Fine Japanese Cuisine

From our archives, Compass Magazine, OCT. 2002

Restaurant Roundup

by Tammy Huang Translated by Patricia Li

Sono Japanese Cuisine

         This spacious, 200-ping restaurant has been serving fine Japanese cuisine for 17 years. It has the nostalgia of an old Japanese garden and private tatami rooms where you can enjoy the ambiance. Former Taiwanese president Lee Teng-hui and President Chen Shui-Bian have both dined here and the restaurant has created the President’s Meal (NT$560) in their honor. It includes a raw vegetable salad, smoked salmon filet, fried shrimp tempura, the Japanese “hundred flowers” guava dish, Kyoto beef pot, roasted salmon rice (with Japanese tri-colored cold noodles), fruit, and red bean and yam dessert soup. There is also an abundant variety of other dishes to choose from. The restaurant prides itself on using thick fish slices from freshly imported seafood. Meals are between NT$860 and NT$1,260. On weekdays, enjoy a NT$280 (plus service charge) business lunch. Call in advance to enjoy the ambiance of Kyoto in one of the private tatami rooms.

19, Lane 229, MinChuan Rd.

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Mori Japanese Cuisine

Savor the island’s most expensive eel rice dish (NT$450) here. Dauntless diners don’t shy away because of the price; instead they enthusiastically come back for seconds. I was addicted to eel after just one bite. The owner confidently stands behind this pricey delicacy. He values the quality and preparation of fine Japanese cuisine above all else and rarely advertises this treasure. He studied culinary arts in Japan for over 10 years and, after 40 years of culinary experience, quality in cooking remains his golden rule. Each piece of food is specially selected and carefully prepared to please the diner’s palate. The restaurant uses American certified USDA beef. Each dish is personally prepared by the owner himself. The eel rice remains the main attraction with noticeably thicker eel slices used than in most restaurants. No additives or preservatives are added to this mouth-watering delicacy, which is at its natural, exquisite best. The owner’s motto is “never take the customer’s trust for granted”. Experience eel at its finest here.

167, ChongDe 2nd Rd, Sec. 2

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Nagashima Japanese Cuisine

         Immerse yourself in surround-sound Japanese here. Friends greet each other in Japanese to your left; to your right, others order dishes in Japanese. A Taiwanese might actually feel like a foreigner here. The true feel of Japan is found in this establishment and makes it one of the favorite restaurants among Japanese in Taiwan, who make up 90 percent of the customers here. The owner’s wife is Japanese and successfully brings the authentic taste of Japan to Taiwan. A plate of sashimi is a favorite and various noodles and hot pots are also available. Curry duck noodles with golden curry sauce over cloud-white noodles are irresistable. Savor the fried pork chops, which are golden crisp on the outside and still a bit pink on the inside. How can one not marvel at Japanese culinary styles, with all the simmered and fried varieties offered? Xiang Pu pot includes soup with a set meal of seafood or meat. End the meal with some noodles for a unique treat. Lunch is NT$200 (includes rice), dinner is NT$450 (includes appetizer) and average meals cost NT$500.

61, Da-He Rd.

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KiKu Japanese Cuisine

 Still searching the ends of the island for regional Japanese cuisine? Now you can enjoy eastern and western Japanese dishes under one roof. One of the restaurant’s highlights is the specialty set meal (NT$580) with eight dishes, including a Japanese salad, sashimi (or choice of kebabs, fried shrimp, roasted eel, or beef), appetizer, tempura, soup, fruit, and dessert. A business lunch (NT$280) is also served daily.
The restaurant features kebabs grilled to crisp perfection over coal. Each meaty morsel remains juicy on the inside. A special sauce is then poured over each kebab stick. For a light and healthy choice, try plum noodles and noodles made with the san-yao herb (NT$150). These low-cholesterol choices can satisfy the health-oriented diner. The menu changes with varying seasonal dishes.

88, Bwo Guan (Pokuan) Rd.

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