In our university life, choosing a place for lunch is always a headache. Today, we want to introduce you to a unique café near the Academic Building of Tunghai University—CHILJ. This café not only offers delicious food but also boasts a distinctive atmosphere and interesting events.
Getting to Know CHILJ
CHILJ Café is located next to the parking lot of the Academic Building of Tunghai University. Although the location is somewhat hidden, once you find it, you'll discover it to be a true treasure. The café's specialty dishes include Cuban sandwiches and minced meat noodles. The Cuban sandwich, paired with black tea or milk tea, leaves a lasting impression. The minced meat noodles, recommended by the owner, are a traditional military dependents' village delicacy, made by the café's partner's family, and are definitely worth trying.
Unique Atmosphere
The interior of CHILJ exudes a strong jazz vibe, with vinyl records adorning the walls, each one a story waiting to be told. This style choice stems from the brainstorming sessions of the owner and their partners, who divided their ideas into "wants," "needs," and "necessities." They stacked all these elements together and created a poster, realizing that this space was perfect for expressing the power of music, especially jazz. This became the core theme of the café's design and atmosphere. From the menu design to the spatial layout and the selection of background music, every detail reflects this unique artistic ambiance.
In addition to plants and guitars, which guests are welcome to use to relax with soothing music, the café also offers a variety of board games, allowing people to enjoy laughter and surprises with friends or new acquaintances. This unique environment is not only suitable for studying and working but also ensures that each visit is filled with pleasant and magical moments. Stepping into CHILJ feels like entering a small world where music and culture blend, with every moment brimming with artistic inspiration and emotional resonance.
（Taken from chilj Google map ）
Origin of the Café Name
Originally, the café was named "Chill Place" because the owner thought the space was perfect for relaxation and leisure. One day, a partner brought back a toy train with a sign that appeared to have the word "chill" on it, and they decided to use it as the shop’s sign. However, they later realized that the train was actually labeled "chilj." After a team discussion, they unanimously decided to change the café's name to "Chilj."
This name change, though initially accidental, became part of the café's story, symbolizing creativity and an unconventional spirit.
Logo and Features
（Taken from chilj IG）
The logo of CHILJ is simple yet deeply meaningful, drawing inspiration from a coffee cup, coffee beans, a smiley face, a crying face, and a jazz-style vinyl record. These elements are cleverly integrated into the letter design of the logo. This logo not only symbolizes a steaming cup of coffee, conveying warmth and a welcoming message, but also aims to provide comfort and joy to customers, whether they come with laughter or tears.
CHILJ strives to be an inclusive and cozy space, ready to accompany each customer regardless of their mood, offering warm care and relaxing moments. The café's charm lies not only in its delicious dishes but also in its unique atmosphere and diverse interactive activities, allowing every visitor to find their own slice of happiness here.
The Story Behind CHILJ
The owner of CHILJ is a graduate student who initially conceived the idea as an entrepreneurial venture, leveraging existing resources to experiment with different business models. The café's inception stemmed from the owner's quest for unique and enjoyable challenges, and the university provided a suitable space for lease. This space originally housed a FamilyMart convenience store, which then transformed into a shared office space, and eventually became a student-run venue that the owner took over.
CHILJ is the third tenant in this space. The previous two tenants operated a shared event space and a simple coffee shop, respectively. Upon discovering the space, CHILJ aspired to explore new possibilities.
Currently, CHILJ operates as a community café, emphasizing unique space design, a warm atmosphere, and rich interpersonal interactions. Before settling on the community café model, CHILJ experimented with various business models, including a night club, izakaya, floral and plant studio.
Interaction and Events
In addition to daily operations, CHILJ hosts various interesting activities, allowing customers to enjoy social and cultural experiences along with delicious food. They also offer venue rental services; customers can enjoy this service by filling out a form linked on their Instagram homepage.
Current Activities:
Bistro Night: Held once a month, this 120-minute bistro night is one of the owner's favorite events. Typically scheduled for a Saturday during a specific week each month, the event is free to attend and participants receive an additional NT$100 voucher. Attendees can mingle in a relaxed and enjoyable environment, sharing their stories and experiences. The owner loves this event because it fosters strong interactions, which students particularly enjoy, and the atmosphere complements the café's design.
Past Activities:
Floral Arrangement Classes: In collaboration with school clubs, CHILJ hosted a series of floral arrangement classes, allowing students to engage in hands-on creation and experience the beauty of nature.
Taco Night: During this event, CHILJ offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal on tacos, enabling customers to enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine at a discounted price and experience foreign culture.
Handicraft Workshops: These workshops were organized in collaboration with "Da-Jia Study Room," a shared café from Da-Ya, "Thumb Studio" for embroidery and patchwork, and the Tunghai Floral Arrangement Club. The events invited artisans from various fields to guide participants in creating handicrafts, from embroidery and patchwork to floral arrangements and other crafts, offering attendees a fulfilling creative experience.
Future Activity Outlook:
CHILJ is not limited to these past activities and will periodically introduce more innovative and interesting events to further enrich students' extracurricular lives. These events will continue to blend art, culture, and cuisine, bringing more surprises and delightful experiences to customers.
Continuous Innovation
The café menu is frequently updated, adjusted according to the seasons and customer feedback. While some dishes, like tacos requiring fresh ingredients, are not part of the regular menu, they are still offered during specific events, allowing customers to try new flavors.
Current Menu: https://chiljcafe.my.canva.site/chilj-menu-customer
Conclusion
If you're interested in this creative and vibrant café, follow their Instagram to stay updated on the latest activities and menu items. CHILJ is more than just a café; it's a great place to relax, socialize, and explore. We hope you'll find your own joy and surprises here.
CHILJ Jazz Café
Address: No. 1727, Sec. 4, Taiwan Blvd., Xitun Dist., Taichung City 407, Taiwan (R.O.C.)(https://maps.app.goo.gl/5RkwwFuD6Q1y8mHW6)
Business Hours : Monday to Thursday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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