Open until 1 AM!! Japanese BBQ in Taichung where you can try cherry duck

Text and photos byAhmon

I regularly meet up with friends for meals every month, and this time the location was chosen by a friend—Zhitianjia Kitchen. It’s situated just off Gōngyì Road in Taichung’s prime area, but the exterior is very unassuming, with a small sign. If it weren’t for a friend leading the way, I’d never have known there was a Japanese kitchen primarily serving Japanese cuisine here. Zhitianjia is open from 6 PM to 1 AM, not operating at noon, and is closed on Sundays—feels quite the character XDD. There’s a small space out front for parking scooters, and plenty of car parking spots nearby, making it a fairly convenient restaurant for parking.

Front door photo
If you’re looking for the place, just look for the one with a lantern hanging at the entrance—that should help you find it faster XDDD.

As soon as you walk in, you’ll see a large counter straight ahead. The lighting at the counter is quite bright, giving it a real izakaya vibe. And it seems we were the first customers of the day XDDD—we could choose any spot at the counter.

Besides the counter area, there’s also a small table near the entrance that can be used for dining—it seems designed for larger groups. Also, I heard from a friend that there are private rooms, but it seems you need a special method to use them, which I didn’t ask the staff about.

After sitting down, I noticed the tableware was already neatly set on the table. The plates looked so elegant @@, and the chopsticks even came with paper sleeves—gave off a high-end restaurant feel.

Yuzu-flavored radish
A common side dish in Japanese restaurants, here it’s served as an appetizer. It has a hint of yuzu aroma, the radish is very juicy, and you can ask the server for more if you finish it.

Kimchi
Tastes somewhat similar to Taiwanese-style kimchi, but it’s not spicy at all. It’s crispy and juicy—a pretty nice little side.

Menu
When I first heard the name Zhitianjia Kitchen, I guessed there might be a family crest. And sure enough, when the menu arrived, there was a light blue family crest design on the cover—my guess was right XDDD. I don’t think you’ll find many Japanese restaurants or yakitori shops in Taichung with a family crest.

Cold dishes, skewers
For cold dishes, you can’t order them on the spot unless you book in advance—this consumption method surprised me a bit. Skewers come in single and double skewer prices, so you might want to pay attention when ordering, as most are priced per single piece.

Seafood, oden, main dishes
Includes grilled seafood, oden, noodles, and rice dishes. I originally wanted to try the oden, but the server said the broth for the oden wasn’t ready yet, so it wasn’t available and wouldn’t be until later. So I ended up ordering BBQ instead. Looking at the menu, I felt this place is probably more of a Japanese pub-style restaurant rather than one selling set meals.<饭的那种日本料理店唷。

Tempura
Under the tempura category, there were originally set meal options, but they seem to no longer be available—they’ve been crossed out.

Japanese sparkling drinks
The shop sells these cute chubby bottles filled with fruit-flavored sparkling drinks. There are quite a few flavors to choose from, and you can order them if you like.

Oolong tea $25/can
I originally wanted to order beer to go with the skewers, but then I remembered we had all ridden scooters here!! Couldn’t drink and then drive home, so I had to stick with oolong tea. Zhitianjia’s oolong tea is from Kaixi—I love that brand—and you can choose either sugar-free or sweetened. So cool XDDD.

This must be the head chef in the shop @_@. Most of the dishes we saw being prepared were handled by him at the counter.

Since we were the first customers, the skewers came out really quickly. Since it was my first time here, I played it safe for the first round XD, just wanting to try the flavors first. A friend mentioned that the shop’s grill seems to be electric or infrared, not traditional charcoal. That was surprising to me. When the skewers arrived, I really couldn’t smell the distinctive aroma of charcoal grilling—just pure meat fragrance. If you don’t like charcoal-grilled food, you might really love this place. The skewers looked quite tempting—here’s a look at each one.

Chicken skewer $90/skewer
Made with chicken thigh meat, the portion is quite generous, and the texture is tender and juicy, making you want another one after finishing. But at $90 per skewer, I personally found it a bit pricey.

