Taichung Late-Night Kitchen Limited-Edition Delicacy: Grilled Angus Beef Curry Rice

Text & Photos /Orange Dog Loves Sweets

Ever since late-night kitchens became popular, I don’t know why, but simply shifting daytime meals to late-night service seems to make a huge difference. Nowadays, there are queue-worthy eateries at all hours, and the later they serve, the more attention they draw. The other day, while chatting at my usual spot, 【Sweet in Xing BBQ & Beer Izakaya】, I found out the owner also makes his own secret curry rice.

After specially requesting the owner to prepare it and trying it myself, I was genuinely impressed. It has a bold flavor reminiscent of Kyoto’s Pajama Ramen, and above all, that rich Japanese taste is deeply captivating. Japanese curry isn’t all about the mild sweetness many assume it to be. From that day on, this curry rice went on sale—and only in limited quantities, due to staffing and ingredient constraints.

I’ve previously written an article recommending 【Sweet in Xing BBQ & Beer Izakaya】, mainly because I really love the atmosphere here. The space isn’t large and there aren’t many seats, but it hides plenty of high-quality ingredients carefully sourced by the owner. It’s truly a hidden gem. The reason? The owner uses these ingredients for his own meals and for his family, so naturally, he insists on top-notch quality.

It used to sell affordable N<饭到现在的烧烤居酒屋，其实一直都不脱在各类日式料理的钻研之中，来到这边几乎生鱼片、N<饭、串烧、家庭料理等等都能有不同于一般居酒屋的口味呈现，小缺点就是店内的人手不多，加老板最多三个，所以点餐完建议需要点时间等待一下。

The first floor has bar-style high stools—limited seating, but the TV often plays NBA games (the owner loves basketball too). The second floor has private rooms; I forgot how many, but for larger groups, you can directly reserve a seat upstairs.

Plus, you can play the currently popular dart arcade game here, or just chat with the owner over your meal. There are quite a few people who come here at night for drinks and small plates, and I find the ambiance both private and quiet—perfect for meeting up with friends.

Sometimes the owner’s daughter joins in and “helps” around the shop, following everyone around—it’s pretty amusing XD

The menu is visible in-store, though some ingredients not listed require asking the owner. Pricing isn’t exactly budget-friendly, but considering the ingredient quality, it’s not expensive. The owner is particularly insistent on quality. But if you’d rather not order from the menu, you can just tell the owner your budget, and they’ll serve a “chef’s choice” meal.

This time, we’re also introducing a new special offer: 【Grilled Halibut Tsukimi N<饭＄49元】的超值优惠，跟上一档的一样都是要消费满300元才能加点喔，不过真的是物超所值的好味道啦！

First, let me introduce this set’s 【49 NTD N<饭│炙烧比目鱼月见N<饭】，是要消费300元才能加点，上一档的49元N<饭也有不少人喜欢，这次用了更销魂满满的比目鱼让人更难以抗拒啊！

The grilled halibut arrives tableside exuding a rich oily aroma. Pierce the egg yolk and eat it together—the fat instantly melts, filling your mouth with a luxurious blend of sweet oiliness and the thick richness of the yolk. I think it completely outshines the previous two offerings in this series.<饭！

【Grilled Angus Beef Japanese Curry Rice │ 300 NTD │ Limited Reservation】

Now, onto the star of this piece: the Grilled Angus Beef Japanese Curry Rice—a specially made, limited-edition dish. As mentioned earlier, the owner has limited staff, so only a certain amount of curry can be freshly cooked each day. The portion of curry is generous, served on a large plate, plated just like the curry rice you’d get in Japan.

The white rice and curry each occupy half the plate. The rich curry has a bold flavor with a fragrant, lingering spicy kick. The grilled beef slices on the side have a seared crust that brings out their natural oils. They’re tender with a hint of charred aroma and sweetness. Paired with the steaming hot rice, the deep curry flavor blends seamlessly with the beef slices. The most addictive part? The spicy undertones in the spices that make every bite incredibly satisfying. Among all the curries I’ve tried, this one is definitely top-tier. Due to ingredient prep and cooking time, advance reservation is required.

