Women’s School Emily Peng
What is your ideal "curry flavor"? Maybe it's the homemade version your mom used to cook when you were a child, or the memory of that small eatery that once operated near your home. Everyone has a different "expectation" of that curry flavor—some must have potatoes and carrots, others insist on a sunny-side-up egg with a runny yolk. As we grow up and leave our hometowns, we all search for that nostalgic taste in the city. Even if we can't fully replicate it, these similar flavors still bring comfort to our palates.
What does your perfect curry look like? Below, the editors will take you to taste 8 familiar and delicious options located in Taipei and Taoyuan:
Inn-Yorokobu is a hidden artisanal canteen tucked around the corner of Yanji Street. Right next to a bustling road, it’s surprisingly low-key, making you feel proud when you find it—as if you’ve discovered a secret base. This place specializes in curry and coffee. There are only two types of curry: pork & chicken curry and beef curry. For the main, you can choose between rice or macaroni, and you can also add an irresistible sunny-side-up egg or the unexpectedly perfect match for thick curry—"youtiao" (Chinese fried dough stick).
Image source: Screenshot from the drama "They Blasted Me the Day Before Graduation" / Official fan page of Inn-Yorokobu
Moreover, every year in autumn and winter, Inn-Yorokobu also offers warm ginger chocolate & hot mulled wine. With dim lighting and slightly tipsy music, do you recognize this scene? Yes, the drama "They Blasted Me the Day Before Graduation" was filmed here.
When it comes to curry, the famously popular Sato Curry definitely can’t be left out. The flagship store of Sato Curry is located in Liuzhangli, but probably due to overwhelming business, a branch was opened last year in the popular East District, not far from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station and within walking distance.
Image source: Official fan page of Sato Curry
The shop’s decor features a wooden theme, with utensils neatly arranged on warm wooden boards engraved with laser carvings. Even before the meal arrives, it gives off a first impression of premium quality. Sato Curry has a rich Japanese flavor, with generous portions of sauce. Whether eaten alone or paired with a sunny-side-up egg, cheese, or sausage, it’s extremely enjoyable. The black sesame on the white rice and the enoki mushrooms in the curry both serve as delightful highlights, leaving you completely satisfied after finishing the whole plate.
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Also, right next to Sato Curry is actually another curry shop. Although Rugaku Curry and Sato Curry are both opened by the same owner, the styles and setups of the two shops are worlds apart. If Sato Curry is the warm Japanese style, then Rugaku Curry is the fresh Korean style.
Image source: Official fan page of Rugaku Curry
Rugaku Curry serves curry rice centered around omelets. Both the main dish and the sauce can be customized according to personal preference. The main dish allows you to choose between a handmade hamburger steak or a tender chicken thigh steak; for the sauce, you can pick any two out of five options: pumpkin sauce, Singaporean laksa sauce, cream cheddar sauce, tomato meat sauce, and Southeast Asian green curry sauce. You get to enjoy two different flavors at once, perfectly solving the luxurious problem of getting tired of a single taste.
If you’re a fan of innovative flavors, then don’t miss the rising star in the curry world—"Night Run Curry" (Ye Ben Ka Li)! The editors first noticed this place because it’s located in Jingmei, which is known as a food desert. Not only is the shop super beautiful and the owner super stylish, but it also offers uniquely special black and white curries.
Image source: Official fan page of Night Run Curry
The shop’s signature “Wave Chicken Curry” is a mix of green curry mixed with squid to create a black curry, and white curry made with loofah as the base and simmered with other vegetables. The
Although Bugu Café is primarily a coffee shop, its curry is extremely famous—many people come here just for this dish. The bestseller, “Bugu Bird Curry Rice,” comes in a generous portion and allows you to enjoy three main proteins in one go: beef ribs, pork cutlet, and crispy fried chicken. It’s a lifesaver for anyone suffering from choice paralysis.
Image source: Bugu Café official fan page
Additionally, ladies with smaller appetites can opt for the “Little Bird Portion,” also known as the Moon Plate, which is designed specifically for them. After enjoying a modest meal, you can still save room for Bugu Café’s brunch or desserts. The editor’s favorite spot is the bar counter by the window on the second floor—dining there feels like being a carefree city dweller, incredibly relaxing. Fans of brown sugar bubble milk tea will also find their version here highly recommended by the editor.
Locals in Taoyuan are surely familiar with Zhongli Venice. Yes, this Kappa Curry is located on the second floor of the cinema complex. The menu may seem simple, yet not so—it offers not only consistently available European-style Indian curries but also a daily special flavor, such as pork curry stewed with beer or chili mushroom chicken curry. The owner occasionally announces these specials on the Facebook fan page, sometimes keeping it so mysterious that you won’t know what you’re getting until you order on-site. As the owner boldly states on the fan page, “No one says curry has to be a certain way—as long as it’s delicious!”
Image source: Kappa Curry Facebook fan page
Aside from curry, the shop also serves beer, making it perfect for a Friday night. Enjoy your curry and then unwind with a cold brew, letting the slight buzz melt away the stress of the workweek. More than just a restaurant, the editor feels this place is more like a cozy gastropub. However, it’s only open for dinner until late at night—those planning to visit for lunch should take note.
The next spot, Poffee Canteen, is also in Zhongli, near the art museum. While dried flower decor isn’t exactly rare, this place exudes an otherworldly serenity, as if it’s a hidden paradise where you can escape from it all. Plus, Poffee Canteen offers unlimited seating time—order a plate of their signature Moonlight Meat Sauce Rice or Black Curry Beef Rice, and you could easily spend the whole day here. Occasionally, in the evening, the owner even screens movies, so you can enjoy your meal while watching a film together—a super romantic experience.
Image source: Poffee Canteen official fan page
Beyond the main dishes, the desserts here are definitely worth trying too. Whether it’s tiramisu, “Senchis,” or other cakes, they’re all amazing. That’s why, even though it’s no longer newly opened, Poffee Canteen still sees crowds pouring in every day. If you want to try the food, it’s best to arrive early.
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The last spot, Yecang Curry, is also super famous. Starting as a small food truck that traveled around selling curry, it transformed into a brick-and-mortar store last September in Nanzhi—and it’s still packed with long lines every day, a true testament to its popularity. In addition to classic flavors like Eggplant Beef Curry and Hawaiian Volcano Curry, the shop also offers a limited-edition “Taco Salsa Dry Curry.” This rich curry sauce, made with ground pork and a special curry powder, is paired with a Mexican-style salsa and topped with shredded cheese and corn chips, offering a flavorful twist for those who love curry but prefer it less saucy.
Image source: Yecang Curry official fan page
Among these eight options, although they all serve curry, each has its own unique flavor and concept. We hope this carefully curated guide helps you find your ideal "curry vibe"!* Curry lovers, go for it—eating curry for all three meals is totally a thing.
[Women’s Learning] Authorized Repost | Original Source: [Everyone Has Their Own “Curry Flavor”: Our Search for 8 Curry Spots – When Curry Meets XX, It’s True Love]