Taipei’s Yongkang Street area offers generous portions of multi-national cuisine — burgers, dumplings, pizza, you name it

Text & Photos /Xiao Hu’s Dream Food Blog

The Yongkang Street area (Dongmen Station) has long been a bustling dining battleground where tourists and locals alike flock. Here, you can find delicious food from around the world, even down to alleyway snack culture. BUT, what if you’re with a group of friends with different tastes — is there one place that can satisfy everyone? Pizza, pasta, risotto, steak, American-style fried foods, even classic Taiwanese dishes like San Bei Ji (three-cup chicken) and dumplings?? And somehow, they even have cocktails, plus a wide selection of drinks suitable for all ages… And did I mention it’s super super super close to the MRT?

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Even though the title says “third visit,” I’ve actually been here more than five times. Whenever I’m in the Yongkang commercial district and feel hungry or thirsty, not knowing what to eat or drink, I always think of “Focus Kitchen Ken’s Kitchen.” Especially when I’m with picky eaters, because this place has so many menu options and generous portions that it can satisfy foodies of all kinds XD.

I remember the first time I made plans with friends to meet here — the long bar on the first floor was fully packed. I even complained to my friend that the place was full and we should go somewhere else… but then I found out…

There’s actually a spacious dining area in the basement, where many nearby schools and companies often hold dining events.

Also next door, there’s a semi-open private room that can seat about two groups of four people each, and it can even be adjusted for various party sizes.

That day happened to be the eve of Halloween, and the place was decorated top to bottom with a fun, spooky vibe.

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If I remember correctly, Ken initially made a name for himself in the Yongkang commercial district with “American-style cuisine,” offering hearty and delicious portions that were especially popular with young students.

Later, to meet broader customer demand, it added Italian dishes such as pizza, pasta, and risotto, and then introduced brunch favorites like sandwiches and burgers that are especially loved by young women.

Especially the burgers, which are quite a popular choice in the Yongkang Street area.

As for desserts, the options may not be as varied as the main meals, but they’re mostly solid — tiramisu and chocolate brownies are the signature items.

The drinks and flavorings are also plentiful, with a huge selection that’s more than enough to choose from.

I recently heard they’ve also started offering Taiwanese-style fried rice, set meals, dumplings, and other business lunches... really, they have everything, and nothing seems out of place.

The seasonings on the table are still largely in an American style. Alright, now let’s take a look at just how many delicious tricks Ken’s Kitchen has up its sleeve.

American Cowboy Combo Plate – 780 NT$, featuring almost all of the American fried favorites that have long been popular with customers. It’s perfect for a group of friends to enjoy with lots of drinks and big bites.

Their french fries have always been a favorite of mine — crispy and fragrant, not greasy at all, and the ketchup? Not even needed, just keep eating them one after another, no worries about getting fat XD.

They’re a little dark from frying, but surprisingly not greasy, and the melted cheese in the middle has an amazingly chewy texture.

The sweet and tangy sauce gives these chicken wings a smooth mouthfeel and that irresistible finger-licking satisfaction. The wings are tender just the way I like them.

Onion rings have always been my favorite American fried item. Ken’s version is crispy and slightly crunchy, and the onions manage to stay juicy, giving a refreshing, watery contrast alongside their sweetness in the second bite.

The ribs are incredibly tender, practically falling off the bone with little effort. The edges are nicely charred, and coated with a rich mushroom flavor that makes you feel like you’re devouring a juicy steak. It’s seriously satisfying.

Business Lunch: Salmon Fried Rice (with half-boiled egg) – 200 NT$. (Includes a choice of one drink: Coke, 7-Up, black tea, milk tea, or coffee. Applies to other business lunches as well.)

Don’t let the fact that it’s an American-Italian restaurant fool you — the rice here is stir-fried nice and fluffy, with each grain distinct. The salmon brings a fresh, slightly salty flavor, and the ever-sinful half-boiled egg adds extra creaminess. It’s a hit both taste-wise and texture-wise.

