Tsuta Japanese Soba Noodles

(04) 2462-3078
1038, Taiwan Blvd, Sec 4, 1F, Xitun Dist (J-Mall)
Hours: Sun-Thu 11 am-9:30 pm, Fri-Sat 11 am-10 pm
1 hour free parking for NT$500 bill.

Tokyo-based Tsuta gained global fame in December, 2015 when it was the world's first ramen store to earn a Michelin star. In 2015 and 2016, it was also ranked Tokyo's No. 1 ramen eatery in that hyper-competitive market. Now Taichung diners can enjoy its extraordinary noodles (together with two other just-opened Michelin-starred J-Mall neighbors, Hawker Chan and Tim Ho Wan), the brainchild of "ramen genius" owner Chef Yuki Onishi. There are four selections in each of the main "Shoyu" soy sauce stock and "Shio" salt stock categories, starting with the basic NT$295 Shoyu Soba and Shio Soba, respectively served with a dollop of truffles pureed in truffle oil, and green olives pureed in truffle oil that add an amazing hint of truffle to the mix of noodles, sliced char siu, bamboo shoots and green onions. For Taiwan, Tsuta has also added new soup-based and soup-less creations--including Gyuu no Miso Maze Soba (NT$300)--made with US beef, tomatoes and local veggies. --By Douglas Habecker, translated by Anna Yang