Hokkaido-style soup curry in Taipei—paired with crispy, juicy chicken nuggets!

(Irresistible soup curry)

Text & photos byKuni

Garaku’s Taiwan branch, originally from Hokkaido, opened last August, but I never had the chance to visit until now. Arriving at Neo19 in the afternoon, I parked the car, took the elevator up to the first-floor restaurant, and since it was past two, there weren’t many customers inside.

What we ate:
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Garaku’s Signature Tender Chicken Thigh (NT$350)
Shabu-shabu Beef Belly with Cherry Tomatoes (NT$350)

Chicken Nuggets (NT$80)
Dongpo Pork (NT$80)
Cauliflower (NT$30)
Soft-Boiled Egg (NT$30)
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(Garaku Soup Curry)

(Inside the restaurant)

(Menu)

(Business card)

The chicken nuggets were a fantastic start—not overly thick, but very juicy. The highlight is the coating, which is brilliantly balanced between crispy, flaky, and tender-crispy, giving a uniquely airy, fluffy bite that’s hard to describe.

(Chicken Nuggets)

(So delicious!)

Today’s curry broth is truly appealing. I went for spice level nine, which turned out to be surprisingly hot. The flavor initially reminded me of the Moji-style curry I had last March, but upon closer tasting, that appetizing hint of acidity makes the heat more than just one-dimensional.

There's a small candle flame under the pot—not an alcohol lamp—so it doesn’t keep the soup boiling hotter and hotter. The main ingredients are decent: whether chicken, beef, or dongpo pork, none are mind-blowing, but the extra-order crispy cauliflower is really delightful.

(Garaku Signature Tender Chicken Thigh)

(The chicken thigh has decent texture)

(Shabu-shabu Beef Belly with Cherry Tomatoes)

(The single-ordered dongpo pork is already in the bowl)

(Cracking open the single-ordered soft-boiled egg)

Overall, this is one of the most flavorful curry sauces I’ve had in a while.

The only downside is that Neo19 isn’t like your typical shopping mall—you can’t use your meal here to get parking validated, and it costs NT$50 per hour. Honestly, I don’t get it.

GARAKU Soup Curry Taipei Xinyi Branch
Address: No. 28, Songshou Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City
Phone: (02)8780-5111
Hours: 11:30–15:00, 17:00–22:00

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