Seasoned with natural spices—authentic chili crab and bak kut teh are also available in Taichung!

Photos & Text byDakou

In Taiwan, it’s not hard to find international cuisine, but finding authentic foreign dishes can be a bit more challenging. When it comes to Southeast Asian food, Singaporean, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines are more commonly seen, while Malaysian food is relatively rare. Recently, a new restaurant called “Qi Hong Malaysian Flavors” opened on Section 3, Qingdao Road, Beitun District, Taichung, which really piqued my interest—I rushed right over to try this unique Malaysian cuisine. Their Malaysian dishes have a unique flavor, with all sauces made in-house—it’s an authentic taste that even Taiwanese people will love!

I originally thought the owner was Malaysian, but after asking, I learned that he’s actually from Changhua, Taiwan. He immigrated to Melbourne in 1999, where he had the opportunity to learn authentic Malaysian cooking and opened a Malaysian-style restaurant there. He ran it for six or seven years, but because his child has a severe wheat allergy and it’s difficult to avoid wheat products in Australia, he decided to return to Taiwan and open a restaurant. The owner brought the authentic flavors of Malaysia back from Melbourne, even growing curry leaves and pandan himself and making all the sauces himself, all to let everyone enjoy delicious, authentic Malaysian food. Next, let’s take a look at just how tasty “Qi Hong Malaysian Flavors” is!

The location is on the second floor of a building near Qingdao Road and Kunming Road intersection. There’s a bit of an incline when walking up, but the view from the second floor is great and you’ll want to come here often.

There’s a small parking lot diagonally across from the restaurant that offers free parking with a minimum spend. It’s quite thoughtful!

Because the second floor doesn’t have air conditioning, there are some ceiling fans, and the owner also grows some green plants.　

The ventilation here is pretty good, mostly because it’s on the second floor and opens directly to the outside, so it feels quite breezy even without air conditioning.

Another plus is that it’s close to both Taichung Railway Station and Taichung High-Speed Rail Station, making it very convenient no matter how you come.

It’s also a great place for solo travelers or friends who want a quiet meal or to relax.

The seating area also has some partitions, so it’s not too noisy even when it’s busy, which is great.

There are also family and group tables available, suitable for small families or groups of friends.

What’s special is that all their dishes are seasoned with all-natural spices, and the sauces are all homemade, with no added MSG or artificial flavorings, making it safer and more reassuring to eat. There are quite a few menu options, including live autumn crabs and signature curry flavors. The crab dishes here all use live crabs, so crab lovers definitely shouldn’t miss out. But since it’s seasonal, prices may vary slightly depending on the market, so remember to make a reservation in advance if you’re interested!

They also have chicken satay, spicy squid, pork satay, and other skewers, and they offer a special option for vegetarians—you can tick the “go vegetarian” box there!

They also have dishes like curry fish head, drunken prawns, clay pot rice, and fried rice noodles. Some of them also have special options for vegetarians, so you can check the “vegetarian” box when ordering.

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The portions are generous, and the staff will serve you directly, so you can just sit down and enjoy.

The chicken skewers (6 sticks / 200 NT) are first marinated and then fried, and the portion size is quite good!

The yellow chicken skewers are paired with pickled radish and cucumber slices.

The chicken satay is served with a spicy peanut sauce, and when eaten together, it balances the richness and adds a lot of layers of flavor. The peanut sauce is also quite rich, and the portion is pretty large, so even one person can enjoy it a lot.

The garlic butter prawns (360 NT per serving) are large prawns that are butterflied, seasoned with secret natural spices and salted egg yolk, then deep-fried.

The garlic butter prawns have a rich aroma, and the texture is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The flavor bursts in your mouth, and the taste is quite addictive. They also give you quite a few, which is great.

The coating on the prawns is really tasty and not greasy at all, so you won’t feel heavy after eating. It’s super delicious!

The braised duck noodles (210 NT, includes drink) are honestly a bit over-the-top with the amount of duck they give—you might not even see the noodles underneath!

But once you mix it up, the duck is surprisingly tender and easy to bite into, salty and fragrant with a bit of juiciness. It’s delicious even on its own.

The Hainanese mee siam (50 NT), pink lemon soda (50 NT), and handmade white milk tea (60 NT) are also great choices. If you order the single-serving set meal, you can choose one of these three drinks.

%Continuing from the previous section on exploring attractions you can reach without breaking a sweat, these spots won't disappoint, whether you're traveling solo or with friends.

%Featured drinks include the Black Tea Latte (50 NTD), Pink Lemon Soda (50 NTD), and Handcrafted White Milk Tea (60 NTD). If you opt for the single-enjoyment set menu, you can choose one of these three beverages to enjoy on your own.

