Hidden gem in Yunlin Traditional Market: Crispy Golden Fried Pork Cutlet

Text & Photos /Douglas Fang

Dining Date: 2017.6.29

It took me nearly half a year from learning about Maru Shou Japanese Western Cuisine to finally dining there. I often saw classmates visiting this place on social media all the time, but I never got the chance to try it. Also, you can like and follow Maru Shou’s Facebook fan page to keep up with the restaurant’s daily updates and surprise special menus.

Finally, on a whim during lunchtime at the end of June, I drove to Maru Shou located in Dong Market. The area is near a traditional morning market, so parking takes a bit of searching.

Fortunately, although the place was full, the table in front of us was about to finish, freeing up space for our group of four.

Maru Shou Japanese Western Cuisine is tucked away inside Douliu’s Dong Market. Though low-key, its exterior quickly reveals that this shop stands out from others in the traditional market.

After doing some online research, I found out that Maru Shou actually started as a street-side stall, only offering takeout back then. Now, with a physical store, you can enjoy both takeout and dine-in.

Menu~~~

The menu is on the wall to the right as you enter the store. Aside from pork cutlets and karaage chicken, they also offer set meals. When I visited, the specials included beef with red wine and char siu rice.

Prices generally range around NT$200. On this visit, I ordered Japanese pork curry, while my friend opted for karaage chicken curry.

Every seat comes with shichimi spice and pork cutlet sauce. The staff told us that the cutlet sauce is homemade, with a sweet and tangy flavor.

Tea and utensils are self-service.

Since it’s a small shop with only about ten seats or so, it gets busy during meal times and you might have to wait. The seating is L-shaped counter-style.

With just two staff members and food made to order, you’ll need to be a bit patient—but the wait isn’t too boring.

As it’s an open kitchen, you can watch the cooking process. There are hooks behind the seats where you can hang your phone or wallet in the storage pouches.

While waiting for the main course, the restaurant first serves a side soup—bamboo shoot and pork rib soup.

Japanese Pork Curry & Karaage Chicken Curry (NT$240)

When the food arrived, the pork cutlet and karaage chicken were still frying. Too impatient to wait, I snapped a few photos of the curry and started eating.

On a large round plate, one half is the curry and the other is white rice, with some greens sprinkled on top of the curry.

The curry has a mild flavor with a slight kick—it’s delicious and great for whetting the appetite.

I heard you can ask for more rice if you run out. That day, I felt pretty full after finishing this portion, but I’d love to go for seconds next time.

Karaage Chicken

Each serving comes with about four big pieces. The texture is classic—crispy outside, tender inside—but still juicy inside, so it doesn’t get dry.

Japanese Pork Cutlet

Compared to the karaage chicken, Maru Shou’s pork cutlet impressed me even more. It’s very solid and hearty, with a thin coating on the outside.

But it’s fried to perfection—golden and appetizing—and you can hear that satisfying crisp crunch when you bite into it.

The thickness of the pork cutlet is evident even from the photo. The meat isn’t all lean—it has some fat mixed in, which makes the texture especially delicious.

Paired with the restaurant's pork cutlet sauce, it offers a completely different flavor, but personally, I still prefer the most original taste of the pork cutlet.

Maru Shou Japanese Western Cuisine excels in all aspects overall, whether it’s the open kitchen paired with the counter that eliminates any sense of distance between you and the staff.

Additionally, the dishes served here are incredibly delicious—it’s hard to imagine that such an amazing little shop exists within the traditional Dong Market.

Highly recommend their Japanese-style pork cutlet—it’s truly unforgettable once you’ve tried it. Recommended to everyone, definitely worth a visit.

Maru Shou Japanese Western Cuisine
Address: No. 39, Sanmin Road, Douliu City, Yunlin County
Phone: 0966-891495
Business Hours: 11:00–20:00 (Closed 14:00–17:30) (Closed every Monday and Tuesday)

Douglas Fang
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