Traditional Eel Rice

On Saturday noon, we quickly got seated. The ladies in the restaurant were very eager and provided active service, so the table turnover was quite fast.

The eel was seasoned very nicely, cooked with a slight char, and the meat was tender. There were a few small bones, but they didn’t affect the tasting; they could be swallowed without issue. Although I ordered a small portion, the amount of rice was also considerable. I would hope for a bit more sauce, otherwise the rice gets a bit dry towards the end.

The pork skewers were quite delicious, with scallions to balance the greasiness of the meat. The sashimi set was just average, nothing special, could be skipped.

I already knew that the famous unagi restaurant "Hemonya" only allows customers to queue for seating. To ensure we could finally order the long-awaited "fish cheeks" and "unagi liver," we had to arrive much earlier than the 11 AM opening time to line up.

The three of us gourmet friends arranged to meet for a meal at "Hizenya." (Surprisingly, it was on 02-14, Valentine’s Day! How touching! Luckily, it was just lunch; the three of us simply share a love for good food. Haha!) I arrived at around 10:40 AM. There was no long queue at the entrance, and the staff let me in to wait. I quickly took a seat near the door to study the menu, so I wouldn’t miss my (long-lost) friends.

Unfortunately, the fish market was closed that day. (Surely not to celebrate Valentine’s Day, right?) The following popular fish dishes were unavailable: grilled salmon and braised fish. Therefore, we couldn’t get the "fish cheeks" we had lined up to eat. Thankfully, there was still the "unagi liver" to satisfy our cravings.

We shared the following delicious dishes:

(1) Grilled unagi liver (2 skewers) × 2.
(2) Grilled pork skewers (2 skewers) × 2.
(3) Unagi egg rolls (4 pieces).
(4) Unagi rice (large).
(5) Fried shrimp set meal.
(6) Fried oysters (3 pieces).
(7) Grilled squid with salt (salt + lemon).

The three of us gourmet friends thoroughly enjoyed our delicious lunch at "Hizenya." Then, we took a stroll in a nearby park to chat and digest while reminiscing. We casually walked to a nearby "Manlo Men" for afternoon tea. Most importantly, my old friends wanted to sit down and have a good talk.

Feijian House is a well-known eel rice restaurant in Taipei City, often requiring a queue on weekends or evenings; it's recommended to visit on weekdays for lunch instead. It's been in operation for over fifty years and is located on Qitiaotong in Zhongshan District, which has many excellent Japanese cuisine options.

The eel in the classic red bento box is grilled to a slightly charred perfection, rich and aromatic. The high-temperature grilling allows the fine bones of the eel to be easily chewed and swallowed, making it a signature item of Feijian House.

Ordering the eel rice comes with a bowl of miso soup. The white rice is slightly moist and the flavor of the sauce is rather mild, which cannot be considered outstanding, but it pairs decently well.

We also ordered a grilled pork skewer, which had dry and tough meat, so I wouldn't recommend it. I had intended to order the eel omelet, which I remember being exceptionally tasty, with the soft omelet soaked in broth flavor, wrapping around the restaurant's best grilled eel. However, the lady taking the order said the chef had left, and the omelet is temporarily unavailable until they find a new chef. It’s surprising that even a longstanding restaurant can encounter such issues with chef turnover affecting the supply of menu items!