% Their handmade white milk tea has a delicate tea aroma and smooth milky flavor, along with a unique fragrance. They don’t use any creamer, and the tea is brewed in-house, making it a reassuring choice to drink. While their drinks may taste relatively mild, they pair surprisingly well with richer dishes. Plus, these beverages are the same authentic flavors the owner served when running a restaurant in Melbourne!

% The Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables (priced at 150 TWD per serving) contain carrots, okra, cabbage, water spinach, eggplant, shrimp, and other ingredients, stir-fried with homemade shrimp paste—absolutely fragrant!

% The Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables are sautéed in a rich sauce that coats every bite of vegetable, making it super flavorful and perfect with rice!

% The Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables are not oily despite being cooked in a generous amount of oil. Instead, they have a faint savory aroma from the high-quality oil used to stir-fry the fresh vegetables.

% The Stir-Fried Clams (also 150 TWD per serving) are incredibly juicy—the clams are so fresh!

% The Stir-Fried Clams also come with mushrooms, celery, dried tofu, and wood ear mushrooms. After stir-frying everything together, you get a dish with a uniquely delicious umami clam flavor.

% The Stir-Fried Clams have a rich, savory taste with a hint of mild spiciness—super flavorful and addictive, making it hard to stop eating!

% The Curry Fish (380 TWD per serving) comes in a huge portion, enough for about 3–4 people. It’s made with hand-deboned large pieces of fish fillet, paired with seasonal vegetables and a special curry sauce.

% The Grilled Fish is also very popular here. Though it may not look particularly special at first glance, it actually has a hidden surprise.

% The Grilled Fish is expertly deboned by the chef, so you can eat the fish meat in big bites—super satisfying!

% The Spicy Crab (990 TWD per serving) uses live male mud crabs. You might even see the owner carrying a live crab into the kitchen. However, it’s not always available due to seasonal factors, so make a reservation in advance to ensure you get to try it. Prices also fluctuate with the season, so don’t wait too long!

% The serving size is quite generous, and you’ll likely have leftovers. They also thoughtfully provide a set of crab-cracking tools, so you can enjoy your meal to the fullest.

% The dining setup has been upgraded compared to before because the restaurant is located in the bustling city center. When it gets busy, having more tools makes the experience much smoother. The shop also provides plastic plates for the shells—super considerate!

% The crab meat inside is plump and juicy. The spiciness and aroma of the curry, along with the eggy fragrance, subtly seep into the crab meat, resulting in a rich and sweet flavor.

% The stir-fried vegetables here are also great, with a different taste each time. The stir-fried clams aren’t greasy either. This style of cooking is rare to find in Taiwan, and it’s truly an experience not to be missed.

% The Bak Kut Teh Set (around 3 servings, 400 TWD per serving) starts with the staff bringing out a pot of Bak Kut Teh along with a plate of side ingredients, including cabbage, tofu skin, meatballs, triangular tofu, and fish cakes—looking fresh and abundant!

% The aroma of the herbal pork rib soup is incredibly rich, and there’s plenty to go around. You won’t leave hungry or disappointed. The variety of side ingredients complements the soup beautifully, making it incredibly comforting.

% The herbal pork rib soup here has a unique herbal aroma and a slight medicinal scent, but it’s not overpowering like some traditional Malaysian herbal soups. Instead, it has a milder, more approachable flavor that’s still deeply satisfying.　

% The side dishes are also excellent. The meat is tender and flavorful, and the texture is just right, making it really enjoyable to eat.

% The curry leaves used here are also imported directly from Malaysia. That’s why the owner grows curry leaves and vanilla in their hometown of Changhua. When you rub the curry leaves, they release a unique fragrance—it’s the taste the owner insists on. The photo on the right shows Ceylon black tea specially ordered from Sri Lanka by the owner. All the tea beverages in the shop are brewed in-house from this Ceylon tea, with no unnecessary additives—truly the real deal!

“Qikuan Malaysian Cuisine” offers a spacious, comfortable, and elegantly simple dining environment. The menu is diverse, featuring not only solo portions perfect for one person but also dishes ideal for sharing. I especially love their Bak Kut Teh here—the pork ribs are tender and juicy, the broth is sweet with a faint herbal aroma, and it’s very drinkable. Other highlights include satay chicken skewers, stir-fried clams, mixed vegetables, oyster omelets, and spicy crabs—all with outstanding flavors. In Taiwan, it’s rare to find such authentic Malaysian cuisine that also suits local tastes. I genuinely think their dishes are worth trying over and over again. Highly recommended—check it out if you have the chance!

Qikuan Malaysian Cuisine
Address: No. 143, Section 3, Qingdao Road, Beitun District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-22364567
Business Hours: 11:30–14:30, 17:00–21:30
FB Fan Page:https://www.facebook.com/hungs1canteens

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