A suitable place for after-work gatherings, whether it's a small group of friends or a larger party, flexible seating arrangements can be made. If there are many people, a deposit is required in advance to reserve seats.
The menu is diverse, ranging from sushi to skewers. The quality of the dishes ordered is consistently good, and the serving speed is quick.
There are also many options for drinks, including various types of sake, and for highballs, you can choose double the alcohol content, which is really strong.
After soaking in the hot springs during the holiday, we went to an izakaya.
It was almost six o'clock, and I had a reservation for 7:00.
When we walked in, there was only one table available, so they arranged for us to sit at the counter.
I didn’t like being so close to the stranger next to us.
Mainly because it was too hot, we were too close to the frying pan.
We casually ate some of the ordered dishes and packed the rest to take away.
The salt-grilled beef, cumin lamb, and little black pig were all really delicious.
With each bite, there was an abundance of juicy meat. I loved it.
#Tsuta Japanese Izakaya
At the Modern Izakaya on the sixth floor of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A9, traditional izakaya dishes are presented with a modern twist. The environment is very comfortable and clean, and the staff is warm and professional, making for a great overall dining experience. The karaage chicken, mashed potatoes, fried pork cutlet sandwich, and small rolls with squid mayonnaise are all very enjoyable, while the other dishes are more standard. There is a wide variety of alcoholic beverages available, and many dishes not on the menu can also be inquired about, making it feel like there are often new dishes being introduced that are worth looking forward to.
This place does not have a reservation service, and it has two floors with three outdoor tables, but there's never enough seating. It’s common for it to be full during peak dining times.
The ordering and food collection are self-service, and during busy times, the collection area can get very crowded.
The prices for the dishes are quite affordable, and there’s also soup available for unlimited refills (the one we had that day was a rich bonito broth, which was really warming).
The menu is generally divided into cold noodles, tossed udon, soup noodles, curry, rice bowls, and various side dishes and fried items.
You will definitely find something you want to eat here!
However, ordering a main dish alone may not be very filling; for instance, after the two dishes we ordered this time, we both felt about 70% full, so it’s recommended to add some extra sides.
✐ Mentaiko Tempura Udon Salad $149
· This udon looks exceptionally delicious. At first glance, one might think it would just have a simple white sauce flavor and be quite plain.
To my surprise, the flavor profile is rich, the udon is chewy, and the sauce is perfectly coated on the noodles—simply fantastic!
✐ Scallion Salt Cold Noodles + Golden Fried Pork Cutlet $189
· The presentation has quite a ceremonial feel. The cold udon is chewy and refreshing, and the onions in the sauce add a lot of flavor. The fried pork cutlet is incredibly crispy!!! It’s a delightful set meal, although the portion is not very large.
𖤐 ̖´- Join the LINE membership for a choice of one gift (Oolong tea/Calpis/Coke) and five-star reviews earn you a small side dish.
Busy until late and almost everything nearby was closed, I casually found a place to eat. It looked like a typical izakaya, but unexpectedly special.
To my surprise, the menu had a lot of things I hadn't seen before. It turned out to be an offal specialty restaurant.
The staff were very polite and good at making recommendations; they genuinely had confidence in their dishes. Otherwise, I wouldn't have dared to order something unusual like optic nerves.
The items were strange but surprisingly delicious. Moreover, each skewer had a different seasoning, so the flavors didn't become monotonous.
The signature fried pig liver had no fishy taste. The chicken gizzard was well-prepared and didn't have the strange taste usually associated with it.
I highly recommend the chicken throat meat. The sake-flavored chicken throat is braised and comes with tofu skin soaked in the braising sauce. It's perfect as an appetizer before the skewers are grilled. The throat meat skewer comes from a slightly different part and has a crunchy texture that's quite unique.
After work, I went to a nearby izakaya with colleagues to have a drink. I've passed by this place often, and I finally had the chance to try it out. Overall, I think it's quite nice 👍 and a great spot to relax with food and drinks after work.
