

I’m very happy to have participated in the new dish tasting event at the ‘Pearl Café Chongde Branch.’ It was scheduled on a weekday evening, so after work, I headed straight to Pearl Café for a delicious meal. As soon as I arrived, I started snapping photos everywhere. Pearl Café always gives off a relaxed and cozy vibe, and in each of their outlets, you can find that comforting resonance. Yet, each also has its own unique charm.

The kiwi green and wood tones of Pearl Café go well together, and they also pair nicely with white and rustic styles. You can see that Pearl Café is constantly creating a feeling of happiness—whether it’s visually, in taste, or in human interactions.

Not overcrowding the space—that’s the impression Pearl Café always gives me. They leave plenty of blank areas in the venue, ensuring comfortable distances between seats, letting the space speak for itself. They preserve these elements so the restaurant is more than just a place to eat—it becomes a medium that allows you to explore the world it might introduce: food, products, a certain way of life.

Walking through the first-floor space, I was drawn to the restroom area. Noticing the soft lighting and the eye-catching pink sofa, I realized it was actually a dedicated nursing room. These thoughtful little details often make a place unforgettable.

Heading up to the second floor, before the event began—I saw the green chair backs of Pearl Café interspersed throughout the vast space. In the air, there was a subtle sense of relaxation. Perhaps it was the lighting, the hearts hanging above, or the color scheme—it made everyone feel naturally at ease.

The upstairs space is huge. On this weekday evening, the first floor was already full, and gradually, the second floor started seating guests too. Amidst the spread of tables and chairs, it felt like stepping into Alice in Wonderland. There was also an atmosphere reminiscent of a natural grassy field XD. There are also several private rooms that can host ten to twenty or thirty people with no problem. Each private room has its own character, and I think they’re great for company events or girls’ gatherings—you won’t have to worry about disturbing others XD.

There's also a children’s picture book room on the mezzanine level. Although Pearl Café doesn’t emphasize this Chongde branch as a family-oriented restaurant, you can still see it offers diverse activity spaces. This area is also used for lectures and events. So in the summer, when you don’t want to go out in the sun, you can bring your kids here for activities XD.

The new dish tasting event began. We were seated in a private room on the second floor, ready to sample the ‘new dishes’ prepared by the chef for us. These are also part of the upcoming full menu revamp at Pearl Café. The dishes included grilled prime ribeye steak with rose salt, boneless beef short ribs with French rose salt, French-style cheese-baked chicken rolls, crispy German pork knuckle with sauerkraut and honey mustard, Kanto-style sukiyaki, nostalgic Grandma’s Salted Egg King Oyster Mushroom Pasta, and Japanese tonkotsu ramen.

The first dish served was Kanto-style sukiyaki. When we were hungry, it instantly made us want to fire up the pot and dig in. The large pieces of pork looked thick and hearty, and there was a wide variety of vegetables—cabbage, cauliflower, sweet potato, wood ear mushrooms, tomatoes, pumpkin, shiitake mushrooms, tofu skin, tofu, baby corn, and more. After simmering in the sukiyaki broth, the flavors were sweet and savory without being overly salty. The simple yet delicious taste made us want to keep eating bite after bite.

The set meal’s soup and baguette were served next to warm us up. The pumpkin soup had a rich, fragrant taste. Pumpkin lovers will definitely enjoy it. The baguette had a bit of chew and paired nicely with the soup. ^~^

The fresh fig salad from the set meal. Just the sight of its freshness naturally drew my attention. It included fresh figs, peeled oranges, fresh apples, and various dark and light-colored greens. Actually, you could enjoy the natural flavors of each ingredient without any dressing. But I liked the dressing, which tasted like a Japanese-style vinaigrette—tangy and sweet, really whetting the appetite XD.

Right after the salad came the highlight. This was the boneless beef short ribs—each piece glistened with a pink hue. The short ribs were seared on the outside, pink inside, cooked to about six or seven tenths, making them not only mouthwatering to look at but also making our nerves tingle just from the aroma. I wanted to eat it so badly XD. Picking up a piece and putting it in my mouth, each bite of beef short rib felt indulgent. The flavor burst in my mouth, happiness in my heart. The tenderness and aroma of the beef spread from the edges with every bite... There were also grilled tomatoes and mushrooms on the side. After eating, I was really full XD.

Then there was the Prime grade ribeye steak, even higher in grade than the boneless short ribs. It came with garlic slices and rose salt. Anyone who loves steak knows that the natural flavor is what makes it truly satisfying. This Prime ribeye steak really won over everyone present. It had more chew and that distinctive ribeye aroma that was simply addictive. I was afraid that after eating such good steak, I’d never want to go back to anything else XD.

I was really happy to attend this tasting event. Not only did I get to enjoy so many dishes, but I also met a lot of people. The whole tasting event turned into a fun get-together. Everyone ate and chatted in a joyful atmosphere, and I deeply felt the warmth and camaraderie of the Pearl Café staff. ^~^

Among the various dishes, you could try items you might not usually order, and you could also see how each dish was presented and plated like a piece of art. You have to admit these platings often stimulate your appetite XD. Take this cheese-baked chicken roll, for instance—it had a slight spice, a faint cheese aroma, and was presented like a bouquet of roses. I thought it was perfect for kids or elders because it was tender and the portion size was just right. Eating smartly.

