A Japanese retro curry rice restaurant that makes you feel like you're in an alley in Japan

Text & Photos byGui Xiaosun

This 【Yin Le Wu】 is a little shop I've had my eye on for a long time, especially its exterior—I spotted it ages ago and loved it right away. I kept it in my pocket, waiting for the chance to bring my intergenerational friend here. The main reason? This kid is absolutely obsessed with curry rice XD, so I picked the place because I love the outside, but the food inside was chosen because it's perfect for her XD.

In truth, I’ve never limited myself to just "family-friendly" restaurants just because I’m bringing her along on trips. Since meeting her when she was five, I’ve basically brought her along to any adult-oriented restaurant. But I’d avoid malls—instead, we’d do more outdoor activities. When she was really young, she might not have understood values, but now that she’s older and knows what she wants or needs, I take her to new places and share some life lessons with her—like how to ride the bus, buy tickets, etc. It's all part of life education.

During these two days in Taipei, after dropping off our luggage at Ximending, we took the MRT straight to 【Xinyi Anhe】 Station. From the exit, it’s about a 6-8 minute walk to 【Yin Le Wu】.

Make sure to head toward Taipei 101—it’s the right way to go. After eating, we walked straight to Taipei 101, which was a great way to digest the meal.

The entrance of 【Yin Le Wu】 is adorable, with a retro color palette, and two little chairs mark the spot right away.
You can probably recognize this tiny shop just by seeing those two chairs—you'll know it’s the famous 【Yin Le Wu】. Moreover, the entire shop exterior is like a piece of art. From any angle, whether capturing the bigger picture or zooming in on small details, it’s all stunning. Every scene feels like a story—you could easily get lost in them.

The menu here is simple: pork & chicken curry (not spicy), beef curry (spicy), served with white rice or macaroni, and you can add an egg or miso soup. There are also plenty of takeout orders—the pick-up window is on the left side of the entrance.

This tiny shop stands out uniquely in big Taipei. Surrounded by high-rises, it feels like a preserved piece of Taipei’s past, locked in the ambiance of the 1940s. It’s easy to overlook, a corner you might forget—yet many people still come specifically for it, and I’m one of them.

We quietly took a selfie with those two little chairs before leaving. I felt if anyone who hadn’t seen them saw our photo, they’d think we went to Japan—they might imagine similar houses nearby, imagine the wind gently blowing or cherry blossoms in spring and red maples in autumn. Every element in the picture seems to float with beautiful rhythm.

The only thing that snaps you back to reality is the sign 【No Uniform Invoice Issued Here】, which feels a little unexpectedly random XD. There’s also a QR code stuck on the wooden door—which is quite amusing.

The little potted plants on the ground give off a sense of happiness, especially when the sunlight spills onto the ground in front of the door, making me imagine a little dog stretching in the sun.

No reservations allowed here. I had asked ahead of time. Fortunately, when we arrived, there were still barstool seats available—the other spots inside were full. Though not many seats, every corner was truly captivating. The three of us sitting at the bar were especially excited—we could see the busy open kitchen and browse the eclectic mix of books and liquor bottles around us.

My eyes were seriously kept very busy XD. The space has a particularly cozy charm. Maybe it’s the loveliness of being small, and it even gives off that local-café-vibe where locals come to eat. Perhaps we were the only tourists there. The wall clock, calligraphy art—heck even the air conditioner had wooden decals applied. In the details, you can truly feel the shop owner's loving care for their place; everything fits together so naturally.

Next to the bar are red bricks, scattered with various collected knick-knacks—each one opening up another fascinating world.

On the table, there’s a chipped goblet containing little animal figures: lions, black bears—it’s funny and also makes you laugh involuntarily. Are these fierce beasts trapped here!? XD

Before long, our meals arrived: one pork & chicken (non-spicy) curry rice, one beef (spicy) curry rice, and one beef (spicy) macaroni. The simple, pure aroma of curry teased our appetites—yeah, we were hungry XD.

The sunny-side-up egg lying there is gorgeous—the yolk shines brightly. The egg white sits atop the fluffy, fragrant white rice, next to the curry that makes your mouth water. This dish is just as captivating to eat as it is to look at. XD

I deliberately ordered the macaroni—it’s actually shell pasta. The texture is just right, the springiness is perfect, and I love the chew. Paired with the curry sauce, it’s the kind of deliciousness you just keep scooping into your mouth. And of course, the half-sunny-side-up egg—eating it is such a hearty experience, savoring the purest egg flavor. Wow, just thinking about it now, I really want another bite.

And the highlight isn’t only the curry sauce—it’s just the right thickness. The beef and our kid’s pork & chicken meat were also fantastic.

One bite and you get the real texture of the meat, mixed harmoniously with the sauce.

Truly, this is a top-notch curry shop. The kid ate even faster than we did—it just proves how much she loves curry XD.

I wonder if you know this place—if you have a chance to visit Taipei, definitely stop by.

We absolutely love it.

[Enjoy life without boredom. – Gui Xiaosun]