Grand Reconstruction of Eslite Spectrum’s Food Court in Taichung: 14 Popular Dining Brands Move In

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Following the food court at Taipei’s Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A11, multiple dining options have also been introduced on the 9th and 10th floors of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Zhonggang Store in Taichung. Most restaurants are set to open on December 21st. Including the smoothie shop on the 1st floor, a total of 14 popular food brands will be stationed here. Among the must-line-up spots are Kaneko Hannosuke, Dim Dim Sum, the World’s Second Best Ice Cream Pineapple Bun, Kenchima-Ya, and Maisen Pork Cutlet.


▲ Super cute pork bun with molten filling. (Photo / Huang Shih-yuan)

Dim Dim Sum (10th Floor)
Dim Dim Sum opened its first branch in Jordan, Hong Kong in 2010. In Taiwan, it was introduced by celebrity A-Wei. Currently, there are over 20 types of Hong Kong-style dim sum available in Taiwan. The flavors have been slightly adjusted, as Taiwanese diners generally prefer less sweet and greasy dishes. With the original Hong Kong menu featuring over 40 items, less popular dishes will gradually be phased out, while new dim sum offerings from Hong Kong will be introduced. A-Wei, who brought Dim Dim Sum to Taiwan, recommends the Pork Bun with Molten Filling, Honest Pineapple Bun, Crystal Shrimp Dumplings, and Crispy Shrimp Sausage.


▲ Edomae-style Tian N<. The menu includes sea eel, prawns, scallops, squid seafood tempura, dragon roll, half-cooked fried egg, and fried seaweed chips. (Photo by Huang Shiyuan)

Kaneko Hannosuke (10th Floor)
Japan’s Queued-Up Favorite: Kaneko Hannosuke Tian Tan (Heavenly Tendon) Ramen. The specialty store opened in Taiwan last November and currently has two branches—the Taipei Railway Station location and the Mitsui Outlet Park. The Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taichung branch is set to open on December 28. The Taiwan branches offer not only the “Edomae Tian Tan” (Edo-style tendon ramen) from the main bridge shop in Japan but also “Heavenly Tendon” and “Tendon” variations, totaling three types of dishes. The “ano cho” (star-shaped eel) used in the Edo-style tendon ramen is imported from Japan and is longer than a palm. As for the secret sauce that is essential to Kaneko Hannosuke, it is also prepared in Japan and then shipped to Taiwan."/travel/pic/20171130/d9f90e71df1b4d5b05a461913b06cda1.jpg" alt="" />
▲ The World’s Second Best Freshly Baked Ice Cream Pineapple Bun is Coming to Taichung! (Photo / Huang Shih-yuan)

The World’s Second Best Freshly Baked Ice Cream Pineapple Bun (10th Floor)
This Japanese-style favorite, the freshly baked ice cream pineapple bun, features a hot, crispy-outside-soft-inside pineapple bread filled with ice cream (available in classic vanilla, matcha, and chocolate flavors), offering a unique hot-and-cold taste experience. Each freshly baked ice cream pineapple bun is priced at NT$120, and pineapple buns are also sold separately at NT$80 each.


▲ Maisen Pork Cutlet’s exclusive “Pork Cutlet Trilogy” set thoughtfully serves the cutlet in small, bite-sized pieces. (Photo / Reporter Tsai Wen-jun)

MAiSEN Maisen Pork Cutlet (10th Floor)
The top-ranked pork cutlet specialty in Japan, “MAiSEN Maisen,” which is a must-try in Tokyo, will open its second branch in Taichung in December, following the debut of its first Taiwan store at Taipei’s Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A9 on October 20th. Maisen’s signature dish is its pork cutlet made with Kagoshima black pork “Kuro no Shou” and white pork “Satsuma-nishiki,” available in lean rib and tenderloin options, though each set is priced higher at NT$750. All sinews are carefully removed from the pork before cooking, making the cutlets easier to bite into.

Other popular dining options include:

● Jamba Juice (1st Floor)
● HOPS Craft Beer & Gastropub (10th Floor)
● mia cucina (10th Floor)
● Ippudo (10th Floor)
● Shi Shi Xiang RICE BAR (9th Floor)
● Kenchima-Ya (9th Floor)
● Kurogome-ya (9th Floor)
● Liang Ban Jia (9th Floor)
● Chun Shui Tang (10th Floor)
● Wa City (10th Floor)


▲ Ganbei Kurogome-ya Zhonggang Store introduces a group hotpot service for the first time. The image shows the Large Satisfaction Sea & Land Set for 4 people, priced at NT$3,480. (Photo / Provided by Ganbei Group)