DIY It Yourself!* Taipei’s New “Tyrannosaurus Meatball” — Baseball-Sized Spherical Steak

Why the name “Tyrannosaurus Meatball”? Nado explained that while dining with friends, he was suddenly tasked with naming the dish. His immediate thought was of GO!GO!CURRY!’s iconic logo — a bold black gorilla on a yellow background. After discussing with friends, they opted for a yellow base with a powerful-looking dinosaur reminiscent of Godzilla, naming it “Tyrannosaurus Meatball.” After multiple design iterations with the graphic artist, the current adorable dinosaur logo was finalized.

▲ Deep Sea Shrimp Tyrannosaurus Meatball flavor.

Tyrannosaurus Meatball currently offers seven spherical steak set meals, all made with freshly ground U.S.-selected beef daily. Each set includes three sauces, two Korean side dishes, steamed rice, and soup, priced around NT$180,making it an affordable choice for the portion size.

▲ Nado and his partner co-founded their second dining brand, “Tyrannosaurus Meatball,” targeting young customers with a budget-friendly approach.

“I don’t want students to have to save up just to eat a meal here,” Nado said. The affordable pricing aims to attract younger crowds and even office workers who can enjoy a fulfilling, fun meal during lunch breaks.

▲ First, pick up a ball of ground meat, about the size of a NT$50 coin.

▲ Then place it on the iron plate and sear it flat.

There are also tricks to getting the beef just right, according to Nado.Use chopsticks to pick up a portion of the ground meat, flatten it on the hot stone plate, flip it after about 3 seconds, then wait another 6 seconds or so. If the grill cools down, staff will assist in replacing the plate,so there's no need to worry about it cooling before you finish eating.

In practice, the portion of ground meat shouldn’t be too small — at least about the size of a NT$50 coin. Flatten it on the grill using chopsticks, and the high heat quickly cooks the meat. Tasting it, the beef is very well-prepared with no strong gamey flavor, but the black pepper taste is quite pronounced, so pairing it with sauce first is recommended.

▲ The six signature sauces of “Tyrannosaurus Meatball,” with the A-group dips on the right and B-group on the left.

Sauces are another highlight of the restaurant.Tyrannosaurus Meatball offers six sauces in two groups,Group A includes Chef’s Secret Sauce, Japanese-style Yakiniku Sauce, and Mentaiko Cheese Sauce; Group B features Honey Mustard, Rich Garlic Sauce, and American-style BBQ.Each set meal allows you to choose one group of sauces to pair with your steak.Nado personally recommends Chef’s Secret Sauce for its sweet-and-sour flavor and refreshing taste.

▲The "Tyrannosaurus Meatball" features dinosaur egg-wrapped sweet and sour pork that must be cracked open with a small wooden mallet before eating.

In addition to the main course, the Tyrannosaurus Meatball also offers à la carte specialty dishes, such as the Tyrannosaurus Egg-Wrapped Korean Fried Rice Noodles and the Tyrannosaurus Egg-Wrapped Sweet and Sour Pork—both popular in Japan and Korea. Before digging in, diners crack the outer shell with a small wooden mallet, making for a fun and stress-relieving dining experience.

▲The paper bibs provided at the "Tyrannosaurus Meatball" can be colored in and then stuck on the restaurant walls as decoration.

▲The signature creative sparkling drinks at the "Tyrannosaurus Meatball," from left: Wild Berry Lemon SODA, Mango Lemon SODA, and Kiwi Lemon SODA.

The Korean-style spherical steak specialty store "Tyrannosaurus Meatball" has officially begun its trial operation. As it is still in the adjustment phase, only 200–300 set meals are available daily. During the meal, diners will also be given paper bibs not only to protect their clothes but also to color with crayons provided by staff and stick them on the walls, adding more fun to the dining experience. Prices may be slightly adjusted after the official opening, but the affordable pricing strategy will remain.

▲From the restaurant to the dishes, take a full look at the meatball steak specialty store "Tyrannosaurus Meatball." (Photo / Reporter Tsai Wen-jun)

▲The storefront concept of the meatball steak specialty store "Tyrannosaurus Meatball."

Meatball steak specialty store "Tyrannosaurus Meatball"
Address: 1F, No. 5, Lane 6, Alley 170, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei City
Business Hours: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM
Phone: 02-2778-7198