Seafood Tomato Sauce Pasta – 360 NT$. If I had to pick the most delicious dish of the day, it might be this surprising pasta. The seasoning is spot-on, and the ingredients — both seafood and veggies — are incredibly generous. The fish chunks are sweet and tender, the shrimp are crispy and sweet with a slight charred aroma, and there’s plenty of squid too.

Also, what I love about this dish is the wide pasta noodles — they’re super chewy with a rich pasta flavor, and the tomato sauce is bold and full of umami. It’s insanely good.

Spicy Chicken Pizza – 270 NT$. They didn’t lie about the spice level — it’s pretty hot, with that classic chili powder spiciness. But the generous amount of cheese helps tone down the heat a bit, and the emulsification is honestly one of the best I’ve had in a pizza. The chicken, onions, and other toppings are piled high, and the crust is relatively soft with a slight chew, making it quite easy to eat. But you’ll definitely want a drink — there’s a lot of cheese (laughs).

Club Sandwich – 250 NT$. I don’t know why, but there’s something oddly satisfying and almost mischievously appealing about a regular sandwich served with a pile of fries. It may seem ordinary, but the bread is perfectly toasted and crispy, and the fillings — ham, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes — all do their part beautifully. It hits the spot.

German pork knuckle for 550 NTD (top), seafood platter for 649 NTD (bottom) (the set includes soup, salad, chef’s bread, main course, dessert, and drink).

The German pork knuckle is incredibly chewy, salty and flavorful—I absolutely love the Q-textured, fatty skin of the knuckle. They also cleverly wrapped an egg around a large pork bone, letting the egg absorb some of the knuckle’s fat, which makes it especially delicious.

The seafood platter features premium American beef (4 oz), angel shrimp, squid, deep-sea dorado, and mussels.

The steak is cooked to about medium rare, with a very tender texture and a nicely seared crust—especially the fatty edges, which I loved. The squid and mussels were also quite good.

The garlic bread that came with the set was surprisingly enjoyable, whether it was the crispness of the bread crust or the rich garlic spread on top.

Although it’s part of the set meal, this chicken Caesar salad was definitely not an afterthought. The portion isn’t huge, but the flavor is refreshing and pairs perfectly with the slightly greasy meat dishes.

For drinks (left): Red Coral Reef for 110 NTD, (right): Chocolate Mocha for 130 NTD. Interestingly, to match Halloween, they even put two eyeballs inside for effect... it looks a bit... but it actually tastes pretty good (laughs).

Iced fruit tea for 150 NTD. The iced fruit tea is super refreshing, mainly flavored with passion fruit—so tangy, so V, highly recommended.

Oreo milkshake for 180 NTD. This Oreo milkshake is sickeningly sweet yet irresistible, with a thick and smooth texture that I really like—just a bit too sweet, haha.

Three-cup chicken set meal for 220 NTD. Next up is a Chinese business lunch set tailored for nearby office workers, which apparently can also be taken away. (It also comes with a choice of one drink: cola, 7-Up, black tea, milk tea, or coffee.) The three-cup chicken has the full stir-fry vibe, with a savory sauce that’s slightly thick and sweet—perfect when paired with plain rice or a cold beer (laughs). The side dish, a slightly Western-style scrambled egg, is one of my favorites, especially when eaten with a drizzle of the three-cup sauce.

Chive dumplings for 60 NTD (10 pieces, also available in cabbage flavor). This place even sells dumplings—nothing would surprise me if they started selling other dishes too XXD.

The wrapper has a moderate thickness with a slight bite that takes two or three seconds to chew through. The ratio of chives to pork is roughly 1:3, and you won’t get bad breath from the strong chive flavor. It’s especially tasty when dipped in a specially made chili-soy sauce.

Focus Kitchen (Ken’s Kitchen)
Address: No. 6, Lane 198, Section 2, Xinyi Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02 2395 7917
Business hours: 09:00–22:00

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