Six popular restaurants open in Taichung — foodies no longer need to travel north and south

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The trend of popular dining spots expanding to Taichung has not slowed down. As 2017 came to an end, several restaurants opened new branches in Taichung, sparing local food lovers from traveling across the country. ETtoday News Cloud has compiled a list of recently opened eateries in Taipei — if you're craving them, head on over.

Friends in Taichung can now enjoy soy sauce ramen with the aroma of pine and green onions. (Photo / Reporter Huang Shiyuan)

Tsuta Ramen
“Tsuta” is a Tokyo ramen shop that has been awarded one Michelin star for three consecutive years. It is famous for its signature soy sauce ramen and salt ramen. The broth is made by simmering clams, assorted seafood, and whole chicken separately for extended hours each day, then adding secret recipes of soy sauce and sea salt. Ramen broth is the soul of the dish, and Tsuta’s is crafted using whole chicken, seafood, and clams — simmered for 8 hours, 2–3 hours, and 5 hours respectively — before being blended in the optimal ratio to create the rich soup base. The second Taichung branch commenced operations on December 5th. Tsuta’s founder and head chef, Mr. Onishi Yuki, has also specially created a limited-edition exclusive miso ramen series for Taiwan, available at just 50 bowls per day.

Address: 1F, 1038 Section 4, Taiwan Boulevard, West District, Taichung City (JMall Food Court)

▲ Liao Fan’s Hainanese Chicken Rice, NT$100. (Photo / Reporter Huang Shiyuan)

Liao Fan Hong Kong Soy Sauce Chicken Rice Noodles
The signature dish at Liao Fan Hong Kong Soy Sauce Chicken Rice Noodles is soy sauce chicken. In Taiwan, they use locally raised chicken marinated and slow-cooked in a special broth made with angelica, star anise, and other traditional Chinese herbs, all flown in from Singapore. This allows the chicken to absorb the full flavor, resulting in a glossy, caramelized skin. Compared to traditional Hong Kong-style soy sauce chicken, Liao Fan’s version has a deeper color and richer taste due to the heavier use of soy sauce and additional herbs such as angelica, star anise, and cloves — making it a great match for meals even in hot weather.

Address: 1F, 1038 Section 4, Taiwan Boulevard, West District, Taichung City (JMall Food Court)

▲ The broth in this small pot of old-fire soup. (Photo / From the official fan page of This Little Pot)

This Little Pot
85°C observed shifting consumer trends, with growing demand for novelty, affordable pricing, and diverse options. Thus, its new personal hotpot brand “This Little Pot” was launched, positioned as “new trends meets fast gourmet.” Its first branch in Taichung opened on October 31st, followed by a second in Taipei at CITYLINK Songshan No. 2 on November 24th, and then a third back in Taichung at Lihpao Outlet on November 30th.

The signature feature of This Little Pot’s broths is the ability to taste fragrance, sweetness, numbness, sourness, and freshness. Exclusive broth varieties include Classic Stone Pot (fragrant), Golden Sukiyaki (sweet), Imperial Spicy Hotpot (numbing), Premium Pickled Vegetable Hotpot (sour), and Old-Fire Soup (umami), offering five classic flavors.

Dali Defang South Branch
Address: 1F–2F, No. 259, Defang South Road, Dali District, Taichung City
Phone: 04 2483 1234

Taichung Lihpao Branch
Address: 1F, No. 201, Furon Road, Houli District, Taichung City (Lihpao Outlet)
Phone: 04 2558 1818


▲ Hanlai Restaurant’s menu blends Cantonese, Taiwanese, and Shanghai cuisines. (Photo / Provided by Hanlai Cuisine)

Hanlai Restaurant
Hanlai Cuisine’s brand “Hanlai Restaurant” officially launched its first Taiwan branch on October 20th on the 13th floor of GSSSOGO Department Store in Taichung Guangsan. Formerly known as Hanlai Cuixuan Cantonese Restaurant, the brand expanded to Shanghai last October and has returned to Taiwan this year with high popularity. Taichung is its first stop. Blending Cantonese, Taiwanese, and Shanghai cuisines, the restaurant tailors dishes to better suit local tastes. Recommended signature dishes include nostalgia Eight-Treasure Duck, dry-fried spicy chicken, honeycomb lychee lotus vegetarian dish, fruitwood-smoked fennel ribs, freshly roasted Peking duck, Shaoxing wine steamed crab with rice cake, gastrodia elata fish head stew, garlic crispy shrimp, and fruity juice shrimp balls.

Address: 13F, No. 459, Section 2, Taiwan Boulevard, West District, Taichung City (Taichung Guangsan SOGO Department Store)


▲ Texas Roadhouse, the steak chain, expands out of Taipei for the first time and opens its third branch in Taichung. (Photo / Provided by Texas Roadhouse)

Texas Roadhouse Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse Steakhouse, a steakhouse chain, is expanding beyond the Taipei area into central Taiwan, opening its largest standalone branch overseas in Taichung Municipal Boulevard. It officially launched on October 5th. The Taichung branch of Texas Roadhouse features a new Western industrial casual style, with a ceiling height of 7 meters creating a spacious and comfortable ambiance. The 150-ping space includes 200 indoor seats and 16 outdoor seats. The menu offers nearly 70 authentic Texan-American dishes, including 12 types of Texan appetizers, 4 cuts of beef with 6 different main course combinations, 10 side dishes, and beverages.

Texas Roadhouse Taichung Branch
Address: No. 6, 581 Zhèngzhì Lù, Xītún District, Taichung City
Phone: (04) 2258-5395

The egg tarts at Howood Hong Kong Café are not Portuguese-style tarts but have a flavor unique to Hong Kong. Their most distinctive feature is the 192-layer puff pastry. (Photo / Photographer Huang Shiyuan)

Howood Hong Kong Café
Hong Kong-style café Howood Café opened its first branch in Taiwan—Howood Hong Kong Café—at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store’s Xin Yi A11 in Taipei on May 5. During meal times, there has always been a long queue. In addition to the 92-layer puff pastry egg tarts and Hong Kong-style pineapple buns, the Hong Kong-style meals are also very popular. Now, Howood Hong Kong Café is set to expand to Taichung, with its second branch opening at B1 of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taichung Zhonggang, expected to debut on December 23. After that, friends in Taichung will also be able to enjoy the 192-layer puff pastry egg tarts and Hong Kong-style pineapple buns.

Howood Hong Kong Café Taichung Branch
Address: B1, No. 301, Section 3, Táiwān Dàdào, Xītún District, Taichung City