Throughout the successive dishes, I also noticed the chef’s attention to detail—for example, deboning the chicken thigh, sizing the steak appropriately, and even cutting the German pork knuckle into moderate pieces. This meant we only needed forks, no knives. We could comfortably enjoy each exquisitely prepared dish. I also loved the German pork knuckle—the roasted skin had a really Q (chewy) and bouncy texture. The more you chewed, the more flavorful it became. The meat wasn’t dry either. Each bite gave you the tenderness of the meat and the bounce of the skin. Paired with the specially made sauerkraut and sauce, it was simply delightful XD.

Next was Sanuki udon. When it first arrived, I wondered what it even was. It looked so cute and colorful—great for photos. Especially with the Japanese tableware, it really made all the food stand out. The tempura wasn’t just deep-fried food anymore—you just wanted to pick pieces straight out of the basket with your hands XD.

And then there was the radish mash. How could something as simple as radish mash look so adorable, like a little sun rising from the horizon? It shimmered and made me want to take a solo photo of it XD. The udon was, of course, the star. The tonkotsu broth was smooth, and the garnishes—scallions, bean sprouts, and seaweed—made the bowl truly special. And there was also a marbled egg, with its runny yolk that everyone loves.

Ding ding ding. This Grandma’s Salted Egg Pasta was something I wanted to buy and eat right after work. To be honest, I’m a big fan of salted eggs—like egg yolk pastries or zongzi with salted egg yolks. I can’t help but choose them when I see them. So seeing a ‘salted egg’ pasta on the menu, I must say it was the most attractive item on the entire menu XD.

Actually, using salted eggs in cooking isn’t easy. The saltiness of salted eggs varies by batch and production time. So this salted egg pasta doesn’t add any extra salt—you can imagine how the flavor might vary slightly depending on when it’s made. That aspect also intrigued me. It means every time you have this pasta, it has its own unique personality.

As I twirled the fork and took a bite, the subtle aroma of salted egg really won me over. And it paired surprisingly well with the pasta. The Q-textured noodles absorbed the salted egg-infused sauce, making it hard to swallow even as I kept chewing XD.

The sides are a Pearl Café specialty. I had tried their signature crispy fried chicken before, and it was really delicious. Each piece was quite large. When I cut one open to show everyone, juices were still flowing from the inside. I must say you have to be careful eating it because it’s not only tasty but might also be hot off the fryer XD. That day we also got to see the chef—he was quite shy, but seemed like a very dedicated person. Thank you for letting us enjoy so many delicious dishes ^~^.

For dessert drinks, my order was pineapple apple juice. The name alone made me think it would aid digestion XD. The drink looked like clouds wrapping around the fibers of pineapple and apple, and it tasted really good. I felt like having a glass every morning would be pure happiness.

And there are desserts too！It's truly a very lavish dinner～This one looks simple but is highly recommended by coffee lovers—the Italian espresso ice cream！Pour in a shot of espresso, and watch as the coffee blends with the ice cream！One bite gives you hot coffee and cold ice cream—an incredibly surprising texture！Plus, if you're a coffee lover, you'll definitely enjoy this intense coffee aroma！The ice cream isn't just plain ice cream anymore—the sweetness becomes even richer with the touch of coffee～

The dessert in the set meal is a simple chocolate brownie, which is a decent offering for a set！Also, ladies absolutely must not miss this ‘Banana Chocolate Muffin’！Just looking at it will make you want to keep taking photos and forget to eat it！XD

Look at it！Isn’t it indulgent and irresistible～Like a little star, it’s coated with beautiful cream, chocolate sauce, and fresh bananas—the visuals alone will make you surrender！No matter how you look at it, this muffin feels so laid-back, almost as lazy as Gudetama... lying there, making you want to reach out, grab the muffin, and devour the melted, heartwarming cream！The muffin itself is chocolate-flavored, with a soft and tender rather than crispy texture！So it’s delicious when paired with the cream and bananas～

Others ordered fruit tea, which is said to have seven kinds of fruits！The portion feels even larger than the pineapple apple juice I ordered～Also, highly recommend their pear coffee—it has cinnamon plus a subtle hint of lemon fragrance！Probably because of the lemon zest on top！And the milk foam is fine and smooth, so it must be a great signature drink！I heard it was even personally developed by Pear Empress herself ^~^

Coming to Pear Coffee at night, the pear still gives off a warm and comforting vibe under the night sky！I believe many people love dining here at Pear Coffee, whether it’s for families, friends, couples, or even anniversaries！Plus, the Chungde branch has a versatile space—if you’re a company or group looking for space and privacy, I really recommend checking this place out！Great ambiance, and the food is delicious too！

Pear Coffee Chungde Branch: No. 1, Section 3, Zhongde Road, Beitun District, Taichung City ＼ 04 2249 0399 ＼ facebook
 

［Enjoy life without boredom. By Xiao Sun］