A Must-Try for Cheese Lovers: Newly Opened Korean Restaurant in Hsinchu Turns Fried Foods into a Cheesy Wonderland

Text & Photos /Mika

The former site of ‘Little Gathering食堂’ in Hsinchu has now been transformed into a new mulberry Korean食堂, featuring a retro Korean-style colorful industrial interior. Netizens report the oppas are both handsome and friendly, and the service is great — dang, it makes you want to check it out. Everyone knows I have a “Korean stomach” — whenever I get smitten by the oppas in K-dramas, I crave Korean food to fill that emotional void. Hmm!?

Fellow Korean food fans in Hsinchu, I highly recommend this spot. Aside from being super Instagrammable, the dishes here are creative and generous in portion. There are many creative variations of bibimbap alone, plus an outrageously cheesy “Amazon Basin,” Korean fried chicken, and more... All dishes are photogenic, delicious, and beautifully presented.

mulberry Korean食堂 is located on the second floor. It’s near Hsinchu Railway Station, by the moat, and adjacent to Jingpin City Shopping Mall.

There’s an elevator, even though it’s just the second floor XD

As a K-drama fan, my priorities are just a bit different XDD — the first thing I noticed wasn’t the restaurant decor but the handsome poster of Goblin...

Industrial style often feels cold and harsh, but Korean style is all about vibrancy, so mulberry Korean食堂 goes for a retro colorful industrial design. Every corner is super photogenic. Truthfully, I didn’t used to like industrial style at all!! I always thought it felt cold, but adding colors really made it much more appealing.

This is my favorite angle — the vibrant, palette-like retro European industrial vibe, paired with that clock and chandelier, looks amazing.

The restaurant also offers foosball for everyone to play. Personally, I think the decor would be perfect for adding a couple of dart machines — losers could get punished with a shot of soju or cheongju.

There are restrooms inside the restaurant.

Sofa seating area

Stylish high stool area

Private room area

The space inside is so spacious — isn’t this place just perfect for photos? IG influencers, remember to dress up for your photoshoots.

The restaurant is so big they even have call buttons. Handsome oppa and cute noona staff will come over to serve you right away.

Menu

Pitaya & Pineapple Cheongju – NT$250

Such a big pitcher!!! The color is so pitaya-esque!! Bright red, it’s a cheongju (Korean rice wine) with the fruity aromas of pitaya and pineapple.

● ETNEWS reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, don’t drive if you’ve been drinking.

To be honest, I wouldn’t dare drink straight Korean cheongju... But with the added fruity aroma of pitaya and pineapple, it’s so much tastier — sweet, fruity, and with a subtle hint of alcohol.

Deep Water Peach Bomb – NT$100

The famous “deep water bomb” from K-dramas is this one!! It’s basically the beer + liquor combo concept... likely using Korean beer as the base, a small cup of peach soju is dropped into it — that’s the deep water bomb.

A fun visual Korean-style cocktail, and I actually find it quite tasty. Soju can be hard for many people to enjoy, but mixed with beer, it becomes much more drinkable.

● ETNEWS reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, don’t drive if you’ve been drinking.

Complimentary side dish: ‘Edamame.’ The restaurant offers a choice between edamame or pickled vegetables — I recommend the edamame. This place’s edamame is seriously too good.

Creative Korean Bibimbap Series

The bibimbap at mulberry Korean食堂 comes in so many creative combinations. I personally think it’s a must-order — big portions and packed with flavors. Mix it all together and take big bites like the K-drama leads — super satisfying.

Yuzu Pork & Veggie Bibimbap – NT$170

I think the meat at Mulberry Korean食堂 is all really good—whether pork, beef, or lamb, the texture is fresh, flavorful, and high-quality. The yuzu pork has a refreshing citrus aroma, and when mixed with seaweed, side dishes, spicy sauce, and a semi-cooked egg, it looks so appetizing with its vibrant red color.

The side dishes and spicy sauce are also key to making bibimbap so good. Among Korean dishes, besides bibimbap, my favorite home-style meal is jjapaguri (mixed noodles), which I always order whenever I see it.

Chuncheon Chicken & Vegetable Bibimbap — NT$170

With the addition of Chuncheon chicken sauce, the flavor becomes quite different, a bit more robust.

The texture and layers are also richer, plus there’s a cheesy aroma.

