Homesick for familiar flavors? A Korean who moved to Japan creates the “Heiban Nabe” dish

Text & Photos /DaKou

This time, DaKou is taking everyone to Taipei to try a magical dish!* Hidden in the alleys behind the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi shopping area on Nanjing West Road in Taipei, “Kintaro Heiban Nabe” serves up authentic Japanese flavors in their purest form. The overall ambiance, including the menu on the walls and the chef’s accent, might make you feel like you’ve been instantly teleported to Japan. But little do you know, the cuisine here is actually a fusion of Japanese and Korean styles—super surprising!* It turns out this dish was specially developed by a Korean who immigrated to Japan, who longed for the taste of home. They even designed the pot in a unique winnowing basket shape, which is quite distinctive!* This “Kintaro Heiban Nabe” is the 5th branch in Osaka, Japan, and the 1st overseas location. It’s also a favorite spot of many Japanese celebrities!* Next, let DaKou quickly show you what’s so amazing about “Kintaro Heiban Nabe”!*

[Restaurant Info]
Kintaro Heiban Nabe
Address: No. 1-14, Lane 126, Section 1, Zhongshan North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City (About a 5-minute walk from Zhongshan MRT Station, behind Shin Kong Mitsukoshi)
Phone: 02-25230368
Business Hours: 17:00–24:00
FB Fan Page:https://www.facebook.com/kintaronabe

The shop is located in a small alley on the left side after entering from the back of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi. It’s not very big, but it’s clean and tidy. The space is quite compact, but it gives off a real Japanese vibe. It’s said that this shop is popular among Japanese celebrities, so the left wall is covered with autographs from various Japanese stars, which is quite an eye-catching display. The right wall features the Japanese menu, and some of the staff and chefs are Japanese as well. When you’re here, everything you see is in Japanese, and everything you hear is in Japanese—it really gives you the illusion that you’ve come to Japan!*

It’s said that this shop is a favorite among Japanese celebrities, so there are many autographs from Japanese stars hanging on the left wall—very impressive. The right wall has the Japanese menu, and some of the staff and chefs are Japanese. Here, what you see is Japanese text, and what you hear is Japanese, giving you a real sense of being in Japan!*

Compared to other places, this shop doesn’t have many customers at the moment. Even if you come with a group of friends, you probably won’t have to wait in line. It’s not too crowded, which is nice. Don’t worry about not speaking Japanese when you come here because there are still a few staff members who are Taiwanese, and the menu is all in Chinese. You can ask the staff any questions you have at any time!*

The most special part here is the pot itself. Additionally, you can also order extra vegetables, meat, nabe porridge, and soup according to your personal preferences!*

There are also side dishes available, such as tofu, chicken wings, dumplings, oden, and others, which all offer great value!*

This place has a bit of an izakaya vibe and is often a top choice for office workers after work. Naturally, you’ll want to order a beer Up here (under 18s please don’t drink)!*

● ETtoday East News reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.*

The drink options include Calpis (60 TWD), Orange C (70 TWD), Spirited Little Golden Hi (120 TWD), Corn Tea (60 TWD), and Fresh Red Syrup Sawa (150 TWD). The most unique one is probably the middle drink, the Little Golden Hi. It has a faint turmeric flavor and is a completely new drink experience!* It’s definitely quite special~*

The drinks look refreshing, and the colors are vibrant. They’re also not overly sweet, making them easy to pair with the meal.*

The drinks are refreshing, and when paired with cool beverages, they make for a super refreshing combination. Actually, they’re quite suitable for summer too!*

● Superb Kimchi Platter (130 TWD)It includes kimchi, cucumber, radish, yam, and more. Although it looks bright red, it’s not very spicy and has a slight sweetness, giving off a distinct Korean cuisine vibe!* It turns out the Kintaro family are Koreans who immigrated to Japan. Because they missed the flavors of home, they founded this restaurant, and many of the dishes here are authentic Korean flavors!*

● Korean-style Salad (Salted / 120 TWD)It includes ingredients like lettuce, seaweed, carrot, sesame, and onion. It’s very crunchy and delicious!*

● Stir-fried Rice Noodles with Greens (160 TWD)The flavor is slightly sweet and salty, kind of like it’s stir-fried with a sukiyaki-style sauce. It’s quite appetizing!*

● Pickled Mustard Greens (120 TWD)

They have a nice sour and spicy kick. They’re very refreshing and delicious. I think the cold dishes here are all quite unique and tasty, making you even more excited for the upcoming main dishes!*● Fried Cartilage (130 TWD)

The whole table was instantly filled as a bounty of ingredients was laid out—so much delicious food that everyone’s mouths started watering!

