Spicy to the Extreme – “AKA KARA Hot Pot”! A Famous Nagoya Hot Pot Restaurant Debuts in Taiwan

Text and Photos by /viviyu

When the weather starts to get cooler, it’s a sign that it’s time for hot pot. With so many types of hot pot restaurants around, do you feel like you’ve lost that sense of novelty? Then you absolutely can’t miss AKA KARA “Red from Afar Hot Pot.” The restaurant’s signature dish is Nagoya red miso, specially blended with various types of chili peppers. The spiciness of their hot pot is divided into ten levels to challenge your limits. Come and experience this unique spicy flavor brought by their exclusive red miso.

This is the largest hot pot chain restaurant under Japan’s Nagoya Koura Group, with branches both in Japan and overseas. Their first flagship store has now opened in Taiwan, located in the bustling gastronomic district of Zhongshan District, Taipei. Those who have eaten at its Japanese branches will find the taste identical—the goal is to preserve the authentic flavor while bringing it to Taiwan.

The “Red from Afar Devil” (赤から鬼), found in Japanese locations, is also featured in this Taiwanese flagship store. A large wall mural shows the Red from Afar Devil enjoying food and drink, and the interior is styled in a red and black color scheme. The main seating area accommodates 4–6 people, while the second floor includes nine private rooms—perfect for group dining. The goal is to create a Japanese-style izakaya atmosphere. After a long day of work, relax with friends over delicious food and a few drinks—the mild tipsy feeling helps you unwind and ends the day beautifully.

The open seating area on the first floor is ideal for larger groups. It offers a comfortable dining environment perfect for family gatherings. During the trial operation period, reservations are required, leaving many passersby to book ahead before trying the food.

There are movable partitions next to the seats, designed for guests sharing tables—an incredibly thoughtful feature.

The walls are adorned with very Japanese-style dragon patterns. Is that majestic, energetic dragon here to enjoy some “Red from Afar Hot Pot”? The authentic Japanese restaurant style has been fully brought to Taiwan, ensuring guests can enjoy the same atmospheric setting.

When dining here, you must try their most famous “Red from Afar Hot Pot”—otherwise, you can’t say you’ve had AKA KARA.

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

Beginner’s Combo Set – NT$650 per person (7 items: spicy miso with cucumber, potato poached egg salad, chicken neck meat, secret recipe fried chicken wing tips, chicken neck skin, Red from Afar Hot Pot, rice/noodles)

If it’s your first visit and you’re unsure what to order, go for the combo set—it’s a safe bet. You’ll get seven popular must-try items in one go, and the price is quite reasonable too.

Potato Poached Egg Salad – NT$140

A crisp and refreshing lettuce and potato salad topped with an eye-catching poached egg. When you pierce the yolk, the rich egg flows out like a waterfall, bringing delight. The thick salad dressing clings to the greens, and when a bit of the special red miso spicy sauce is added, every bite offers layers of flavor.

Spicy Miso with Cucumber

“Spicy Miso with Cucumber” is a refreshing appetizer made with cucumber strips and a special spicy miso sauce. The cucumber strips are super crispy with a satisfying crunch—one bite leads to another, and you just can’t stop.

I also tried this cucumber dipped in miso sauce when I had sumo hot pot in Japan before—it’s an appetizing dish.

Surprisingly, it was Vincent who couldn’t stop eating it. Wait, isn’t this sauce supposed to be spicy? But he still loved it, having to sip drinks in between to cool down the heat.

Signature Trio (chicken neck meat, chicken neck skin, chicken meatballs) – NT$290

One of the must-order signature dishes at the restaurant, this trio features delicious chicken neck meat, chicken neck skin, and chicken meatballs, served on a bed of crisp bean sprouts. This trio is more like a drinking snack, best enjoyed hot with cold drinks like beer. However, the chicken neck skin was out of stock that day, so we only got to try two of the three items.

The chicken meatballs are fried to be crispy, chewy, juicy, and flavorful. Although they look similar to Taiwan’s rice meatballs, they have a firmer texture.

The chicken neck meat is tender yet firm and elastic. I didn’t expect the bones in the chicken neck to be removed so cleanly, making it pleasantly crispy, elastic, juicy, and delicious.

Red from Afar Cheese Tamagoyaki – NT$150

What initially seemed like a simple tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet) for kids turned out to be a must-order signature dish: “Cheese Tamagoyaki.” It’s made using the same level-three spicy broth as the Red from Afar Hot Pot and is a dish every visitor should try.

As soon as it’s sliced, you’ll see the cheese slowly oozing out. Compared to regular sweet tamagoyaki, this one has a subtle miso-spicy aroma. The rich cheese flavor softens the spiciness, and it was completely devoured by little Antina. I only got to have a small bite.

Mentaiko Tamagoyaki – NT$160

Vincent opted for the mentaiko (spicy cod roe) tamagoyaki. It has a golden-yellow square shape and retains the delicate, elegant flavors of traditional Japanese cuisine. It’s also made with the same level-three spicy broth as the Red from Afar Hot Pot. Surprisingly, even with the spice, it was a hit with the kids and was completely finished.

