Beloved by music fans alike, Stayreal Cafe combines food and fashion in an aesthetic space

Text & Photos byDaKou

StayReal Café comes from the dream of Ashin and his partner, whose passion for blending music, art, and cross-boundary trends made it a reality. Later, the café also benefited from the valuable experience of coffee master Lin Tung-Yuan, who passed on his barista skills to the StayReal Café by GABEE management team. In 2011, it opened its doors in Taipei’s East District, and in 2013, the Yizhong branch officially launched. The Yizhong branch of StayReal Café combines fresh wood tones with light industrial design, creating a stylish yet cozy atmosphere.

StayReal Café offers a wide range of food options, and even more have been added recently — which is why DaKou was thrilled to round up a few friends for a visit right away. We ordered so many dishes that day that we decided to share our dining experience as an ordering guide with everyone.

For those craving savory and filling options, the Oregon Country Beef Q-Grill or Curry Smoked Chicken Q-Grill are highly recommended. Not only do they taste great, but they’re also super satisfying. Dessert lovers should try the new Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea Pancake. It's slightly sweet without being cloying, featuring rich brown sugar aroma and a chewy texture that's absolutely delightful.

For lighter fare or salads, go for the Fresh Fruit Garden Salad, Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, or Smoked Chicken Ciabatta Sandwich — all refreshing and light, perfect for hot summer days. For hot coffee, try the Brown Sugar Heartwarming Latte or Mont Blanc Chestnut Latte, both smooth and flavorful with beautiful presentation. If you prefer iced coffee, try the Cold Drip Coffee — rich and satisfying, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

Now let’s take a closer look at what delicious dishes the "StayReal Café Yizhong Branch" has to offer.

The StayReal Café Yizhong Branch is located in the busiest alley next to Taichung First Senior High School — a top battleground for local food spots. The first floor houses the StayReal clothing brand store, while the second floor is the café. The café entrance is just left of the storefront — follow the signs upstairs for a delightful hidden-gem experience.

Upon entering, you’ll immediately see StayReal Café’s fridge, counter, and some seating. Though the space is rectangular, it’s extremely bright, offering a relaxing vibe the moment you walk in. Natural sunlight and greenery pour through large floor-to-ceiling windows, complementing the fresh wood-toned interior and light industrial red metal chairs, creating a leisurely slow-living ambiance.

The area near the window is great for dining and taking photos. There’s also a large round table that’s quite unique.

The inner area mostly consists of regular tables, but there's also a large round table that adds character.

The corner booths are especially cozy, furnished with plush leather sofas and wood-tone décor that blend fashion with warmth. The soft leather seats are very comfortable, making it easy to spend an entire afternoon here.

The walls are also adorned with various StayReal artworks, adding a splash of color and playful energy to the space. Coming to StayReal Café naturally brings a sense of ease — thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides, the interior is filled with natural light. The rich wooden elements add a fresh and warm feeling. The top hat-shaped lamp with tungsten filament creates a special vibe that’s sure to bring a smile.

The corridor also displays plenty of StayReal merchandise, sure to excite any fans.

StayReal products are uniquely designed with strong individuality. Their prices are reasonable compared to other streetwear brands, and they’re also practical. DaKou has even bought several items here as gifts for friends. Their small plush toys are particularly great for taking photos with food or other products — they’re just irresistibly cute. The fridge is also stacked with beautifully crafted cakes, fruits, and drinks such as honey toast, brownies, and cheesecakes, all looking absolutely delicious.

Next to the ordering counter, you’ll also find a variety of utensils, seasonings, cups, plates, and napkins for self-service.

On other days, there are also live music performances and art displays. The musicians perform quite well, and the art and design here are full of creative flair. Staying at StayReal Café gives off a naturally relaxed vibe. With large floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides, the whole place is very bright. Coupled with the abundance of wooden elements, it feels fresh and warm. The top-hat shaped lamps with tungsten filaments have a special charm that makes you smile.

Near the entrance, there’s also a section dedicated to StayReal merchandise. Fans of StayReal will definitely scream with joy upon seeing it.

First to arrive were the Fresh Fruit Garden Salad (NT$150) and Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad (NT$150). The portions were generous, and the dressings included orange yogurt and Caesar sauce. The colorful presentation alone was mouthwatering.

The Fresh Fruit Garden Salad came with a variety of ingredients including strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, grapes, and greens. Drizzled with homemade orange yogurt sauce, it had a mildly sweet and sour flavor with a rich fruity aroma. The cool, crisp texture made it perfect for summer.

The Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad was equally refreshing and addictive, with smoked chicken and a slightly salty-sweet Caesar dressing that made it hard to stop eating. Let’s just say DaKou has zero resistance to salads.

This Fresh Fruit Garden Salad was not only generous in portion but also loaded with greens and fruit — perfect as a light meal even if you’re not very hungry in summer. The homemade tangy orange yogurt sauce added extra fragrance and flavor, making it a favorite light dish for anyone.

We also ordered three types of Frozen Star Sand drinks: Strawberry Freeze Star Sand (NT$180), Matcha Latte Freeze Star Sand (NT$180), and Mocha Muffin Freeze Star Sand (NT$180). Each looked vibrant and colorful, not overly sweet, and refreshingly cool — the perfect pairing with meals.

We also ordered two hot coffees: (left) Brown Sugar Heartwarming Latte (NT$200) and (right) Mont Blanc Chestnut Latte (NT$200). The term “brown sugar” here refers to the traditional name for Taiwanese black sugar. The café uses specially selected black sugar from Tainan, following traditional methods of direct juice extraction and handcrafted low-temperature refining for 9 hours — avoiding high-temperature toxins. DaKou loves the rich aroma of black sugar, and though not overly sweet, its mellow warmth pairs beautifully with the smooth latte. The mildly sweet taste is simply lovely.

The Mont Blanc Chestnut Latte was surprisingly creative — resembling a drinkable coffee dessert. It offered a delicate chestnut aroma, along with tiny, crunchy pearl candies that added a fun texture. Sipping the coffee alongside the Mont Blanc treat was a true delight.

If you prefer cold weather or iced drinks, we recommend trying the Cold Drip Coffee (NT$200). It’s made using high-quality honey-processed beans from premium coffee farms, carefully extracted over 8 hours before being moved to a cold storage room for further maturation. Through complex extraction and natural fermentation, the coffee achieves a smoother, richer taste. Most uniquely, the ice cubes are also made from coffee, so they won’t dilute the flavor as they melt — a truly thoughtful touch.

When the cold drip coffee first arrived, it looked simple, but the aroma was incredible. I added a bit of syrup and lemon, but the real highlight was the coffee itself. It had a deep, aromatic profile. I then added a special blended milk made with fresh milk and cream — the result was sweet, smooth, and perfectly complemented the bold, mellow flavor of the cold drip coffee.

We also ordered the Italian Ciabatta Sandwich (NT$200), featuring cheese, lettuce, tomato, and smoked chicken slices, drizzled with honey mustard sauce. It looked so appetizing you’d want to take a bite right away. It also came with American-style crispy fries and egg salad. The fries were crispy and delicious, and the egg salad was refreshing and helped cut through the richness. The sandwich was actually quite filling.

The honey mustard sauce inside is drizzled over smoked chicken and lettuce, paired with half-melted cheese slices — looks absolutely indulgent right? One bite in, the bread has a nice chew and aroma, complementing the smoked chicken, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and honey mustard sauce inside, creating a harmonious burst of flavor in your mouth. It’s savory with a hint of sweetness, absolutely delightful. It’s refreshing without being greasy, and quite filling too!

% You’ve gotta try their newly launched grilled dishes as well. The Coffee-Smoked Chicken Q-Grilled Macaroni (NT$250) comes with side salads, Hungarian paprika, pepper, and other toppings that you can adjust to your liking. Their Q-grilled portions are pretty generous — you can vaguely see the thick layer of Parmesan on top, along with carrots, potatoes, meat chunks, and macaroni underneath. The moment it’s served, the aroma is overwhelming, making you hungry all over again!

% This one is also quite good. You can see the layers of ingredients, with curry sauce, sautéed onions, and tomatoes. Every bite is packed with the rich aroma of curry, with a slight kick of spiciness. The chicken is tender and well-seasoned, and pairing it with the cheese makes it super satisfying.

% There are lots of ingredients in the chicken — sautéed onions and tomatoes that melt in your mouth. The cheese, tomatoes, and basil all smell amazing when cooked. Each bite carries the intense aroma of the curry, along with a hint of creaminess from the cheese, a bit of spice, and a rich umami taste.　

% I also got the Beef Q-Grilled Macaroni (NT$250). The beef is simmered with the aroma of oregano and bay leaves, then topped with a thick white sauce made of homemade Parmesan mixed with sweet mashed potatoes and carrots. The combination is incredibly aromatic!

% The flavors of the ingredients in this dish are quite deep. Each strand of macaroni and every topping is coated in rich sauce. When you take a bite, the aroma is really strong — it gives you a pleasant surprise.

