Katsu Yoshoku, or Victory Japanese Curry, is located in the Eastern area of Taipei near ZhongXiao DunHua MRT. You are sure to love this one! Yoshoku cuisine is a Japanese style of cuisine that is heavily influenced by western culture – enter the Japanese curry. This restaurant makes a big batch of curry, heats it up as and when it is ordered, and then serves it with whatever meat you specifically request. Alternatively, there’s something else on the menu that is just as, if not more, impressive!
Table of Contents
The menu
The menu is quite frustrating to read, in my opinion. Here are some of the key takeaways:
- 雞腿肉醬咖哩 Jī tuǐ ròu jiàng gā lí $160
- Chicken curry base
- 三明治 sān míng zhì
- Sandwiches
- Sous vide chicken with avocado $220
- Deep fried beef fillet $240
- Sandwiches
- 和風海藻沙拉 hé fēng hǎi zǎo shā lā $110
- Salad
- 揚物 yáng wù
- Deep-fried items
- 飲料 yǐn liào
- Drinks
- 沙瓦 shā wǎ
- Sours
The aim of the game here is to either order a chicken curry, sandwich, or salad. If you order a curry, then you also order one of the following:
- 牛肋條 niú lè tiáo +$80
- Beef rib
- 牛菲力 niú fēi lì +$120
- Beef fillet
- 北海道牡蠣 běi hǎi dào mǔ lì +$90
- Deep-fried Hokkaido oysters
- 起司牛肉丸 qǐ sī niú ròu wán +$110
- Wagyu beef meatballs stuffed with cheese
- 炸雞 zhà jī +$100
- Fried chicken
This would mean that a combination of chicken curry ($160) with wagyu beef meatballs stuffed with cheese ($110) would cost a total of $270, for example.
Chicken curry w/wagyu beef meatballs stuffed with cheese $270
However good this looks doesn’t accurately tell you how good this actually is. The beef meatballs are fried to golden crunch perfection, and smell incredible as they sit down on your table sat atop fragrant deep-rich curry. The curry itself has lots of chicken running through it, with a rich sauce that has flavour in depth. I’d like a bit more veg on the side, but that’s not the style of this kind of curry.
The rice is good, and the Brandy-soaked egg is lip-smackingly good. In fact, so good that I could have easily nailed another one for an extra $35.
Tearing into the wagyu beef meatballs you will find this molten-hot cheese. It’s tasty, but I feel like it’s mostly there for the show… A spoonful of curry, rice, and meatballs is sure to put a great big smile on your face, I assure you of that.
Chicken curry w/beef rib $240
I’ve been here a few times now, and this beef rib item is also a great selection on the menu, too. The chicken Japanese curry is exactly the same as above, so there’s not a whole lot I can say about the curry itself.
However, the beef is delicious. There’s plenty of it, it’s succulent, juicy, and has lots of good beefy flavour to it.
Deep-fried katsu beef fillet sandwich $240
Wow. Yes. Yes again. This deep-fried beef fillet is unreal! Succulent and juicy thick beef fillet is battered and deep-fried to delicate crispy perfection, lovingly sandwiched between 2 pieces of thick bread that are smeared with a tangy mustard-based sauce, and cut into 4 pieces for your eyes (and slobbering mouth, at this point) to feast on.
This is, by quite a way, the best dish here. The beef is both seasoned and cooked perfectly and ticks all the boxes. I’d like some more if anything. But that’s just the greediness in me talking. I should have got a beer to wash this down with, but it was only midday. Needless to say, it’s not all about the Japanese Curry in this space.
The bottom line
Is it worth it? With a wide variety of options in the area, there’s a reason why I go back here again and again – it’s worth it.
Does it get busy? It does get pretty busy here. So either be prepared to wait, or arrive early to guarantee a first sitting.
What is the must-order? The beef fillet sandwich, hands down. But, get one of those brandy-soaked eggs, too. Yum!
Here’s another recommendation for you in Taipei:
Taipei restaurant -Little Kitchen Curry 小灶咖 – Wonderful Japanese curry with an fragrant Indian twist.