Is there enough meat and rice? A newly opened hot pot restaurant in Taipei blends modern vibes with heartfelt warmth.

Text & photos byA Man’s Daily Life
(Text by Man E, photos by Man J)

The “Gou Gou Meat,” which just opened on August 15th on Taipei’s Da’an Road, is a hot pot restaurant that focuses on meat. In addition to the various types of beef recommended by the restaurant, there are also other meat options and seafood platters to choose from. The stylish white brick décor gives the experience of dining in a high-end café while enjoying hot pot.

Gou Gou Meat is located about a 10-minute walk from Taipei Da’an MRT Station, at the corner of an alleyway. Next to the entrance, there's a creatively designed pull-up bar. Nearby office workers say that in recent days, they’ve often seen groups of people taking on the challenge to see if their “muscles are Gou Gou (enough)!”

Gou Gou Meat features a modern all-white color scheme—white walls, white tables, white brick benches paired with black cookware and utensils, black pillars, black slogans, and black chairs. The soul of the space—the premium meats—is then highlighted in a fashionable pinkish-red hue. Dining in such a setting is truly unique. There are also plenty of seating options, from window-side single seats to multi-person family areas.

The self-service sauce bar at Gou Gou Meat is clean and well-organized, which is quite important to me. They have all the essentials, and while the drink section only offers sodas, it would be even better if they added some tea options. Personally, I sometimes like to pair my meal with tea to cut through the richness. There’s also unlimited ice cream available.

This time we ordered the U.S. Prime Beef Chuck Blade L (6.5oz) for $390 + a double combo of Taiwanese pork belly & Danish pork collar (XXL 13oz) for $380.

All hot pot sets come with staple food, a vegetable plate, and a side dish (choose one from: white rice, wide glass noodles, udon, instant noodles, or an egg). The menu also uses fun pentagon indicators for “aroma, marbling, tenderness, portion size, and texture” to recommend different cuts of beef.

For more menu items, please click ←

After ordering, Gou Gou Meat provides a custom mix of spices and broth for us to DIY our own hot pot base. First, heat the pot over medium heat for about two minutes, then pour in the whole bowl of spices and stir-fry until the aroma kicks in. Once the garlic turns yellow, pour in all the broth provided by Gou Gou Meat, and you’re ready to add your chosen vegetables and meat slices.

The broth at Gou Gou Meat is simmered with fruits and vegetables, pork bones, and chicken bones, plus old ginger to remove any gaminess. Before serving, the spices are sautéed to enhance the flavor. It’s really sweet, fragrant, and helps cut through the richness.

The U.S. Prime Beef Chuck Blade L (6.5oz) I ordered came with six thick slices. The portion was quite generous. The shoulder area had less marbling and a slightly chewier texture, smooth but not particularly mind-blowing in flavor.

J’s double combo of Taiwanese pork belly & Danish pork collar (XXL 13oz) had a very generous portion. The Taiwanese pork belly had a higher fat content, while the Danish pork collar was leaner with less marbling. Overall, both types of pork were tender, bouncy, and flavorful.

Epilogue

During the meal, I noticed many fun Chinese and English slogans on the white walls. My favorite was this one: “Love to eat? Who needs a reason? BORED, I EAT. HAPPY, I EAT. SAD, I EAT.” It’s so fitting. Sometimes, you just like something—no reason needed. And of course, eating is no exception. As for the restaurant name “Gou Gou Meat,” it comes from a simple Taiwanese dining greeting: “Is the rice enough? Is the meat enough?” Hence the name “Gou Gou Meat.” Within this ultra-modern space, the name carries a sense of warmth and human connection.

(Bathroom tissue holder design %缉

INFO
Gou Gou Meat
Address: No. 231, Section 1, Da’an Road, Taipei City (4th exit of Da’an Station, about a 10-minute walk)
Business Hours:
Monday – Friday: 11:30 – 14:00 / 17:30 – 22:00
Saturday – Sunday: 11:30 – 22:00
Phone: 02 2706 5085
FB : Gou Gou Meat
10% service charge / 90-minute dining limit / Reservations accepted

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