Another Whiff of Cooking Smoke: Enjoy a Tranquil Moment in the Mountains at a Japanese Zen-Style Restaurant

Text & Photos /Pingzi

Visiting Xinxing in Taichung, besides the delicious mushroom hotpot and the flower fields to admire, every time Pingzi talks about Xinxing, she wants to recommend this scenic restaurant here — You Jian Yi Chui Yan (Yet Another Wisp of Cooking Smoke). The lunch and dinner here feature à la carte cuisine, while afternoon tea offers a Japanese Zen-style Western-style tea service. When East meets West, this mountain paradise scenic restaurant is the perfect spot to sip tea and chat — truly delightful.

You Jian Yi Chui Yan is a must-mention among the landscape restaurants in central Taiwan, and it’s also a well-known spot frequently featured in major media reports.

Whenever Pingzi brings friends here, she always wants to recommend it, and today we’re back again.

Driving from downtown Taichung to the mountainous area of Xinxing takes less than an hour, and You Jian Yi Chui Yan feels like a mountain paradise — the scenery is serene and uniquely charming.

After passing Zhongxingling from Xinxing, you’ll see a mountain path after just five minutes, with the spacious You Jian Yi Chui Yan parking lot on the side. Even before the afternoon tea hours, the parking lot is already packed with cars.

The entrance to You Jian Yi Chui Yan resembles a secret tunnel in the forest, with vines climbing on the building, adding a mysterious and adventurous atmosphere. From the façade to the structure, you can feel the thoughtful design and dedication everywhere — it’s truly intriguing.

If you haven’t visited You Jian Yi Chui Yan, you’d probably never imagine that there’s such an amazing scenic restaurant in central Taiwan. Follow Pingzi’s steps now to explore it for yourself.

The entrance also clearly states the business hours and the afternoon tea check-in times, making it simple and straightforward. Children under 12 years old are not allowed inside to avoid noise from playing. Lunch and dinner prices are relatively high, about 1000+ NT per person plus 10% service charge. Pingzi recommends coming for the 2-person 550 NT afternoon tea set, which is more cost-effective. (Afternoon tea does not accept reservations and requires on-site queuing.)

Walking up the stone steps, the slow-paced journey naturally calms your heart, allowing you to leisurely enjoy the surrounding scenery.

At the end is a small red umbrella, a typical Japanese-style welcoming seating area, making you feel as if you’ve arrived in Japan.

A thatched roof with a traditional earthen stove below, built just like in Japan.

On the other side is the main building of You Jian Yi Chui Yan — a log cabin-style wooden house with a strong Japanese feel. You’ll need to check in here first.

Upon entering, you must take off your shoes. The interior is all wooden flooring, just like stepping into a Japanese home. There’s also a foot-washing basin nearby, with towels thoughtfully provided.

You can casually place your shoes on the shelves.

Entering You Jian Yi Chui Yan, the strong Japanese Zen atmosphere greets you. The photo above shows a traditional Japanese sunken hearth, with a fish totem hanging above and a small iron kettle — it almost feels like you’re a guest in Japan. Pingzi, who has always loved Japan, feels a shift in scenery and mood every time she comes here, filling her with joy and excitement.

The main area of You Jian Yi Chui Yan is divided into two floors, the first and second, with spacious accommodations that can host up to a hundred people. You can choose to dine on indoor tatami mats or outdoor tatami areas — whichever you prefer, seating is flexible, and the staff will come to assist once you’re seated.

Here, instead of traditional tatami seating, they use these red cushioned sofa-style tatami seats, which are very comfortable to sit on and completely eliminate worries about leg fatigue, while still maintaining a Japanese architectural and interior ambiance.

Strong Eastern Zen influence.

Since we arrived early and it wasn’t yet crowded, the photos came out with a great texture.

The decorations around the space imitate the style of Japanese homes, and there are also many classic magazines and books available for reading.

Japanese-style floral arrangement aesthetics.

Ascend the wooden staircase to reach the third floor. The staircase area also discreetly houses the restroom.

The third-floor indoor ambiance is also very spacious, with even better lighting and brightness, maintaining that rich Japanese style.

Dining here makes you more mindful and naturally moves with a lighter, more graceful demeanor.

There’s also a hearth setting nearby that’s actually functional.

Now that we’ve covered the indoor areas, let Pingzi take you outside for a stroll next.

At Youjianyicuiyan, an outdoor pool area has been specially designed. The reflection of the building in the pool creates a very pleasant scenery. The outdoor garden can be accessed directly from the front or walked around to the back. The entire space is spacious and perfect for a leisurely stroll.

The front of the building features a lush green lawn, meticulously maintained and absolutely beautiful.

The outdoor dining area offers views of the mountain scenery, accompanied by the sounds of insects and birds—it's truly relaxing.

Having such a vast expanse of green grass to enjoy is a luxurious happiness in the city.

The vast, lush greenery is truly spectacular.

Dining in the outdoor area is also wonderful—the air is incredibly fresh.

In the pool area, there is a Western-style nude female statue, serving as a focal point in the water, blending Eastern and Western aesthetic styles.

Gathering with a few friends here, sipping tea and chatting—what more could one ask for in life?

In such an atmosphere, it feels good to say nothing at all, to daydream or simply reflect.

This corridor is truly wonderful—it naturally encourages you to slow down, with a lakeside beside it.

Standing at the front of the garden, you can gaze at the mountain scenery straight ahead.

After enjoying the beautiful landscape, it’s finally time to introduce the food. On this day, Pingzi opted for afternoon tea. For two people, it costs 550 TWD. This visit featured a set menu prepared by the restaurant, where you only need to choose your drink (tea, coffee, hot or cold beverage).

The family had hot lattes. The latte is made with Lavazza beans—the coffee is smooth, not bitter, with a creamy foam that is hot, rich, and fragrant.

Pingzi chose hot fruit tea. This fruit tea is packed with fruit pieces, offering a sweet and tangy flavor with plenty of Vitamin C. After drinking, you can ask the staff to refill it. Of course, adding water will dilute the tea and make it lighter.

The dessert was white fungus and lotus seed soup, which was tender enough to melt in your mouth—sweet, natural, and pleasantly lingering without being overly sugary.

The meal also included savory items. On this day, it was a flatbread-like dish filled with tomato, lettuce, salad, cheese, and ham. It was refreshing and not greasy. The outer flatbread had a crispy, layered texture and tasted great.

In the middle was a red bean and persimmon filling—soft in texture, not too sweet, juicy, and paired with the persimmon’s lung-moistening and sweet aftertaste. Delicious.

Just like this, we spent the afternoon enjoying Eastern Zen aesthetics and a fusion of Western-style food for a small amount of money.

The rich Japanese Zen atmosphere cleansed our busy and complicated minds, helping us settle down and reflect on ourselves.

Just like this, we comfortably experienced Zen once again at Youjianyicuiyan, feeling the beauty and fulfillment of life.

Taichung Xinshe – Youjianyicuiyan
(04)2582-3568.
No. 363-35, Zhongxingling, Zhongxing Village, Xinshe Township, Taichung County.
Business hours: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM.
Lunch: 11:30 AM – 1:50 PM
Dinner: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Afternoon tea: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (2 people 550 TWD). Lunch and dinner are set menu courses (reservations required for lunch and dinner). Afternoon tea is walk-in only (no reservations).
Children under 12 years old are not accommodated here to avoid noise and disruption.
 

upssmile Pingzi (up’s smile 向上微笑)!
She is a designer and also a photographer for the travel, food, and design content of “Up’s Smile.”
Passionate about traveling, food, design, photography, and movies.
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