【Freshly Grilled Oysters from Penghu │ 10 pcs │ 200 NTD】

Large, plump oysters from Penghu are grilled right at the table, bursting with natural briny freshness—you won’t doubt their quality.

And the price? I think it’s very reasonable and honest. The deliciousness is almost on par with Japanese oysters. You can enjoy them right here in Taiwan without flying to Penghu’s offshore farms. Totally heartwarming, delicious, and satisfying.

【Appetizer │ Fresh Veggie Salad │ 120 NTD】

Made with lettuce, okra, baby corn, and shrimp, blanched in hot water then lightly chilled, dressed with vinaigrette and mustard seeds. Unlike mayo-heavy dressings, this one feels much more refreshing, with a subtle tang and a spicy kick from the mustard. I especially love the crisp sweetness of the baby corn and the okra. It’s light, cool, and easy on the stomach.

【Appetizer │ Onion Mustard with Angus Raw Beef │ 160 NTD】

The beef slices are tender and delicately marbled, topped with a mildly sweet sauce underneath and sprinkled with mustard seeds.

Take a bite, and you’ll taste the soft, chewy texture of the beef, the sweetness of the rendered fat as you chew, along with a satisfying thickness and mouthfeel.

【Salmon, Tuna, and Scarlet Shrimp Sashimi Combo │ 300 NTD】

Their sashimi is also a must-order. The cuts are generously thick, the freshness goes without saying, and the whole scarlet shrimp are impressively sized. Just look at those plump rings of shrimp meat—eating them sans sauce lets the natural sweetness burst on your palate. And don’t skip the shrimp heads (if you’re not into them, just call me over XD)—they’re packed with intense umami. Suck out all that rich flavor.

【Signature Mackerel Overnight-Dried │ 200 NTD │ Highly Recommended】

The reason their overnight-dried mackerel is a must-order is the unbeatable value. This size usually goes for 280 NTD elsewhere, but here it’s just 200 NTD. One serving is more than enough for two people. The golden grilled skin is tempting to look at, and the fish is tender with a rich, satisfying layer of fat. It’s something I want to order every time I visit—great even just paired with a drink.

【Home-style Dish │ Pork and Potato Stew with Radish │ 180 TWD】

This is one of my personal favorite Japanese home-style dishes. It also frequently appears in *Midnight Diner*, just like the kind of hearty stewed dish a mom might cook for dinner at home. Every bite brings a warm, comforting feeling. It contains burdock root, diced carrots, and pork slices, all slow-cooked until flavorful and aromatic. There’s a generous portion of pork that’s tender yet full of flavor, paired wonderfully with the sweet and savory carrots. This dish pairs perfectly with rice—it’s the kind of taste that makes you feel homesick. Even the owner often cooks it for himself.

【Grilled │ Salt-grilled Saury │ 120 TWD】

Both saury and mackerel are rich, oily fish. For me, the best part of grilled saury is the internal organs. At first bite, the intense bitterness might make you frown, but then a subtle sweetness gradually emerges. But those who don’t like it might find it consistently bitter, XD.

As for the fish itself, it doesn’t disappoint either. Though it has a few more bones, the richness of the flesh still wins me over. And for just a little over 100 TWD per fish at an izakaya, with such delicious meat, not ordering it would be a shame.

【Fried │ Secret Recipe Golden Fried Chicken Wings │ One Order = Five Wings │ 200 TWD】

This dish came up when we were chatting about Nagoya’s “Sekai no Yamachan” fried chicken wings. The owner said his own fried chicken wings were just as good. Almost as if challenging us, he started preparing the wings and seasoning right away. Before I even noticed the sizzling sound from the fryer, this plate of golden wings was already in front of me. The advantage of a small shop with a tiny kitchen is that everything is truly fresh, hot, and just-fried.

