Curry is practically it’s own food group in Taiwan. From Japanese curries to Thai, Malaysian to Indian, Taiwanese people are big fans of curry, which is evident in the sheer number of curry specialty restaurants and chains that exist in Taiwan. Dao Ding Jia is a Japanese curry restaurant with two locations just a stone’s throw from each other in Zhongshan.
The curry at Dao Ding Jia is Japanese in format and presentation, but in palate it borrows a lot of the spice-forward flavors of Indian curries with some version of chhonk topping off the plate. The curries are generally meat forward and come as a plate with rice and vegetables, making for a hearty meal. And despite the highly competitive restaurant landscape in the neighborhood, the small, simple space seems to always be packed from lunch to dinner.
the details
| Address | No. 20, Lane 42, Section 2, Zhongshan N Rd, Zhongshan District, Taipei City No. 17, Lane 140, Section 1, Zhongshan N Rd, Zhongshan District, Taipei City |
| @daodinjiacurry | |
| Hours | 12-16:00, 17:30-21:00 |
| Price | $$ – everything is 250-300NT, a bit pricier than some popular curry chains |
| Aesthetic | japanese minimalism in a simple and homey way |
good to know
Go here for: a casual meal for lunch or dinner
Order this: stewed beef curry is a classic, pumpkin and beyond meat coconut curry for a vegetarian version, and make it a set meal with some creamy egg pudding for dessert
Amount of time to spend: service is pretty quick, so 30-45 min is plenty, but there may be a wait
When to come: try to avoid peak meal hours – come mid-afternoon or later in the evening, otherwise there may be a line
Getting here: both locations are just a few minutes walk from the Zhongshan (red/green) station
Other things to note:
- The restaurant is cash only.
- They have takeout orders available online.
Last visited: August 2021
Last updated: December 2021