Seafood Flat Pan Hotpot (580 TWD)It’s packed with squid, clams, oysters, shrimp, bean sprouts, mushrooms, kimchi, and more—all piled up like a small mountain, creating quite an impressive sight!

This unique hotpot feels like a mix between sukiyaki and Korean cuisine. It turns out that this dish originated when Korean immigrants in Japan, who were very poor at the time, used iron dustpans as makeshift pots, which eventually led to the creation of this amazing flat pan hotpot!

The base sauce has a deep flavor and is made from high-quality ingredients. When you stir the ingredients in the pot, they absorb the essence of the sauce and become even more flavorful!

The marinated pork slices (140 TWD) are pre-seasoned and seasoned with a bit of leek for added flavor; we also added a mushroom platter (120 TWD). The large oysters are quite big and have been pre-marinated too—they’ll all go into the pot together later. It feels like a really generous spread!

If it’s your first time here, you might not know how spicy it is, because the staff are usually very friendly and will adjust it for you—so just let them know your preference.

The atmosphere here is very lively and bustling, just like a night market. When you walk in, the place is packed, and you’ll immediately feel the excitement.

The red-looking sauce may look very spicy, but it’s actually not—it actually enhances the flavor of the flat pan hotpot!

There’s a large plate of pork belly (you can choose the amount) on the table, looking super inviting. Everyone couldn’t wait to dig in!

It doesn’t take long before the aroma of the cooking ingredients fills the air, and soon you’ll be ready to eat.

Once the ingredients are cooked and soaked up the broth, they’re delicious even without dipping sauce!

After cooking, the ingredients become even sweeter and juicier, with a richer and more intense flavor!

The flavor of the pork belly is rich and savory. Each bite offers a different level of umami—you’ll really savor it.

The oysters are plump and juicy after cooking, with a rich taste. They’re so good you’ll want to share them with others.

The ingredients in the hotpot aren’t greasy at all. The freshly cooked rice that the staff brings out is used to make “special post-meal crispy rice.” The cheese is an extra add-on (30 TWD), but the other ingredients come free with every flat pan hotpot order. First, pour the white rice into the sauce—it’s kind of like making a mixed rice porridge. Then add the toppings and stir-fry them in sequence. As the rice gradually absorbs the sauce, it starts to resemble okonomiyaki. Everyone was almost full, but the aroma suddenly woke up our taste buds again...

After adding the egg and stirring it with the rice, once the sauce has been fully absorbed, you’re ready to eat.

At this point, a nice crust forms, giving the dish a crispy texture. Mixing everything together creates a rich and savory fried rice.

If you want a bit of crunch, just ask the staff for more crispy rice. It adds a nice texture and is super addictive. At this point, you might even feel the spatula is a bit small… if they gave you a big spoon, you’d probably finish it in just a few scoops (laughs)!

“Kintaro Flat Pan Hotpot” has only been open for a short while, and many of the staff were specially brought over from Japan. With its authentic Japanese flavors and decor, it has attracted not only many locals but also Japanese expats in Taiwan looking for a taste of home. From appetizers to the flat pan hotpot and even the final crispy rice, “Kintaro” keeps surprising you and leaves you wanting more. It’s also a great spot for office workers to unwind with a drink after work—almost like a izakaya. Here, you’re meant to drink and eat heartily to wash away the stresses of the workday (no drinking under 18)! Recommended for anyone interested—come try this unique blend of Japanese and Korean flavors. You’ll be just as impressed as we were!

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