% The cheese in the macaroni has a pretty intense flavor. It melts in your mouth with a savory aftertaste. The combination of the cheese, the sauce, and the texture of the pasta is really well-balanced. Whether you focus on the flavor or the texture, it’s just really satisfying overall.　

% I also tried their Cheese Q-Grilled Rice (NT$250). Just lifting the top reveals long cheese pulls — looks pretty sinful!

% The rice is tender and flavorful. When you eat it, the aroma is rich, and the rice itself is soft yet holds its shape. It’s really tasty.

% The Brown Sugar Bubble Milk Tea Pancake (NT$240) is another must-try signature dessert here at StayReal Café. These days there are lots of bubble tea-themed desserts, but making them delicious when paired with pancakes is actually quite tricky!

% The Brown Sugar Bubble Milk Tea Pancake looks really inviting — it has a soft, fluffy look. The bottom is soft and spongy, and you can just dig in. On top, there’s brown sugar syrup, bubble milk tea syrup, and even a small bowl of brown sugar bubble milk tea. Finally, it’s topped with a bit of whipped cream. It looks super sweet and tempting. Their bubbles (pearls) are super chewy, with a strong brown sugar aroma, and pair really well with the pancake. Even though we were already a bit full, seeing this brown sugar bubble milk tea pancake made us want to try it right away!

% I had the bubble tea, pancake, syrup, and whipped cream all together. It was really good. The pancake was fluffy with a nice chew, and paired with the smooth whipped cream, soft fresh cheese, and some crispy bits of broken cookies, the texture was really layered. The best part? It’s not super sweet — just mildly sweet and not cloying at all. It’s one of the few good bubble tea-themed desserts out there!

% I also had the Lemon Yogurt Cake (NT$90). It has a refreshing lemon aroma. At first, you get a light citrus sourness, but the aftertaste turns a bit sweet — it’s a refreshing and not-too-sweet cake. The soft cake body paired with the crunchy base gives it a nice layered texture. Girls are definitely going to fall in love with this one!

% The Strawberry Pancake (NT$240) has crispy pancake layers topped with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and homemade strawberry sauce. Just looking at it makes you want to dig in. The highlight is that there’s a slice of strawberry on each piece of pancake, and there are also strawberries placed between the layers. It looks super luxurious and indulgent!

% Their pancakes are definitely worth highlighting. They have a lot of attention to detail. The textures are really diverse. There's sweetness, creaminess, a bit of tartness, and the pancakes themselves are fluffy. They also look super pretty — I didn’t want to eat them at first. But they’re seriously delicious. That day, I even saw another group of girls where each person ordered their own pancake. So you know their desserts are pretty popular!

% By the way, they also pay attention to presentation. The staff matches the tableware colors with the dishes — no wonder everything looks so bite-worthy. More tableware designs will be released soon, so stay tuned!

% You can check out what else they offer below. Here’s the detailed menu for your reference!

% The next section is about the dreams and introduction of StayReal Café.

% The coffee here is all served in StayReal-branded mugs. They look great and taste even better!

% There are also other coffee options available.

% Friends who don’t drink coffee can also choose from teas, sodas, or other beverages.

% If you’re on a budget, their set meals are pretty good value. There aren’t many options, but the quality is solid.

% There are also lighter meal options available, such as grilled dishes, salads, and sandwiches. Whether you want something indulgent or just a light bite, there’s something for everyone.

% They also have quite a few pasta options available.

% There are also non-coffee drinks like fruit teas and milk teas for those who don’t drink coffee.

% There are also plenty of StayReal merchandise items that fans will love — don’t miss out!

% Currently, only the Taipei location has limited edition merchandise in stock. There are quite a few cute items.

Coming to the “StayReal Café Zhongyi Branch” gives off a relaxed and cozy vibe. Aside from the large floor-to-ceiling windows and the sunlight pouring in, the comfort of the seats is also a huge plus. Best of all, reservations are now available, and power outlets are free to use — a total blessing for coffee shop lovers!

This visit to the StayReal Café Zhongyi Branch was great. Not only is the environment clean and comfortable, but the food options are diverse. Most importantly, the prices are reasonable and there’s no service charge, allowing you to enjoy both a visual and culinary treat. Whether it’s savory dishes, desserts, light meals, coffee, or drinks — the flavors and textures are all well-executed. It’s the kind of place you want to revisit again and again. Highly recommended. If you get the chance, you really should try it out — you might even be pleasantly surprised like I was!

[Shop Information]
StayReal Café (Yizhong Branch)
Address: 2F, No. 103-1, Yizhong Street, North District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-22211055 (reservations now available)
Business Hours: 12:00–22:00
FB Fan Page:https://www.facebook.com/StayRealCafe

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