It feels like Japan here—digging into a bowl of eel rice drenched in a special sauce at this cozy little shop.

Text & Photos byPingzi

Taipei Metro Dongmen Station has now become a favorite spot for tourists from Japan, Hong Kong, and mainland China. If you’re looking to enjoy delicious Japanese cuisine and eel rice near Dongmen Station, Pingzi recommends visiting Yongkang Feimanwu. With its richly Japanese-style izakaya decor, the eel rice here is absolutely delicious, coated in a specially prepared sauce and served over steaming hot white rice—Pingzi couldn’t get enough of it.

Yongkang Feimanwu, which opened in October 2014, caters to foodies who love Japanese cuisine and great eel rice. You no longer need to travel all the way to Zhongshan District (to spots like Fuzenya, Hamamatsuya, or Kyotoya) for delicious eel rice. Right here at Yongkang Street near Taipei Metro Dongmen Station, you can also enjoy fantastic eel rice. This tasty eel rice spot is located right next to Yongkang Street Park, making it very easy to find. Just a 10-minute walk from Dongmen Station.

The storefront has the classic style of a small Japanese shop, as if you’ve stepped into a charming Japanese alleyway lined with izakayas. There’s even a wooden waiting area outside, which adds to the refined atmosphere.

The entrance clearly highlights the shop’s featured dishes, specials, and recommendations at a glance.

Inside, the long, narrow space is designed with a strong Japanese ambiance, giving off a classic izakaya vibe. It can accommodate about 30–40 people, with an open counter bar area up front and individual seating in the back. The shop isn’t very large, but the clever use of space allows for several dining areas. The entrance has a seating zone, and the nearby counter also serves as a seating area, which can feel a bit cramped—an unfortunate downside. Fortunately, there are still some separate individual seats available in the back.

Through the transparent open kitchen, you can watch the chefs skillfully preparing the dishes.

The interior décor is very izakaya-style, perfect for enjoying a drink with friends.

The shop’s recommended signature dishes include shrimp tempura rice, pork cutlet with egg rice, and eel rice. Most meals come as set meals, which are the best value, though à la carte options are also available. The menu is laid out in a clear table format, easy to read with a wide variety of choices—Pingzi wanted to try them all. Prices range from as low as NT$110 to NT$500.

That day, after watching the Bologna Illustration Exhibition with my best friend, we came here for lunch—it was pretty great. The table settings were nicely arranged. Pingzi and her friend ordered the eel rice set meal for NT$260 (a smaller portion). The price isn’t exactly cheap, but compared to the inflated prices of eel rice in the past, it’s quite reasonable. When the eel rice set arrived, just like at other eel rice restaurants, it came with a Japanese-style bento box and miso soup.

A richly Japanese-style lunch feast.

Opening the bento box, the aroma wafted up, making us eagerly anticipate the eel inside. The eel rice is simply a bed of white rice topped with grilled eel, drizzled with a light sauce—no extra frills, letting the true flavors of the eel rice shine. The grains of rice were firm and distinct, and the sauce added a nice flavor. However, Pingzi felt the sauce could have been more authentic. The eel had bones, but they were removed very well, so you didn’t have to worry about biting into any. The glossy layer of oil on the eel was definitely the highlight of the grilling process—rich in flavor and visually appealing.

The miso soup was a bit too salty, almost overly briny, lacking fish but packed with tofu and seaweed.

The pickled radish was flavorful and refreshing—very much in line with traditional Japanese flavors.

My best friend’s daughter ordered the saury set meal for NT$180, which was incredibly generous. It included a bowl of rice, a plate of pickles, miso soup, and a saury that was grilled to tender perfection—super fresh and seasoned perfectly with pepper.

The bill.

That day, we enjoyed a delicious lunch in Yongkang Street and got to savor some great eel rice. No need to travel all the way to Zhongshan District anymore—saving us lots of time and travel. If you’re bringing tourists or friends to explore Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station and then want to head to Dongmen Station for food and a gathering, Pingzi highly recommends checking out Yongkang Street. Not only is it close by, it’s also super convenient—just one stop from Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall on the metro. This is Pingzi’s top recommendation for a Dongmen Station food route.

Yongkang Feimanwu.
(02)2357-0028.
No. 12-2, Yongkang Street, Taipei City. (Food near Dongmen Metro Station)
Business hours: 11:30–14:30 / 17:30–21:00.

upssmile Pingzi (up’s smile upward smile)!
A designer by profession, and also a photographer for Up’s Smile Travel, Food, Design & Photography.
Passionate about “travel,” “food,” “design,” “photography,” and film.
Blog:http://upssmile.com/