The chicken skin coating isn’t too thick—it seems like it was just seasoned before hitting the oil. The thin, crispy layer is full of salty flavor, while the juicy, tender meat inside, still warm and tender, bursts with sweetness. I could easily finish a whole order in one go.

The chicken skin coating isn’t too thick—it seems like it was just seasoned before hitting the oil. The thin, crispy layer is full of salty flavor, while the juicy, tender meat inside, still warm and tender, bursts with sweetness. I could easily finish a whole order in one go.

You can also just dip boiled green peppers, cucumbers, and baby corn directly into the meat sauce. The vegetables are just crunchy and watery on their own, but gain flavor once dipped. However, the soy milk flavor is quite prominent in this udon dish. The chewy noodles, each coated with savory meat sauce, slide smoothly into your mouth. The miso paste is saltier, with a faint hint of soy milk aroma—there’s absolutely no clash, and it’s actually really good. But both dishes require advance booking because making the meat sauce takes time and preparation, so they’re not available without a reservation.

【Grilled Assorted Sushi │ Flounder + Angus Beef + Conger Eel │ 300 TWD】

These are three of the most beloved types of nigiri sushi—deliciousness goes without saying, and the portion size is pretty generous too.

For grilled sushi, I prefer to eat them as-is or just with a bit of wasabi and no soy sauce. After all, they already come brushed with sauce, and the fat has been rendered out, so when you take a bite, it’s mostly the sweet taste of the melted fat. No matter which one you pick, they’re all great.

【Izakaya Beer Set │ Asahi Draft Beer │ Four Skewers │ 260 TWD】

Chicken skewers, chicken heart skewers, pork skewers, and beef skewers, plus a refreshing draft beer—perfect for a solo treat. Especially the chicken heart skewers—do give them a try. They sometimes have great offal skewers too.

● 《ET News Cloud》 reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.

Also, nothing beats a cold draft beer on a summer day. There are also German beers available, which are quite tasty. (But the set only includes beer and skewers—no golden pickled vegetables on the side, those were my own extra order, XD.)

【Salt-grilled Skewers │ Chicken Skin Skewers │ Chicken & Scallion Skewers │ Boneless Chicken Wing Skewers │ Priced Individually per Menu】

Recently, with summer here, grilled skewers have become especially popular. Their skewers are pretty good too—not overly salty from the sauce. I really like their grilling sauce flavor, but the chicken skewers themselves are also delicious.

However, the scallion skewers didn’t quite bring out the scallion aroma through grilling, though you can still taste the freshness. There are plenty of good items here.

【Unagi Kabayaki N<饭│300元│限量供应】

When this unagi kabayaki donburi was served, I was a little surprised. The portion is actually quite large, and the presentation is rather upscale. The grilled eel, brushed with sauce, takes up about half the box, with a decent thickness. The sauce has a sweet-salty flavor.

The tender eel melts in your mouth, releasing the aroma of the sauce, paired with the crisp sweetness of burdock strips. It’s genuinely delicious eel.

Coming to Sweet Zai Xing Izakaya isn’t just about enjoying great cooking and dishes—you’ll also get to chat with the friendly owner for a long time. Beyond just filling your stomach, it’s a great place to make friends, unwind after work, and de-stress. Just like a late-night diner in a Japanese drama, it makes customers feel the warmth of an izakaya, not just a cold restaurant. Highly recommended for anyone who loves Japanese cuisine or seafood. It’s a place well worth visiting again and again.

Sweet Zai Xing Izakaya
◎ Address: No. 93, Jingcheng Rd., West District, Taichung City
◎ Phone: 0906-533940
◎ Business Hours: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM
◎ Note: Closed on Mondays. Reservations and ingredient pre-orders are recommended.

Orange Dog Loves Candy Blog　Orange Dog Loves Candy FB Fan Page