Wu Mookata

Review

Wu Mookata sits at No. 2, Lane 17, Hezuo Street in Taichung's South District, just a turn off Zhongxiao Night Market and not far from Taichung Station and the Third Market. It is run by a Thai owner, with spices, seasonings and décor largely imported from Thailand. A tuk-tuk is parked at the door, both the indoor and outdoor areas are styled after Chiang Mai, and Supertaste has written a dedicated feature on it as well as listing it among Zhongxiao's must-queue spots.

The headline dish is mookata, the copper-pan barbecue popular in Thailand. In Supertaste's 2022 report the pork set cost NT$320, with four cuts of pork, a vegetable plate and a side; the broth in the outer ring soaks up the meat juices and can be used to cook instant noodles. For à la carte dishes, a blogger recorded in 2025 that Thai stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp were NT$230, basil pork rice with a fried egg NT$160 and Thai milk tea NT$120. The noodles are tangy, spicy and savoury, and the crisp, springy moon shrimp cake is often mentioned too.

Fans praise the authentic flavours and an atmosphere that feels like Thailand, with the green curry, noodles and Thai tea all strongly recommended. Critics say à la carte prices are not cheap and two people can easily pass NT$1,000, some find certain soups and fried items ordinary, medium spice is already very hot, so those sensitive to heat should ask for mild, and a few dislike the free-item-for-reviews promotion.

The official site and online maps show daily hours from 11 a.m. to midnight, but Supertaste and a blogger record weekday opening at 4:30 p.m.; sources differ, so check before you go, and occasional closures are announced on the shop's social page. Weekends are packed, so book online or by phone. A blogger mentions a weekday discount for dine-in and takeaway before 5:30 p.m. Parking nearby is hard, and it is walkable from Taichung Station.

Good for friends wanting authentic Thai food in Taichung, or a late meal after the night market. Two people can share a copper-pan barbecue set plus stir-fried noodles or basil pork rice and a Thai tea; larger groups can add moon shrimp cake and green papaya salad to share. Budget about NT$300 to NT$600 per person.