A tranquil and relaxing space: a newly opened café in the Taipei University commercial area, famous for its creamy scrambled eggs curry rice

Text & Photos /Hsiao-Hu’s Dream Food Blog

[Dian Dian Building Station Food - Maroubra Café] Recommendation Rating: ★★★★1/4☆

Some say that well-known university districts must have some good eats, whether it's night markets or restaurants. Take Fengjia in Taichung or Shida in Taipei, for example. But somehow, I’ve never been too drawn to those places... Especially around the Taipei University area—I feel like I haven’t explored it much. Recently, I had the chance to give a lecture at NTU, and a student asked me why there weren’t many articles about this neighborhood... To be honest, I couldn’t really answer—just that I rarely come here to eat... Even my favorite alleys are ones I seldom wander into.

Not long ago, a good friend invited me to this café with an unfamiliar name, which apparently had just opened. As I looked at the address, I wondered why we were meeting here. But as I walked in from Section 3 of Roosevelt Road, I gradually felt a sense of tranquility amid the hustle and bustle. Maybe I’d always turned back halfway due to the crowds and rarely made it to the back section. The moment I stepped through the door, I was suddenly overwhelmed with a complex feeling of “liking this place.”

Especially the empty balcony outside the shop, giving off a rare urban relaxed vibe—especially in what I expected to be a crowded and even noisy alley.

We had made a reservation for 7 PM that day. There weren’t many customers in the shop, but it gave off an even stronger atmosphere that called for quiet. Even our conversations were deliberately kept low—though I’m usually the loud type...

The interior wasn’t particularly decorated, but it had that rare tranquility I mentioned earlier. I found myself wanting to sit a while longer, maybe because the sofa chairs were just so comfortable—both stylish and cozy. I really wanted to ask the staff where they got them from XXD

As for the menu, most options were light meals, but they ranged from brunch to lunch/dinner, and even afternoon tea desserts, though the selection wasn’t very extensive.

For drinks, it was naturally centered around “coffee,” but for those who don’t drink coffee, there were also herbal teas, milk teas, and fruit teas.

I saw someone at the next table order alcohol, so I borrowed it to take a photo. I really liked the one on the left—even though I’m not a girl (laughs).

● 《ETtoday News Cloud》 reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.

Being a curry lover, I couldn’t help but order what was said to be the café’s popular dish.

Hmm... Calling it scrambled eggs is more like calling it an egg omelet, but basically, the eggs were soft and delicious, especially paired with the slightly Japanese-style curry. This Japanese-style curry lacked the spicy intensity of Indian or Malaysian curries, and instead had a mild, fruity sweetness—you could only taste a slight spiciness after a few bites. It was quite smooth on the palate.

Before the food arrived, I heard the server mention that this was a brunch option. After all, this is a student district, so having brunch choices makes sense, right?

Well, overall, maybe the presentation wasn’t anything special, but the toast was pretty good—even though I didn’t know which brand it was. Especially with the butter that came with it, it was super tasty. The fruit salad was fine too, just the kind of flavor you’d expect.

Since I arrived a bit late that day, my friend who led the way ordered most of the dishes, so I don’t remember many of the names... Those interested can refer to the menu earlier. Among them, my favorite that night was this long sandwich.

The outer bread was lightly toasted to a crisp, and the moment you bite into it, it transitions from crispy to soft and tender—the bread was amazing. Of course, what I loved most (and the most indulgent part) was the thick layer of peanut butter underneath. The creamy scrambled eggs in the middle also added moisture and flavor. Overall, every bite was super satisfying. I really wish this café were near my home—then I’d never have to worry about what to eat for breakfast (tear).

Chicken wings have always been my go-to pairing with beer or cola. These wings were fried thin and crispy, with the chicken skin offering a rich, smooth crispness. The wings were as expected soft and tender, and were relatively simple without too much seasoning—love them!

The final dessert didn’t look like it was homemade, but the texture was pretty good—especially the smoothness of the mousse. Blueberries and cheese are always a great combo, so no surprises there. It was, visually and tastewise, a nice-looking dessert.

When it comes to coffee, I’m usually at the “as long as there is coffee” stage, and for pour-over or specialty coffee, I’m more of a “if it tastes good, I don’t ask questions” type. This cup was ordered by the friend who led the way—it seemed to be the most expensive item on the menu: “100% Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.” Well, the first sip brought a pleasant yet not overpowering fruit acidity. After a few sips, the aroma I expected from the beans, along with a slight bitterness, slowly spread across my tongue. Then, that touch of fruit acidity sneakily returned after the coffee settled—making for a rather layered flavor.

Maroubra Café
Address: No. 2, Lane 21, Alley 283, Section 3, Roosevelt Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02 2362 9968
Business Hours: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM

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If “eating” is just about filling your stomach, then “food” would be far too boring~~~"