I highly recommend the large, reasonably priced beers, especially the Sapporo Black Label, which I really enjoy (you can see it in the photos). We ended up ordering quite a few dishes without realizing it, and I was especially impressed by the fried chicken, Matsusaka pork, and grilled zucchini - they were all delicious! The skewers were great except for the beef, which I wouldn't recommend. I was originally looking forward to the grilled abalone, but it was a bit underwhelming and not particularly fragrant, so that was a small disappointment.
In conclusion: I would definitely come back to eat and drink here again next time!
【New Taipei Tucheng】Hinata Public Tavern
Recommended by internet users on Threads
I liked about 80% of the dishes, and the complimentary appetizers were also delicious.
Some of the dishes differed from my family’s taste.
On that day, three adults and one child dined, averaging $858 per person, which isn't a cheap price.
My family mentioned that every dish was good, and below are my personal recommendations.
✨ Personal Recommendations
◽ Meat Lover’s 16 Skewers (random selection of meat skewers) $820
Additionally, you can choose one from "Mackerel, Matsusaka Pork, Beef Chuck"
＞ Beef Rib Skewers, Enoki Mushroom Rolls, Bacon Asparagus, Bacon Tomato, Chicken Butt, Chicken Gizzard, Chicken Heart, Chicken Cartilage, and the following recommendations:
Chicken Skin✨ Grilled to a slight crisp, very fragrant!
Chicken Thigh✨ Fresh, tender, juicy, and big pieces, grilled perfectly.
Pork Butt✨ No fishy taste, very thick when bitten into.
Matsusaka Pork✨ Sprinkled with a bit of spice and salt, it tastes great on its own, especially with green onions and salt.
Drawback: Mixed skewers won't be served on the same plate, so you need to keep track of which ones you ordered separately. You can request to exclude certain skewers in advance, like innards (I found out only after ordering). Some of the skewers I ordered separately were repeated, or everyone could eat the mixed skewers first and then decide on additional orders.
◽ Chicken Butt $50/skewer (I personally think it could be drier)
◽ Chicken Heart $40/skewer (I prefer a crispier texture)
◽ Enoki Mushroom Rolls $50/skewer
◽ Zucchini✨ $40/skewer (Juicy and not cut thin)
◽ Chicken Oysters $150/two skewers (Meat from the chicken's lower back, with a taste and texture between chicken and offal)
◽ Fresh Miyagi Oysters from Japan✨ $140/each, two for $250 (Best enjoyed with lemon, salt, and wasabi for more flavor)
◽ Grilled Large Shrimp✨ $240/two (Fresh and chewy)
◽ Spicy Salt Crispy Pig Intestines✨ $180 (Grilled until colored and crispy, delicious with fresh garlic slices! Also served with shredded onions)
◽ Wasabi Octopus $100
◽ Signature Fried Chicken✨ $150 (After tasting the delicious chicken thigh skewers, I was confident in the chicken and ordered this crispy, fragrant fried chicken)
◽ Sake Steamed Clams✨ $150 (If you don’t drink, you can have a bowl of broth, which is aromatic and smooth. The clams are fresh and cooked with ginger, resulting in a slightly sweet broth)
◽ Freshly Grilled Caramel Pudding $60
◽ Mei No Yado Yuzu Sake✨ $150/glass (I really like this drink; the restaurant perfectly measures the ice amount so it won’t be too watery or warm)
◽ Sapporo Draft Beer✨ $130, second glass at half price! (This brand of draft beer is great, and the second glass at half price is a nice touch! No limit on the number of glasses, so everyone can enjoy.)
■ New Taipei City, Tucheng District, Jincheng Road Section 3, Alley 11, Lane 3
■ 02 2264 8150
■ 18:00–01:30
■ Service fee included, card payment available
■ Parking information: Tucheng Yanji Multi-story Parking Lot
🍢 Restaurant Name: Sake. Sake. Oden
📍 Address: No. 458, Zhongmei Street, West District, Taichung City
▫️ Business Hours: Monday to Sunday 18:00-06:00
▫️ Service Charge: 10% service fee
▫️ Minimum Order and Dining Time: No special regulations
▫️ Reservation Required: Can wait on-site for a table
▪️ Environment and Atmosphere:
The exterior of the restaurant has a Japanese style, with dim lighting inside.
