Location: Taichung, Akashi Steak
Travel note summary: I'll go play badminton as usual later, but when I have some free time, I'll write these notes slowly. Even though I'm from Taichung, my blog has far fewer Taichung restaurant reviews compared to Taipei, Hsinchu, or Tainan. Partly because I've been living away, and partly because when I'm back in Taichung, I usually eat at home. But that doesn't mean Taichung lacks restaurants—on the contrary, there are many unique ones. Besides the Outer Mongolia Restaurant mentioned earlier, Akashi Steak is another great example, with long queues during meal times, sometimes dozens of numbers waiting just for a ticket. The shop promotes high-quality meat at affordable prices, a successful model that has led to several branches in Taichung. Prices range from 150-430 NTD (+10%), with sirloin steak, chicken steak, and pork steak generally between 150-250 NTD, not much different from chains like My Home Steak or Noble Family. But the professional open grill, combined with unlimited soup, drinks, and side dishes, gives it a competitive edge, making it famous in Taichung. To succeed in any industry, you need differentiation, niche markets, or high vo…