Customized Hot Burgers at All-in Bao Ku in Taichung – Huge Portions of American Brunch for Ultimate Satisfaction

Text and photos by /Gui Xiaosun

Holidays are the perfect time for us to sleep in and enjoy great food, XD. This time, I brought my cross-generational friend along to shop at Zhongyou Department Store and stopped by this American brunch spot tucked away in a lane beside Zhongyou — we ended up eating until we were absolutely stuffed. To this day, I still vividly remember how satisfied we were with both the food and the price; it was seriously great value for money.

The American-style vibe is obvious even from outside the restaurant, but it’s actually hidden in a lane between Zhongyou and Taichung University of Science and Technology — the lane is only big enough for scooters and pedestrians. There are lots of little shops here, and unless you’re a local who really knows the area, you probably wouldn’t even notice there’s a restaurant tucked away. XD But here’s the kicker… when we walked in, it was completely packed, and we had to wait a bit for a table… so if you’re coming on a holiday, it’s safer to make a reservation in advance, XD.

Among the shops in this lane, ‘All-in Bao Ku’ stands out the most — its bright red building exudes an extremely cheerful and enthusiastic American vibe. There’s also a small window at the entrance dedicated to takeout customers only. A bright green motorcycle and a teal single-speed bike — every corner shows off the personality of this place. It’s lively and unique, perfect for those who love taking photos and seeking new experiences. It’s distinctive both inside and out.

As soon as I walked in, the cute Mario Bros. immediately caught my eye. Plus, the staff and kitchen workers were all wearing matching orange jumpsuits — super warm and energetic. The indoor space at ‘All-in Bao Ku’ isn’t very large; the first floor is a semi-open kitchen, and the second floor is the dining area. I really liked the semi-open kitchen on the first floor, where you can see the staff preparing the food… those fresh veggies were a huge draw for me.　

The highlight is ‘All-in Bao Ku’s’ signature 【Hot Burger】, where you can choose your own fillings. It’s like Subway — first pick your flavor and size, such as 4-inch or 6-inch. Then choose your protein: roast pork, fried chicken, shrimp, salmon, etc. The hot burger comes with fresh veggies, and you can also add extras like peanut butter, bacon, sautéed mushrooms, over-easy eggs, or even a sunny-side-up egg (sun egg)! XD

After waiting a bit, we headed upstairs. The upstairs space is really fun. The vibrant colors and designs catch your eye, especially the unique tables, chairs, and walls… it also made me think that ‘All-in Bao Ku’ might be designed around the casino concept of ‘All-in’ — a go-all-out, give-it-your-all kind of vibe, XD.

Take a look at the menu — so many choices. From the store’s most unique ‘Hot Burger’, salad plates, omelet rolls, to all kinds of brunch options and sharing platters — whether you’re into brunch or burgers, couples or families, you’ll find something you like here. I personally think it can satisfy both guys who love meat and girls who crave brunch, XD.

After ordering, it was my photo-taking time. The restaurant is actually super photogenic, but because it was so crowded… every table was full, so I felt a bit awkward taking nice pictures, XD. Every corner has its own character, like the red-and-blue striped walls and the red tiled floors. Honestly, this was the first restaurant I’ve been to with such bold color choices.

And despite the relatively small space, the bold colors don’t ruin the dining atmosphere — instead, they add a youthful vibrancy and energy. That’s a really thoughtful concept and definitely worth trying. There are many playful and witty decorations around the place… like a lamp, a stuffed toy, or the chairs guests sit on — creativity and thoughtfulness are everywhere.

Walking through the stairwell, you can see the original structure of the old building and also witness the innovative spirit of revitalizing the old space. Many creative ideas come from not doing things the ‘same way’ — sometimes it’s the differences that make something special.

The server brought out a “Little Bunny” fruit smoothie, and just from the name, you’d guess it has carrots… but it actually tastes really good. You don’t get any of that weird carrot flavor, XD. We also loved their custom-designed placemats, which have a texture like an English newspaper, making you want to look at them more… and when you put your food on them for photos, it looks amazing. That day we sat at the very back, so we could see the entire restaurant from our seats.

I’ve always thought this place is lively and full of character. The painted patterns break away from typical colors and instead use black, white, and gray — making you pay even more attention to the black stories within the colorful palette. The staggered seating design also adds to the vibrancy of the space, like semi-private booth dividers… turning this small old house into something refreshed through design.

