Carefully selected ingredients and generous portions — Taichung’s Self-Confidence Dining Hall attracts student crowds

Text and photos byAmon

It had been a while since I last strolled down Daqing Street near my old school. I’d heard there had been quite a few changes in the dining scene here. Over the years, some shops closed down while others opened, and I’d grown used to seeing such turnovers. This time, I came back because I got an invitation from Self-Confidence Dining Hall. As I walked along Daqing Street again, I noticed some more shops had disappeared, but Yiduwu, Gai Zai Zhe Li, and Lai Yi Ke Niu Pai were still open for business. Self-Confidence Dining Hall is located on the corner, right next to a convenience store, making it easy to find. There’s also motorcycle parking out front, so getting there is convenient.

There are outdoor seating options, but with the scorching heat, I figured everyone would prefer air conditioning, so I opted for indoor seating.

There aren’t many indoor seats, mainly because half the space is taken up by the kitchen, leaving only about ten or so tables and chairs. The place often gets fully booked during meal times, so it’s best to make a reservation early or avoid peak hours. The interior is simple and modest, typical of a small eatery. The money saved on decor goes into higher-quality ingredients, providing students with a reassuring place to enjoy a meal.

The menu is pretty straightforward, featuring the shop’s signature curry rice series. The curry options come with varying spice levels, and prices are around NT$100 — not expensive at all. There are also udon noodles on the menu. If you just want to hang out with friends, have drinks, chat, and snack, there are options like pork cutlets and korokke (Japanese croquettes), most of which are under NT$100.

Drinks come in two main categories: tea and lattes. Some drinks can be served hot, and black tea and green tea are offered at special prices, making them even more affordable.

The drink cups are quite unique once they’re served. It was the first time I’d seen cups like these — nothing like the usual paper or Styrofoam ones. Self-Confidence Dining Hall’s cups have a premium feel to them, with patterns embossed in relief, making them less slippery to hold. They’ve really gone all out on this. I heard these cups are also more eco-friendly, causing less pollution to the environment. It’s clear a lot of thought went into this.

Green Tea NT$25, Black Tea NT$25 — You can definitely taste the tea flavor, and it helps cut through the richness of the meal.

Signature Egg Salad NT$50 — You rarely see a whole portion of egg salad sold like this in restaurants; usually, it’s just a small scoop as a side dish. Made fresh daily in limited quantities, many customers actually take some home to enjoy with breakfast. The rich eggy flavor blends well with the texture and taste of potatoes and carrots, with a hint of sweetness and moisture. It’s really tasty. I immediately asked the staff to pack one to go for later, but they told me it was the last one of the day. Is it really that popular?

Crispy Squid Rings NT$100 — The squid rings are fairly large, with a crispy outer layer and a pleasantly chewy bite. Not bad at all. Eating these makes you want to crack open a beer and catch the World Cup.

Handmade Korokke (Croquettes) NT$50 for three — These are homemade korokke, different from the usual ones you find outside. They look round with a crispy outside and soft inside, but the filling is made with ground pork, giving off a delicious meaty aroma instead of potato or corn.

Here’s a cross-section for you — the outer layer looks super crispy, and the filling is very generous. It’s crispy and soft at the same time, absolutely delicious. This is definitely a must-try dish.

If you don’t want the original flavor, the shop also offers special sauces that can be paired with the korokke to enhance the taste a bit. What flavor the sauce is, though, is a secret — you’ll have to find out when you visit the shop.

Self-Confidence Kimchi Soup Udon NT$120 — After a few appetizers, it’s time for the main course. Watching other tables enjoy their curry rice and udon made my stomach growl. First up was this generously topped kimchi udon. I asked them to set the kimchi aside for now so I could add it to the udon myself — otherwise, it would normally just be dropped straight into the soup. Although it’s called udon, there are also four generous slices of char siu (BBQ pork), almost like eating ramen. There’s also wakame seaweed, shredded egg, greens, and fish slices. So good.

This isn’t your usual udon either — there are no hot pot ingredients or meatballs, which can be heavy on the body and affect the flavor of the broth. So the owner decided to skip those and use fresher ingredients instead. The udon noodles are fairly wide, making them smooth and easy to slurp. The broth has a light, sweet umami taste, probably simmered with vegetables. It pairs nicely with the udon. After finishing the plain broth, you can add the shop’s special fruit kimchi, which adds quite a bit of spice but also brings out the tangy flavor of the kimchi and the sweetness of the fruit. The taste is unique, but since I can’t handle spicy food very well, adding the kimchi made this bowl a bit too much for me.

I thought the char siu would taste pretty ordinary, but after one bite, I realized I was wrong. The texture and flavor are very similar to what you’d get in Japanese ramen shops — tender and easy to eat, not chewy at all. I highly recommend this char siu; it could probably be sold on its own. It’s way better than the char siu you get at many Taiwanese-style ramen shops.

Curry Pork Cutlet Rice NT$130 (Not Spicy) — Looking at the photo above, you’re probably all wondering, “Where’s the pork cutlet?” We had the same question at first. Where’s the pork cutlet we were promised? All I saw were a few things that looked like chicken tenders. Keep reading to find out.

This meal comes with non-spicy curry. The curry is made fresh daily by the shop, not from instant packets. The flavor leans Japanese, with a fruity sweetness. The sauce is thick but also has characteristics of Taiwanese curry, with big chunks of potato, carrot, and tender pork. So it’s a bit of a blend between Taiwanese and Japanese styles. The curry smells great, but after trying the grilled curry rice, I realized a bit more spice would have enhanced the aroma even more. Going with the non-spicy version was a bit of a miss. Also, the pork in the curry is really good — I wish there were more pieces.

Now, onto the pork cutlet. As shown in the photo above, this is the “pork cutlet.” Haha, if you’re surprised, that’s okay — I was too. This Self-Confidence Dining Hall is really creative. Who says pork cutlets have to be served as a whole slab? Instead, they cut the cutlet into strips, coat them, and fry them, so what you get are strips, not a whole piece. To be honest, I thought it was delicious from the first bite. The meat is closer to pork tenderloin, but it’s not dry and still has some juiciness. The cutlet also has a bit of bounce to it, which was beyond my expectations. Dip it in the rich curry sauce, and it’s even better.

Grilled Curry Rice NT$130 (Mildly Spicy) — Grilling takes longer, so this dish was the last to arrive. The aroma of the grilled curry is mouthwatering, and because it includes cheese, it smells even more fragrant than the curry pork cutlet rice. Several other tables turned their heads, trying to locate the source of the smell.

The ingredients are similar to the curry rice, but because it’s mildly spicy, it suits my taste better. It’s fragrant and spicy, making you hungrier the more you eat. I personally recommend this one. If you want grilled curry and can handle a bit of spice, you shouldn’t miss it.

I felt like I’d ordered too much, but everything was so delicious. It was the kind of meal where you keep taking bites while chatting with friends and end up finishing the whole table’s worth. Awesome.

Overall, being in a school district, the prices aren’t high. The food quality is above average. I personally recommend the curry series. There’s also air conditioning, so you can escape the summer heat. It’s a great spot for students to hang out, chat, and eat, or you can take food to go and eat at home. I recommend this place to everyone. The above is just my personal opinion for reference.

【Self-Confidence Dining Hall】
Phone: 04-22601663
Address: No. 15-3, Section 2, Daqing Street, South District, Taichung City
Price: From NT$25