Taichung’s late-night eatery: A refreshing spicy "oden" tucked in an alleyway

Text & photos byGui Xiaosun

If I’m being honest about what first draws me to food spots, I have to admit that as someone who judges books by their covers, I’m definitely attracted to "aesthetically pleasing" shops. Recently, while searching #TaichungFood on Instagram, we stumbled upon this place called "LaLa Zhu," which made us decide to head there for dinner right away. That’s when I realized—eating out sometimes requires spontaneity. Some places just make you want to drop everything and go.

But let us be upfront—the space design and ambiance of "LaLa Zhu" appealed to us more than the food itself. Maybe it’s because we had pegged it as spicy oden, yet for two spice-loving eaters like us, the heat was barely noticeable, which was a bit disappointing. The ingredients were great, but the broth and dry noodles weren’t particularly impressive. Still, adventurous diners should give it a try—tastes really are subjective after all.

If you’re from Taichung, you probably know that "LaLa Zhu" is located on Zhongqin Street, near Linsen Road and Wucyuan Road. It seems like more and more little shops are popping up around here lately. The old buildings near the Cultural Center and the Art Museum are starting to buzz with new energy—we can’t wait to see what unique elements will emerge here. Winter commutes always make us crave something warm, whether it’s noodle soup, hot pot, or oden. It warms not just your stomach but also your heart after a long day. When you see the lights of such cozy little shops glowing late at night, it really feels comforting. It has the full charm of a "late-night diner."

Stepping into "LaLa Zhu" made us love the space even more. The large open kitchen creates an immersive atmosphere of flavors. The white tiled walls are beautiful, the big counter is stunning, and the way the ingredients are displayed is simply delightful. I genuinely hope to have a kitchen like this someday. Vegetables, meatballs, noodles, meats—all the ingredients are neatly and comfortably arranged in their containers, creating a visually pleasing scene. Prices are clear, and there’s a wide selection—you can take your time choosing whatever you like.

We picked a spot we liked and noticed that this spacious area offers seating for groups of five, cozy bar stools for solo diners, and sections for two or four people. If you’re in a big group and want to reserve ahead, you can probably call "LaLa Zhu" to book a table. After all, finding good seats is essential when gathering with friends for a meal.

The space is filled with small, fresh, and indie-style design touches that fans of minimalist aesthetics will love—wooden tables and chairs, tumbler toys, and illustrated motifs create a uniquely Japanese oden vibe. The self-serve utensil area has a highlight: Taichung’s classic "Dongquan Chili Sauce." But we have a weird habit when eating oden—we prefer it plain, without any sauce.

We ordered a huge assortment of ingredients, and the owner kindly divided them into two portions for us. We chose the high stool seating area because the lighting here is beautiful. On a dark winter evening, eating oden under such warm lights feels absolutely heartwarming. It wasn’t until we started taking photos that we remembered—"LaLa Zhu" doesn’t actually mean "spicy oden" in the fiery sense. It turns out the name refers to the addition of chili and Sichuan peppercorns to the broth for flavor. But honestly, since we usually eat spicy food, the broth didn’t really taste "spicy" to us. On the edge of the plate, the owner introduced what he said was Japanese yellow mustard?! That stuff was pretty spicy and addictive. A light dip gave our mouths a pleasant kick, which we really enjoyed.

"LaLa Zhu"’s oden ingredients come in a wide variety. Personally, I love the simple slices of meat, tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet), crab sticks, and chikuwa (fish cake). The freshly cooked feel makes everything feel pure and wonderful. Interestingly, we kept thinking the broth had a familiar taste—it reminded us of the broth used in minced pork noodle soup.

Besides oden, we also ordered two bowls of dry noodle soup with minced pork. At that moment, we really craved some fresh chili and chopped scallions. The minced pork was a bit oily—we thought it was okay—but our friend didn’t like it much. In the end, I ended up finishing both bowls myself (Rome wasn’t built in a day!). Come winter, nothing beats coming home from work and having a warm bowl of soup. Oden has become one of our favorite post-work meals—not as indulgent as hot pot, and you can pick your favorite ingredients. But it’s interesting how each oden shop has its own unique take on the "broth," which is why whether you like it or not really is a matter of personal taste. Although "LaLa Zhu" won’t make it onto our revisit list, the lovely space still left a strong impression. Maybe you’ll give it a try and see if it’s your kind of place.

LaLa Zhu. Spicy Oden
Address: No. 148, Zhongqin Street, West District, Taichung City
Phone: 04 2372 2311
Business Hours: 16:00–00:00
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