Add NT$100 to your meal to upgrade to a combo (soup + dessert) ~
The original meal already comes with a drink. ^~^ This upgraded soup comes in a super big bowl — the diameter is about 12 cm, no problem. And the ingredients are super rich, thick, and satisfying. It’s definitely a hit with the kids in our family, XD.

For the combo drink, you can choose between cola or black tea. Next to our seat was a queen-themed painting, as if it was watching us eat, XD. It’s all fun and playful. Then our first brunch dish arrived. It’s the ‘Miss Luck’ brunch, I think it was NT$250. The moment it came out, we were shocked. It was overflowing with food.

This might be the first time since Teraku’s third branch that I felt a brunch was such amazing value. I feel like these days, I’m getting more and more picky — often comparing price and portion sizes.

A lot of brunches are around NT$200, but the portion sizes… sometimes they’re just not worth it. This ‘All-in Bao Ku’ brunch is super generous. Check the photo for reference. Sesame sauce salad, banana peanut special bread, grilled tomatoes, a whole boiled egg, duck breast, oranges, fries. Each item had a pretty decent portion — the salad took up a quarter of the plate, the boiled egg was a whole one, and there was even the rarely seen grilled tomato in a brunch.

Actually, when we ordered, we didn’t even notice there was duck breast in it. We thought it was just regular bacon. But this duck breast was tender and bouncy, sweet and delicious. Totally satisfying. Then the banana peanut butter special bread — the bread here is probably homemade or specially selected, because it’s so tasty, plus the fresh banana and peanut butter, it’s totally heart-winning, XD.

Honestly, this ‘Miss Luck’ brunch didn’t feel very ‘ladylike’ at all. Because can a lady really eat this much? XD Just the salad, grilled tomatoes, and boiled egg filled half my stomach. XD. Then my cross-generational friend’s omelet roll arrived. She loves bread. The freshly baked bread with butter — such simple deliciousness. The texture of the bread was similar to the one in Miss Luck. Probably custom-made.

And this omelet roll is also huge. Easily 20 cm long. The best part is it’s packed solid with ingredients. By the end, I could see my friend couldn’t finish it. XD It was loaded with onions, bacon, bell peppers, and German sausage — super satisfying. And definitely hearty. The portions here are seriously generous.

Then there’s the fried chicken leg hot burger I ordered. I also added a ‘sunny-side-up egg’.
I really love being able to choose what to add. You can eat whatever you like. XD Look at this. Just look at the size of this hot burger. That sunny-side-up egg has such a silky and tender color that makes your mouth water. XD And that fried chicken thigh patty is even bigger than the burger itself. It’s all overflowing out of the bun. I’ve never heard of a ‘hot burger’ before — it feels like a ‘hot submarine sandwich’. It’s perfect for Taiwanese people who love hot food.

The fresh veggies, fried chicken thigh, and that sunny-side-up egg — it’s a sinful combo. One bite and it’ll totally blow your mind. That fresh egg yolk is silky smooth, the crispy fried chicken is juicy, and the warm bun pairs with fresh cucumber, onion, tomato, and lettuce. It’s guaranteed to be way better than Subway. (Is that okay to say? XD)

On the other side of our seating area, there’s also humorous wall art. Like an eagle breaking through the wall to steal your food. These paintings are really unique and striking, making you want to see more creative works, XD.

The dessert in the upgraded combo. That day it was banana cake. Totally our thing. XD Even my cross-generational friend loves bananas. Seems like our family must be great customers of Taiwanese banana farmers. This banana cake is chewy — with the simple aroma and sweetness of bananas. Who knew a brunch place wouldn’t skimp on desserts either.

Full and happy, we left. I still remember that day had such great weather. A sunny holiday always puts you in a good mood no matter where you go. Taking a break from the daily grind, finding a favorite spot on a holiday to enjoy some good food. Recharging your mood and taste buds, resting and energizing yourself for the next step. It’s definitely really important.

Sharing with you guys~ We had such a satisfying brunch that day~ ^~^

All-in Buffet: No. 12, Lane 131, Section 3, Sanmin Road, North District, Taichung City ＼ 04 2225 1117 ＼ facebook

[Enjoy life, don’t be bored. — Guixiao Sun]