The egg wrapper fully encases the mildly spicy mentaiko, tantalizing my taste buds. The spiciness binds the mentaiko and the subtly sweet egg wrapper together beautifully, creating a rich and wonderful flavor. It’s no wonder this is one of the popular dishes here.

Chicken Wing Tempura (3 pcs – NT$105 / 5 pcs – NT$175)

If you visit an izakaya, you definitely won’t forget to order a plate of tebasaki (fried chicken wings), and of course, this place has them too. The wings are brushed with a secret sauce before frying, resulting in a crispy exterior with a hint of spiciness. Dip them in black pepper before eating, and you’ll enjoy the sweet richness of both the skin and meat. Paired with draft beer, they make the perfect drinking snack.

Coca-Cola $80, Asahi Super Dry Draft Beer (medium) $150, Calpis $80, Orange Juice $100

Here, you’ll definitely want to pair your meal with a draft beer. Asahi Super Dry has a refreshing and crisp taste, with very clear golden-yellow brew topped with fine bubbles. It has a subtle tangy acidity upon entry, followed by a sweet and mildly bitter finish — the perfect balance between sweet and bitter.

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive. Don’t drive after drinking.

Signature “Akakara Nabe” (spicy miso hot pot) per person $350

The “Akakara Nabe” is cooked in a clay pot, with red miso and spicy sauce as the stars. The broth is simmered from miso and 30 different spices, relying on just a small amount of dashi and the natural juices of the ingredients to create a spicy yet sweet flavor. The combination of sweet, spicy, and salty creates an indescribably wonderful taste. If you need to adjust the heat, it’s recommended to ask the staff, as the level of heat greatly affects the taste of the food.

This is the must-order signature dish. As the flyer says, it’s an addictive level of delicious spiciness. The Akakara Nabe comes in 10 levels of spice plus a non-spicy option — a total of 11 levels. The most popular is medium-spicy Level 5, but our family only dared to try Level 3, which is mildly spicy. Level 10 is so spicy that even in Japan, few can handle it. This graded spice system would surely appeal to spice-loving friends in Taiwan.

The most popular hot pot item is “cow intestine,” which is rich in collagen and said to be a favorite among Japanese women. The inner layer is packed with fat and has a satisfying chew. After cooking, the intestines retain some firmness, gradually releasing fragrant oil as you chew — absolutely delicious. But don’t cook them too long, or they’ll shrink and become tough, losing their texture.

When first served, the hot pot base includes pork belly, tofu, chicken meatballs, and beef intestines, along with vegetables such as napa cabbage and bean sprouts. You can also order additional hot pot ingredients. The longer it cooks, the saltier it may get, so you can ask the staff to add more broth to dilute it.

The tofu and pork belly have soaked up all the essence of the broth. Despite our burning lips, we couldn’t help but eat several more bites.

After finishing the ingredients, we still weren’t satisfied. We thought adding some Japanese or Korean rice cakes to the remaining broth would be great. The staff added them tableside and adjusted the heat accordingly — because too high a flame could burn the rice cakes black.

We also tried two different types of rice cakes together. Japanese rice cakes become super soft when heated, almost melting, and absorb more of the red miso, becoming even more flavorful. Korean finger rice cakes have a bit more bite — although they soften, the center remains chewy. Both types have their fans, and either one tastes amazing after being cooked in this broth.

Can you guess what this is in the photo? It’s actually a softened Japanese rice cake — after cooking in the broth for a while, it becomes stretchy like cheese. Coated in red miso, it combines great taste with texture.

Cheese Ojiya $120, Ojiya $80, Ramen $120, Udon $120

For a proper Japanese-style ending, there are four options to choose from. The most common are ojiya or udon, but the shop recommends finishing with “cheese ojiya.”

After scooping out the remaining ingredients and adjusting the broth level, rice and cheese strips are added to the pot and cooked. The flavorful broth is absorbed into the rice grains. Once turned off, cheese strips are poured in to slowly melt. Using the leftover broth, white rice and cheese are added to create a spicy ojiya — the perfect way to end the meal.

Each grain of rice absorbs the rich essence of the spicy miso broth. A slightly strong spiciness fills every bite, while the cheese adds layers of aroma. The cheesy, stringy texture is a big hit, making everyone want to eat bowl after bowl.

Seasonal Ice Cream $60

Desserts are limited to ice cream during the trial period. When you’re sweaty from the spice, a bit of ice cream provides some relief — and it’s a hit with kids.

The shop preserves the flavors and service style of Japan. Even the staff are polite and speak fluent Japanese. After eating, we felt that the mild spice level (Level 3) is generally acceptable to most people. The spicy miso has a hot, not numbing, flavor, and Japanese spiciness is much milder compared to Taiwan’s — even those who are afraid of spicy food can give it a try. For spice lovers, it’s a must to challenge your limits.

Akakara Nabe Zhongshan Flagship Store
Address: No. 71, Section 1, Zhongshan N. Road, Taipei City (near Exit R4 of Zhongshan Station)
Phone: (02)2523-8922
Hours: 17:00–24:00
Website:http://www.akakara.jp/

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