Pork cutlets, ramen, skewered fried foods, and teppanyaki — four exclusive Central Taiwan delicacies now at Zhongyou Department Store

Reported by Huang Shiyuan / Taipei

Food has become a key attraction for department stores to draw crowds. Many retailers are actively introducing diverse culinary offerings, from Breeze Center and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi to RT-Mart. Now, Zhongyou Department Store in Taichung is also bringing in four exclusive new food outlets this summer — Ichigen Ramen from Japan, Tonkatsu Yoshie, Japanese skewered tempura Tenburi, and popular Japanese teppanyaki chain Pepper Lunch.

▲ Ichigen Ramen’s original salt-flavored broth ramen. (Photo / Reporter Huang Shiyuan)

Ichigen Ramen
The Zhongyou Department Store branch in Taichung is the second location for Ichigen Ramen. Its broth is simmered using sweet shrimp heads, resulting in a rich, sweet flavor that differs greatly from typical pork bone broth. On average, 60 kilograms of shrimp heads (enough for around 600 bowls of ramen) are used per day. Beyond the broth, Ichigen Ramen offers two other distinctive features: shrimp powder and crispy noodles, which add layers of flavor and texture. The shrimp powder is made from sweet shrimp heads, first ground into powder using a food processor, then dry-roasted three times in a pan. The crispy noodles are made from tempura batter, which also includes shrimp broth and shrimp powder to enhance the ramen’s mouthfeel.

Address: B3, Building A, Zhongyou Department Store, No. 161, Section 3, Sanmin Rd., North District, Taichung City

▲ Yoshie’s classic Japanese pork cutlet rice bowl. (Photo / Reporter Huang Shiyuan)

Yoshie
Imported from Kobe, Japan, this pork cutlet has won Japan’s Gold Award three years in a row.<“神户かつN<吉兵卫”也到台中展店了，菜单有吉兵卫特制猪排盖饭、日式原味猪排盖饭及韩式辣味猪排盖饭三种猪排盖饭。吉兵卫特制猪排盖饭是创业以来的原始风味，炸猪排盖饭以不外传的私房高汤煮过入味，然后再加上半熟蛋，不加洋葱也很鲜甜。日式原味猪排盖饭会淋上严选酱汁，下面铺的是清爽高丽菜，再配上一颗温泉蛋。而韩式辣味猪排是使用总料理长伊野具幸研发的韩式辣酱，然后再佐上美乃滋，甜中带辣，日韩混血、口味多层次。

Address: B3, Building A, Zhongyou Department Store, No. 161, Section 3, Sanmin Rd., North District, Taichung City


▲ Pepper Kitchen, where you can mix and stir-fry a variety of fresh ingredients yourself. (Photo / From Pepper Lunch official website)

Pepper Lunch
This is an affordable Japanese teppanyaki dish where you can mix and stir-fry various fresh ingredients yourself, then add the restaurant’s specially prepared secret sauce to create your own personalized flavor. The teppan used is patented in Japan and can heat up to 260°C in just 70 seconds, locking in the freshness and tenderness of the ingredients.

Address: B3, Building A, Zhongyou Department Store, No. 161, Section 3, Sanmin Rd., North District, Taichung City


▲ Japan’s original skewered tempura, Tenburi. (Photo / From Zhongyou Department Store Taichung Facebook page)

Japan’s Original Skewered Tempura Tenburi
This is from Yasaka N<屋的新品牌，主推的是大阪名物“串炸”。

Address: B3, Building A, Zhongyou Department Store, No. 161, Section 3, Sanmin Rd., North District, Taichung City