Pork Skewers with Scallions and Garlic (Matsusaka Pork) $80/skewer
When the staff first told me these were Matsusaka pork skewers, I was quite surprised. I’d always seen Matsusaka pork served in thin slices, not shaped like chicken skewers. But after taking a bite, I realized the texture really was Matsusaka pork—it’s just that the pork slices are densely stacked on the skewer, so they don’t look like typical Matsusaka pork. Like the chicken skewers, these aren’t seasoned with any sauce, just topped with scallions and sesame seeds. I found myself wanting to sprinkle a little salt for extra flavor, otherwise after a few bites, it can get a bit greasy, XD. But the Matsusaka pork is genuinely delicious—I’d love to pair it with some sake.

Roasted Cherry Duck Skewers $80/2 skewers
When I ordered this, my friend asked why I’d get it since I’m such a huge fan of cherry duck. That’s exactly why!! My friend just gave me a helpless look, haha. But these roasted cherry duck skewers are really tasty—the meat is firm and chewy, and paired with fresh scallions, I absolutely loved them. They’re also one of the more affordable dishes at this restaurant, so I highly recommend them.

Mentaiko Chicken Wings $100/each
These are probably the most expensive chicken wings I’ve had all year—one wing costs NT$100. I was too excited to check the price when ordering, and only noticed when paying the bill, orz. The mentaiko is stuffed inside the chicken wing, which makes it look a bit plumper. The meat is tender and has a rich, complex flavor with a strong spicy kick. It’s a great choice for an alcoholic pairing.

Char Siu Ramen $220
This seems to be a hidden menu item—not available every day. The waiter recommended it to us that day, so we added it to our order. The broth is soy sauce-based, with a bit of white sesame added for texture and aroma. The char siu is made from half-fat, half-lean pork, with about 4–5 thin slices per portion. There isn’t actually much meat, but there are also some vegetables and half a piece of tofu. The price isn’t very budget-friendly, but hey, you only live once, XD.

Noodles
The noodles here, like at most ramen shops, are thick and have a good chew to them—they’re not overcooked. Paired with the soy sauce broth, it’s pretty decent overall.





Miso-Glazed Roast Dumplings $150/portion
I thought this dish looked interesting on the menu. I’ve had fried, pan-fried, and boiled dumplings, but roast dumplings were a first for me, so I decided to try a portion. Each portion has five dumplings, and they probably take longer to prepare because they were one of the last dishes to arrive. Visually, they’re slightly bigger than regular boiled dumplings, and the filling looks very generous. The dumpling skin has a slight golden hue, which makes them look super appetizing.



Cross-section show
There are only five dumplings in a portion, which works out to $30 each—pretty luxurious, huh? So I started by biting one in half to check inside. The filling includes miso, which gives the dumplings a fragrant, savory taste, though the pork flavor still dominates. The miso plays more of a supporting role. There’s also a good amount of cabbage, so you get a nice crunch from the veggies. The dumpling skin is baked in the oven, giving it a firmer, crispier texture. Altogether, these elements create a layered, enjoyable dish. I really liked this style of eating, but the price is definitely a bit of a deterrent, Q_Q—just one portion for me, thanks.



Roasted Crab Legs $120/each
At first, I thought these were the usual roasted king crab legs, so I ordered them as a finale for the night. They’re made to order and grilled fresh, taking about ten minutes or so. But when the waiter brought them out, they weren’t king crab legs. I immediately asked what kind of crab they were, @@. The waiter said they were stone crabs, umm—visually, they looked about right, and they’re also considered a more premium ingredient. The portion included the claw parts, which have more meat. The chef was thoughtful enough to crack the shells slightly, so you can easily peel them open along the cracks to get to the crab meat. The meat was tender, sweet, and delicious, but the price is also quite shocking—you’ll need to think twice before ordering.



The total for two people, including service charge, came to over NT$1300, and that’s without any drinks. It really feels like a place you can only visit occasionally—if you came too often, your wallet would definitely take a hit, XDD.



Meow~~ Woof~ Right in front of our seats were these adorable Maneki-neko (lucky cats), which made me spend ages taking photos of them and almost forget to eat my Matsusaka pork.

Overall, the skewers here are really unique—the flavors are quite good and quite authentic, though they lack the smoky aroma of charcoal-grilled food. So it really depends on personal preference. Also, the prices are on the higher side, so it’s better to come here for a light meal rather than a full stomach. If you want to eat your fill, it could get quite pricey. That’s just my personal take—take it as you will.

Restaurant Name: Zhitian Family Kitchen
Phone: 04-23010019 (Closed on Sundays)
Address: No. 316, Huamei Street, West District, Taichung City
Price: Minimum spend $300/person
Dining Date: August 2016

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