Korean Fried Chicken & Vegetable Bibimbap — NT$170

For the Korean Fried Chicken & Vegetable Bibimbap, the vegetable mix isn’t much different—the main differences are the spicy sauce and the protein. I love this Korean fried chicken—it’s coated in sweet-spicy sauce and has an authentic Korean flavor. It’s delicious on its own, but even better when mixed into the bibimbap.

Grilled Korean Beef Sirloin — NT$300

Trust me (shrug), the meat dishes at Mulberry Korean食堂 are definitely worth ordering!! All the meat I had that day was super satisfying. This beef sirloin is so tender, incredibly delicious without needing extra seasoning, and for just NT$300, it’s really not expensive.

Cumin Lamb Stir-Fry — NT$200

This is another must-order recommendation. As someone who doesn’t usually like lamb and hates the gamey smell, I quietly finished almost a whole plate!!! Especially when paired with soju or cocktails, it’s an amazing drinking snack. The cumin aroma is strong, the lamb is tender yet chewy, and full of fragrance—but it’s best eaten hot, as it gets gamier when cold.

Cheesy Squid Boat — NT$280

French fries and fried squid, all topped with a mountain of cheese. The calorie and indulgence level here is probably close to villain-tier XDDD

There’s even a flame underneath to slowly melt the cheese. Eating it warm and gooey is absolutely heavenly XD

Sorry, no close-up of the oba-san XDD Wish I’d thrown caution to the wind and taken more pics, darn it.

The cool staff even kindly cut the fried squid into bite-sized pieces for us.

But personally, I like chewing on the whole thing XDD Hot cheese doesn’t stretch much—you’ll have to use your imagination~~~ This combo is just inherently delicious, no need for me to elaborate...

Cheesy Sweet Potato & Rice Cake — NT$150

Don’t ask why I ordered so many cheesy dishes—Korean food just loves adding cheese!!! I’m always curious why Koreans are so obsessed with cheese, to the point of putting it in everything, and lots of it. Ideally, it should be at “cheese avalanche” levels to go viral... But doesn’t all this cheese make it super high-calorie? Still, we had a blast eating it XDDD. The cheese with fries and rice cakes is amazing—the rice cakes and cheese pair well, and the fries are self-explanatorily great. Even though it’s indulgent, it’s just so tasty. How do Koreans stay in shape? So impressive.

Crispy Topped Spicy Rice Cake — NT$150

This is a definite must-order, one of my favorites. It’s like a cheddar bay biscuit concept, but filled with spicy stir-fried rice cakes.

I genuinely think the crispy topping and spicy rice cakes are a perfect match, like soulmates who should never part XD. The crispiness and aroma of the topping enhance the sauce of the spicy rice cakes even more. Together with the soft, chewy rice cakes and the sweet-spicy sauce, the layered flavors are incredible. Highly recommended—a fantastic combo.

Cheesy Amazon Basin — NT$699

And now for the most over-the-top dish!!!! Love cheese? Here’s a whole Amazon River of cheese for you to indulge in..... A huge platter of Korean fried snacks, smothered in a flowing river of cheese, plus a big plate of Chuncheon spicy chicken & rice cake. This is probably enough for three to four people!! Such a massive plate.

The Chuncheon spicy chicken & rice cake—just looking at this bright red plate is enough to whet your appetite. The sweet-spicy seasoning makes both the tender chicken and the rice cakes (coated in the sauce) absolutely delicious. I even dipped the fries in this sauce too!!

Fried Snack Combo

I had fried chicken, fried shrimp, and fries. There might have been other types, but I didn’t get any. You can dip them in the sauce or eat them with lettuce too!!

There’s also fire underneath to keep the cheese bubbling, ensuring the hot, cheesy flavor clings to the fried snacks for maximum deliciousness.

The fried shrimp is coated in a layer of cheese, like it’s wearing royal yellow robes, shining brightly~~~~ Cheese lovers will definitely get excited seeing this XD. Such a huge plate for just NT$699—it’s basically all-you-can-eat cheese.

Hanging out with friends, enjoying great food, taking fun photos, and having a blast eating and drinking. The whole table plus a 10% service charge came to under NT$3000!! Huge portions, super tasty, and the interior is perfect for photos. Decided our next friend’s birthday party will be here!!

mulberry Korean Cuisine
Fan Club
Address: No. 78, Xinyi Street, East District, Hsinchu City
Phone: 03-5281378
Hours: 11:30–15:00 / 17:30–23:00

Traveling is to return to where you came from with deeper understanding.
MIKA’s Food Adventure Journal