Restaurant in Taichung, Taiwan
Michelin-recognised sesame oil cooking, no fuss.
Lou's earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2024 for sesame oil cooking that punches well above its $$ price point. The sesame oil chicken leg soup — simmered a full day — is the order to anchor your meal. Easy to book, casual in format, and one of the more reliable value stops in Taichung's comfort food tier.
If you're back in Taichung after a first visit and want to understand why sesame oil cooking deserves its own category of attention, Lou's in Nantun is the right next stop. This is a spot for the return visitor who wants to eat like a local regular — someone who knows that Bib Gourmand recognition from Michelin in 2024 doesn't always mean queues and ceremony, but sometimes just means a neighbourhood shop has been doing one thing precisely right for a long time. Bring a friend who eats well, order more than you think you need, and go at lunch if you can.
The exterior has changed — the large yellow sign that once marked the frontage has been replaced with a quieter, more muted colour scheme , but inside, Lou's operates with the same no-frills focus that earned it its reputation. The room is functional rather than designed, the kind of space where the visual interest is on the table, not the walls. Bowls arrive steaming, the broth carries a distinct amber depth from the sesame oil, and the cooking tells you immediately why this place has regulars who return week after week.
Sesame oil is the organising principle here. Lou's has built its entire identity around the earthy, nutty character of the oil, and the kitchen uses it with discipline rather than excess. The sesame oil chicken leg soup is simmered for a full day , the result is a broth with genuine aromatic complexity, layers of wine and herbs working alongside the oil rather than competing with it. Add noodles to turn it into a complete meal; most regulars do. The pork kidney in sesame oil broth and the braised pork rice are made with the same care, and both are worth ordering on a return visit once you've worked through the soup.
At the $$ price range, the value proposition here is not complicated. You are getting Michelin-recognised cooking at everyday Taiwanese prices. That combination is what the Bib Gourmand classification is designed to flag, and Lou's earns it straightforwardly. For context, a comparable bowl of carefully made Taiwanese comfort food at this level of technique would cost you significantly more at a venue positioned as a destination restaurant. Lou's charges what the neighbourhood charges.
The Google rating of 4.3 across 1,657 reviews reflects a kitchen that consistently delivers rather than one that occasionally impresses. That volume of reviews with that score is a reliable signal: this is not a place with a spike of early enthusiasm followed by a slide. It holds its standard across a broad base of diners, including visitors who arrived with expectations set by the Michelin listing.
Chef Bill Briand's name is attached to the kitchen here, which is an unusual detail for a Taiwanese sesame oil specialist of this type. The cooking itself, however, is grounded in Taiwanese comfort food tradition rather than in any fusion approach. The dishes that earned the recognition are the dishes that remain on the menu, and that consistency is the point.
For the return visitor specifically, the move is to go beyond the chicken leg soup on a second trip and test the stir-fry side of the menu. The pork kidney dish in particular is the kind of thing that separates a diner who has been once from one who understands what the kitchen can do. It requires confidence from the kitchen to execute well, and the Michelin inspectors clearly found it worth noting. If offal is not your preference, the braised pork rice is a lower-commitment way to see the same sesame oil technique applied to a different format.
Lou's is not a destination in the sense that you would plan a trip to Taichung around it, but it is the kind of place that improves a trip already in motion. If you are working through Taichung's food scene and want to understand the Bib Gourmand tier before spending more at YUENJI or booking a table at Chef Ah-Hsi's Old Time Restaurant, Lou's is a useful and genuinely rewarding stop. It also holds up well against other casual Taiwanese options in the city , see Chien Wei Seafood, Chin Chih Yuan (Central), and Feng Chi Goose for comparison across different Taiwanese comfort food formats.
Taiwan's casual dining tier is among the most competitive in Asia. For broader context on what Bib Gourmand recognition signals in Taiwan, it is worth noting that venues like logy in Taipei and GEN in Kaohsiung represent the higher end of the country's recognised dining, while places like A Cun Beef Soup (Baoan Road) in Tainan and A Gan Yi Taro Balls in New Taipei show how the Bib Gourmand tier rewards deep specialism at accessible prices. Lou's sits comfortably in that company. If you want to see how Taiwanese cooking travels into champagne pairing territory, Fujin Tree Taiwanese Cuisine & Champagne (Songshan) in Taipei and Golden Formosa in Taipei offer a useful contrast. And if sesame oil cooking at Lou's opens up an appetite for exploring more of what the region offers, Ang Gu in Hsinchu County is another specialist worth tracking down.
For planning the rest of your time in the city, see our full Taichung restaurants guide, Taichung hotels guide, Taichung bars guide, Taichung wineries guide, and Taichung experiences guide. For a resort contrast elsewhere in Taiwan, Volando Urai Spring Spa & Resort in Wulai District is worth considering if your itinerary extends north.
