HowToTrip’s Front Street Coffee Taipei Branch Opens on December 1st – Skewered Fried Dishes Start at NT$20, Up to NT$70

▲ Now you can enjoy Osaka’s famous original skewered fried dish “Kushiage Daruma” in Taipei.

Reported and photographed by Huang Shiyuan / Taipei

The legendary Osaka Shinsekai-style skewered fried dish “Kushiage Daruma,” a must-try in Osaka, Japan, is set to officially open its Taipei branch on December 1st. Except for the flour, breadcrumbs, and dipping sauce, which are imported from Japan, all ingredients are sourced locally in Taiwan. As a result, prices in Taipei are almost comparable to those in Japan – the cheapest skewer starts at NT$20, most are around NT$30, and the most expensive, the eel skewer, is NT$70 per stick.


▲ Coating in batter.


▲ Dredging in breadcrumbs.


▲ Skewers being deep-fried.

Skewered fried dishes are made by skewering various ingredients on bamboo sticks, coating them in batter, then rolling them in breadcrumbs, and finally deep-frying them in oil. Once cooked, before eating, they are dipped in the shop’s signature sauce. In Japan, this sauce is shared among all customers, so for hygiene reasons, double-dipping is strictly prohibited—you’re not allowed to dip again after taking a bite if you feel it’s not flavorful enough. To accommodate those who might accidentally under-dip, Kushiage Daruma provides cabbage that can be used to scoop up the sauce and drizzle it onto your skewers. Of course, the cabbage itself can also be eaten with the sauce.

Since Taiwanese customers may not be familiar with the proper way to eat skewered fried food, besides repeatedly reminding guests not to “double-dip,” Kushiage Daruma has also introduced, for the first time, its special sauce in small individual sauce containers. For those concerned about shared dipping sauces, you can directly pour the sauce from the small container onto your skewers. However, this means it won’t be the “authentic” Kushiage Daruma experience. Although the Taipei branch offers individual sauce containers, they still prepare cabbage for customers. Store manager Masashi Hashiguchi explained that cabbage is actually one of the signatures of Kushiage Daruma.


▲ When eating skewered fried food, always dip it in the sauce. Dip the whole skewer into the sauce bowl, but only once—once you've dipped, don't dip again because the sauce is for everyone to share.


▲ If you didn’t get enough sauce, use the cabbage to scoop some and drizzle it onto your skewers.


▲ Kushiage Daruma Taipei Branch is the first to offer its special sauce in small individual containers that let you pour it directly onto your skewers.

The Kushiage Daruma Taipei branch also offers several menu items unique to Taiwan, such as skewered monkfish, {J white bamboo shoots, as well as pork cutlets and chicken nuggets. Why include pork cutlets and chicken nuggets? Manager Masashi Hashiguchi explained that since pork cutlets and chicken nuggets are common in Japanese set meals and budget restaurants, and since Kushiage Daruma excels not only in flour, breadcrumbs, and frying oil but also in deep-fried foods, they thought, why not offer more choices to Taiwanese customers?

In addition to à la carte options, Kushiage Daruma Taipei also offers set meals: the Osaka Set (7 skewers, NT$210), Taipei Set (9 skewers + 1 side dish, NT$309), and Daruma Set (13 skewers + 1 side dish, NT$509). Lunchtime specials are also available, including N<饭菜单及串炸午餐套餐，价格分别是160元及199元。


▲ Chicken nuggets exclusive to the Taipei branch.


▲ Pork cutlets exclusive to the Taipei branch.


▲ Seating area in the basement.


▲ Sign reminding customers not to double-dip.


▲ Exterior of Kushiage Daruma Taipei Branch.

Address: No. 15, Section 1, Chang’an East Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2523-3037

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