Although it’s an izakaya, the offered dishes are oden!
The seating arrangements are a bit cramped, and there are limited spots.
The overall taste of the oden is light, and the prices are on the higher side.
It’s quite suitable for a late-night snack without overwhelming calorie content!
▪️ Ordering and Payment Method:
📝 The restaurant staff will arrange seating for guests.
Menus are on the table, and staff will come to take orders.
💰 Only cash payments are accepted.
———————————————————————————
🔖 Order Record:
▪️ Sanuki Udon $50
▪️ Shumai $50
▪️ Shiitake Mushrooms $30
▪️ German Sausage $30
▪️ Konjac Noodles $30
▪️ Chikuwa $30
▪️ Potato $30
▪️ Shrimp Ball $50
▪️ Egg $25
▪️ Konjac $30
▪️ Fried Tofu $30
▪️ Tofu $30
▪️ Half Slice $30
💡 Food: 3 | Service: 3 | Atmosphere: 5 | Environment: 4
A very cool place, very retro and comfortable. The atmosphere is very lively, perfect for having drinks and chatting after work.
The marinated platter pairs well with drinks, but unfortunately, the chili oil isn’t spicy enough. My favorite is the shredded chili chicken spring roll, but there are actually many items on the menu that we couldn't order because there were only two of us.
I didn’t particularly like the Highball; it felt a bit lacking in richness. However, all the cocktails are of high quality.
The service from the staff is very considerate. When you want to order more, just turn your head, and they will immediately notice and come to ask what you need.
The business is great, so it's best to make a reservation in advance.
《Environment》
Located on Yongle Street, this newly opened Japanese izakaya features an interior full of vintage Japanese vibes🏮. There are bar and small table seating options, making it more suited for gatherings of 2-4 people. As there aren’t many seats, it’s recommended to call ahead for reservations during peak dining times. Additionally, the air conditioning inside is strong, so it's best enjoyed with some drinks🍻 to avoid catching a chill.
《Dishes》
With so many dishes to choose from, I'll highlight a few popular choices and personal favorites:
📍Assorted Sashimi💰280
Includes two slices of salmon, two slices of tuna, and three slices of swordfish. The marbling is average, but the thickness is substantial. The texture is nice, though the aroma is somewhat lacking.
📍Stewed Sweetfish💰220
This seems to be one of the specialties of the restaurant. The female sweetfish is stewed very thoroughly, making the whole fish edible, with the bones fully softened. It's a great match with drinks.
📍Torched Salmon Oyako Don💰380
Richly garnished with tamagoyaki and a salad🥗, the salmon is seared almost all the way through, yet still remains tender and moist. The vinegared rice pairs well with the sashimi, although its texture is on the softer side.
📍Scattered Sushi Don💰280
Features salmon, tuna, and swordfish. The cuts used are from the trimmings, so the marbling isn't as rich, but it's still a satisfying bowl.
📍Japanese Yam with Mentaiko💰170
The yam slices are thick with a soft texture. The downside is the mentaiko sauce, which largely tastes like mayonnaise, covering the mentaiko flavor entirely.
📍Salt-Grilled Matsusaka Pork💰160
The flavor and doneness are decent, but the Matsusaka pork slices are cut a bit too thin, lacking texture.
📍Sapporo Draft Beer💰130
A must-order for beer lovers. The beer glass is stored in the freezer, enhancing the beer's aroma and providing a smooth taste, perfect for when you're just off work.
Overall, the flavors are quite good, and the dining experience is pleasant, though the prices are slightly on the higher side.
《Parking》
If driving🚗, there's a paid parking lot🅿️ on Zhonghua Road (next to the Shopee store). Given its location near the Yongle Street shopping area, riding a scooter🛵 might be more convenient.
《Service》
There isn't an excess of service, but dish removal is swift, and the service attitude is excellent👌.
《Payment Method》
Cash💰