Booking is easy here. Lou's is a neighbourhood-format Taiwanese shop rather than a destination restaurant, so you are unlikely to need advance planning beyond a day or two. That said, Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition in 2024 has increased awareness among visitors to Taichung, so arriving at peak lunch hours without a plan carries some risk of a wait. If you are flexible on timing, a weekday lunch is your lowest-friction option.
Casual clothes are entirely appropriate , this is a no-frills Taiwanese shop in the $$ range, and the room reflects that. The Michelin listing is for the cooking, not the setting. There is no dress expectation beyond what you would wear to any neighbourhood restaurant in Taichung.
Groups should be manageable given the casual format, but the seat count is not confirmed in available data. For larger parties , say six or more , it is worth checking ahead. The $$ price point and share-friendly menu format (soups, stir-fries, rice dishes) make it a practical group choice if the space allows. Contact the venue directly to confirm capacity for larger bookings.
The sesame oil chicken leg soup is the anchor dish , simmered for a full day, with wine and herb aromatics alongside the sesame oil. Add noodles to make it a full meal. On a return visit, the pork kidney in sesame oil broth is the dish that shows the kitchen's range, and the braised pork rice is a reliable alternative if offal is not your preference. The Michelin inspectors flagged all three as signature items.
Yes, and it is one of the better solo options in this tier of Taichung dining. The format , individual bowls, rice dishes, stir-fries at $$ prices , suits a single diner easily. You can work through the menu across multiple visits without the logistical overhead of coordinating a group. The casual room also removes any awkwardness about eating alone.
The yellow sign that used to mark the frontage is gone , the exterior is now a muted colour scheme, so look carefully for the address on Xiangshang Road. The menu centres on sesame oil cooking, which means the flavour profile across dishes will share that earthy, nutty character. If you are unfamiliar with the style, start with the chicken leg soup before branching out. Prices are in the $$ range, so the spend is low relative to the Bib Gourmand quality level.
Lou's is a Taiwanese neighbourhood shop rather than a bar-format venue, so a bar counter in the conventional sense is unlikely to be part of the layout. Seating is casual and the format is table service. Specific seating configuration details are not confirmed in available data , if this matters for your visit, check with the venue directly.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lou's (Nantun) | Sesame oil lover alert: this no-frills shop is famous for dishes cooked with the earthy, nutty oil. The façade's familiar big yellow sign is gone in favour of a muted colour scheme, but the signature items remain as delicious as ever. Simmered for a whole day, the sesame oil chicken leg soup exudes aromas of wine and herbs; throw in noodles for a complete meal. Stir-fries such as pork kidney in sesame oil broth or braised pork rice are also impeccably made.; Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024) | $$ | — |
| JL Studio | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | $$$$ | — |
| Sur- | Michelin 1 Star | $$$ | — |
| L'Atelier par Yao | Michelin 1 Star | $$$ | — |
| Oretachi No Nikuya | Michelin 1 Star | $$$ | — |
| YUENJI | Michelin 1 Star | $$$$ | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Lou's is a no-frills Bib Gourmand shop, so walk-ins are likely the norm rather than formal reservations. That said, a Michelin 2024 recognition at $$ pricing draws a crowd, so arriving early — especially at lunch — is the practical move. If you're planning around a specific visit to Taichung, check current contact options via local booking platforms since the venue's phone and website aren't publicly listed.
This is a no-frills Taiwanese shop with a muted, low-key exterior — come as you are. Casual clothes are entirely appropriate. There's no dress code signal in the venue's positioning, and the $$ price range confirms this is neighbourhood eating, not occasion dining.
Lou's operates as a small Taiwanese shop format, which typically means modest seating capacity. Groups of 2–4 are likely fine; larger parties should plan around off-peak times or expect a wait. The no-frills setting isn't configured for private dining or large celebrations.
Start with the sesame oil chicken leg soup — simmered for a full day with wine and herbs, it's the dish that defines the kitchen. Add noodles to make it a complete meal. Pork kidney in sesame oil broth and braised pork rice are the other confirmed signature items, both Michelin-noted as precisely executed.
Yes. A no-frills Taiwanese shop at $$ is one of the better formats for eating alone — low pressure, quick service, and the sesame oil chicken soup is a full meal on its own once you add noodles. It's the kind of place where solo diners fit naturally alongside regulars.
The large yellow sign that used to mark the frontage is gone — look for the muted exterior on Xiangshang Road, Section 3, Nantun District. The kitchen's focus is sesame oil cooking, which is a specific, earthy flavour profile: if that's not your preference, this isn't the right stop. If it is, the Michelin Bib Gourmand 2024 recognition at $$ pricing makes it one of the better-value meals in Taichung.
Lou's is a Taiwanese shop format, not a bar-counter restaurant. Bar seating in the Western sense is unlikely here. Seating arrangements will be standard table service typical of no-frills Taiwanese diners — functional and direct, not designed for lingering.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
