Must-eats in 2017！A lazy guide to 10 recommended BBQ restaurants in Taichung by travel experts

Text and photos by /Feitian Xuan

I think eating grilled meat is a very happy thing. Gathering around the grill with loved ones and friends, eating meat heartily and chatting joyfully creates such a delightful atmosphere. There are many BBQ restaurants I love that I’ve visited over and over again… four times even. So—although I don’t eat out often, every place I recommend is one I genuinely enjoyed and would suggest to others！

Sen Sen BBQ

Address: No. 382, Section 2, Liming Rd., Nantun District, Taichung City
Tel: (04)2258-2302
Business hours: 11:00–1:00

Review: Sen Sen BBQ has long enjoyed a solid reputation in Taichung—so good that they even opened a second branch on Gōngyì Rd. I finally came to pay my respects… To be honest, my dining experience that day didn’t quite live up to expectations. However, my friend who came along insisted that the quality used to be really good on previous visits. Out of trust in their judgment, I’m still willing to give it another shot—and maybe bring some friends along next time.

Waku BBQ

Address: No. 16, Minquan Rd., Central District, Taichung City
Tel: (04)2223-1188
Business hours: 17:30–midnight (Weekends: 11:30–16:00; 17:30–24:00)

Review: Enjoying grilled meat in a century-old Japanese-style historic house leaves a deep impression—both the environment and the service are remarkable. The ingredients are incredibly fresh, and portions are generous. They also serve their homemade kakigori (shaved ice), which you won’t find at other BBQ joints.

Ooma BBQ

Address: No. 168, Guo’an 1st Rd., Xitun District, Taichung City
Tel: (04)2465-2222
Business hours: 11:00–midnight

Review: Ooma is practically the representative of Taichung’s BBQ scene, so no need for too many words about its reputation. In short… after opening their new Guo’an branch in Xitun District late last year, the crowds at Ooma are now a bit more spread out.

Article link:http://carriewang.pixnet.net/blog/post/41837080

Kushiyaki Kazama

Address: No. 171-1, Section 2, Gōngyì Rd., Central District, Taichung City
Tel: (04)2328-1855
Business hours: 11:30–16:00; 17:30–midnight

Review: American Angus beef chuck flap and short ribs, beautifully marbled at 30%—this is the signature cut from the shop’s “Kazama Style” selection. When grilling, the whole piece is placed flat on the grill, then flipped over for double-sided searing until you can see the buttery fat “dancing.” This really takes skill, and I was afraid of messing it up, so the staff offered to grill the special cuts for me. As a rule of grilling: never push your luck for the sake of flavor… or you might ruin a great piece of meat！

Article link:http://carriewang.pixnet.net/blog/post/46914784

Ichigyu Japanese BBQ & Sake

Address: No. 162, Section 2, Gōngyì Rd., Nantun District, Taichung City
Tel: (04)2320-6800
Business hours: 11:00~00:00

Review: This plate came to the table looking absolutely epic—we were stunned on the spot. The presentation was just phenomenal, wasn’t it? I came to the right place today, haha!! The American Supreme Scallop Beef Short Rib looks even more impressive because the marbling resembles the patterns on a seashell, hence the name "Scallop." In terms of both color and marbling, it outshines the Supreme Black Wagyu above it. As for tenderness, no need to elaborate—it melts in your mouth, bursting with savory juices and aroma, with the fat dancing on your tongue. It's beyond satisfying—you'll feel like twirling around with joy.

Note: My first impression of “One Cow” wasn’t that great, but after their recent menu revamp, I feel the quality has improved, and both the ambiance and service are excellent.

Article link:http://carriewang.pixnet.net/blog/post/46826146

Laoganbei @ Taichung City Hall Branch

Address: No. 209, Section 2, Wenxin Rd., West District, Taichung City
Phone: (04)2254-9777
Business hours: 11:30~15:00; 17:00~23:00

Review: The marbling on the premium boneless beef short rib is honestly...stunningly beautiful!! (Sorry, I’m being a bit dramatic!) The Wagyu is so tender and juicy—truly melt-in-your-mouth level. It could easily be described as melting in your mouth, although the marbling is quite intense, and you might feel a little guilty while eating it.

Article link:http://carriewang.pixnet.net/blog/post/46541653

Dizang Wagyu BBQ

Address: No. 36, Daguan Rd., South District, Taichung City
Phone: (04)2389-2227
Business hours: PM17:00~AM2:00

Review: The brisket—the marbling is just incredibly alluring. How can raw meat make your mouth water like this? The beef tongue actually tastes quite similar to beef, just with a slightly chewy texture. If no one told you, you probably wouldn’t realize it’s tongue. The brisket was grilled to perfection—super tender and juicy. Eaten plain without any sauce, it’s delicious just as it is.

Note: I went right when they first opened. Dizang’s ingredients are genuinely top-notch, though the grilling skills of the staff that day were still a bit inexperienced. Now that it’s been a year since opening, things should be more polished.

Article link:http://carriewang.pixnet.net/blog/post/45909674

One Barrel Korean New Cuisine

Address: No. 166-60, Section 3, Xitun Rd., West District, Taichung City
Phone: (04)2461-9090
Business hours: AM 11:30~PM15:00; PM17:00~AM01:00

Review: The staff advised us to grill the pork belly first—I guess it’s to help render the fat on the grill. The pork collar can be wrapped with cheese inside—it gets richer in flavor and has a milky, savory taste. Wrap it in lettuce to keep it from getting too heavy. Honestly… having a bottle of real soju would’ve made it perfect.

Note: Compared to other BBQ joints, One Barrel’s meat is pretty average, but the service is great, portions are generous, and the value is high.

Article link:http://carriewang.pixnet.net/blog/post/45849958

Dragon Eight BBQ

Address: No. 169, Section 3, Chungde Rd., Beitun District, Taichung City
Phone: (04)2422-9878
Business hours: AM10:30~PM15:00; PM17:30~PM23:00

Review: Beef ribs upped the game. We grilled them until the outside was slightly charred, and the aroma was incredible. Whether eaten alone or wrapped in lettuce, both ways are delicious. Most of the beef we had that day was top quality. The seafood tower included freshly caught Thai shrimp, fresh Yunlin clams, and Beimen golden oysters...(The menu said there were also Penghu squid, but I don’t remember seeing them—or did we just not get any??)

Article link:http://carriewang.pixnet.net/blog/post/45853618

Yakitori Market . Totoya

Address: No. 2, Chaofu Road, Xitun District, Taichung City
Phone: (04)3702-3399
Business hours: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM; 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Review: The beef was grilled for us by the young manager of the shop — he’s really good with meat. Moreover, he kept an eye on everything and had his ears open to all, so while grilling the beef for us, he could still chat with us. And when Pengtao dropped his spoon, he immediately buzzed over to have a staff member bring us a new one — now that’s professionalism. The beef was grilled to perfection — tender, juicy, and full of that rich beefy aroma. The flavor is bold but not overly salty, absolutely delicious!!

I visited “Yakitori Market” again recently, and after comparing the two visits, I personally prefer the first experience.

Article link:http://carriewang.pixnet.net/blog/post/45783097

The above 10 yakitori shops are my personal, non-responsible recommendations. I only revisit restaurants I’ve enjoyed eating at before, and among the above, five have been visited at least twice, with three of them visited more than four times. Also — if there are other great yakitori spots not on this list, please feel free to recommend them. I’ll try to visit them when I get the chance... Thanks everyone!! ^^

Feitianxuan
I record the food, fun, and emotions in my life with a light-hearted tone "锛br /> Blog、FB