Packed with vegetables galore — Taoyuan’s all-you-can-eat Japanese shabu-shabu with signature soy milk broth

Text & photos by /Viviyu

When I was having temaki sushi at “JC Park Fashion Plaza” at noon that day, I had already noticed “Wenyacai” across the way. I quickly went to the counter to reserve a table for dinner and brought my elders along for the meal. This authentic Japanese shabu-shabu brand is also available in Taoyuan. Vegetables are a major highlight at Wenyacai, and there’s also a wide selection of meats like chicken, pork, and beef. The broths and specially made dipping sauces are uniquely flavorful.

By the time it was dinner hour, there was already a long queue at the entrance. Fortunately, we had made a reservation in advance; otherwise, we would have had to wait. After being led to our seats by the staff, we headed over to get drinks first.

This area is where the open-display ingredients are placed — a wide selection of vegetables, seafood, and hot pot items. You can take as much as you like by serving yourself.

Ingredients are neatly arranged in open refrigerators for easy access, kept fresh with ice underneath, and separate serving chopsticks are provided to maintain hygiene.

A large variety of vegetables are neatly arranged in the refrigerator, including onions, sweet potatoes, water shield, and shiitake mushrooms, all waiting to be chosen based on personal preference.

The vegetables are washed and prepared very cleanly, cut into appropriate sizes for convenient cooking in the sukiyaki pot.

Leafy greens and mushrooms are perfect for cooking in the pot — they absorb all the essence from the broth, which is a flavor I absolutely love.

There are at least five types of mushrooms prepared, and it’s honestly hard to decide which one to try first.

Of course, hot pot ingredients are essential for shabu-shabu — I also love options like ??, egg dumplings, and rice cakes.

The seafood available that day included fish slices, fresh shrimp, and octopus, all looking very fresh and shiny.

In addition to seafood, there’s also an all-you-can-eat selection of assorted sushi. Each piece is served with a small spoon — theoretically, there should be five types: tofu skin, octopus pieces, eel, tamagoyaki, and seaweed sushi. It’s just a bit of a shame that the ingredients are simply placed on top of vinegar rice.

Drinks include oolong tea and Calpis, both of which pair really well with shabu-shabu. Next to them are cereal and chocolate sauce for drizzling over ice cream.

Sodas like Coca-Cola and Fanta are also available — all essential drinks for enjoying shabu-shabu. However, it seems there are no hot beverages like coffee or tea, which might disappoint those who prefer a warm drink with their meal.

The sauces here are definitely worth trying — for example, the Premium Foie Gras Sesame Sauce and the Special Citrus Sauce are unique offerings that pair well with almost anything.

There are seven types of soup bases to choose from, and you can mix two for a yin-yang hot pot — for example, the Golden Broth costs an extra $30 for one side. Varieties such as Golden Broth, Collagen Salt Broth, and Soy Milk Broth are quite rare, and I really wanted to try them all.

The all-you-can-eat pricing comes in two plans, mainly differing in the portion of beef. Those who love beef should go for Plan Two. Prices also vary depending on the dining time — please inquire when making a reservation for details.

Soy Milk Broth & Moonview Sukiyaki Broth
The milky-white soy milk broth has a rich, nutty aroma — it’s perfect for cooking vegetables. The bean fragrance combined with the crisp texture of greens is surprisingly delicious. Sukiyaki is still my favorite — I can’t get enough of it. The slightly sweet Japanese sukiyaki sauce really brings out the flavors of the ingredients.

Tomato Broth & Collagen Salt Broth
If you love tomato flavor, it’s like an Italian-style broth — the natural acidity helps cut through the greasiness and adds a refreshing taste, making it a great match for both meat and vegetables. Beauty-conscious women shouldn’t miss the Collagen Salt Broth — it’s made by freezing the broth and then simmering it with chicken bones, yuzu peel, and stock. The sweet-savory taste is like drinking chicken soup.

I randomly picked some egg dumplings, vegetables, and taro — you can just grab whatever you feel like. The ingredients are fresh and cleaned thoroughly, not frozen for too long or soggy.

Cooking tofu skin and rice cakes in sukiyaki is incredibly delicious — they soak up plenty of the broth, and the burst of flavor when you bite into them is one of the most appealing aspects of shabu-shabu.

The pork options include barley-fed pork and domestic pork, divided by cuts such as pork belly, pork loin, and bacon. The different fat contents offer completely unique textures. I recommend trying one type first, then ordering more of your favorites.

Pork belly has a higher fat content, making it perfect for shabu-shabu — the smooth texture keeps you going bite after bite.

Pork loin has less fat and a finer, more delicate texture, with a bit more chew and a naturally sweet taste.

The meat slices are all packed in these white plastic containers — they look clean and are portioned just right. Just let the staff know how many servings you want, and they’ll bring them over.

For beef, they offer wagyu chuck flap and sirloin — the marbling is just stunning, and both the flavor and texture are absolutely delightful.

Premium domestic chicken thigh meat is cut into bite-sized pieces, with a Q-textured bite enhanced by the inclusion of skin for extra chewiness. I usually prefer my chicken cooked well, but even after longer cooking, it doesn’t get too tough—proof that the meat quality is really quite good.

The tomato broth here has a mildly tangy flavor that pairs wonderfully with other ingredients, whether it’s meat slices or vegetables, elevating their taste layers. It’s so flavorful on its own that you won’t even feel the need for dipping sauces.

Toss all your favorite ingredients into the pot, and the aroma of beans gradually wafts through the air. The subtle sweetness brings out the umami of the ingredients.

The meat slices are thinly cut and turn from bright red to pink in just about five seconds in the pot—that’s when they’re at their most delicious. The meat is so tender and smooth you won’t want to put down your chopsticks, and afterward, I mostly ended up ordering more beef tenderloin.

I’m really glad I had the chance to dine at ‘Sukiyabashi (Wen Yecai)’ and taste the authentic flavors of Japanese shabu-shabu. The seating is quite spacious and comfortable, though the tables are a bit small when you have too many ingredients with no space left. The meat and seafood are both fresh and meet a certain standard. The staff also serve the meat very quickly. It’s a restaurant where you can enjoy a satisfying all-you-can-eat meal. If you love meat as much as I do, it’s worth a visit.

Wen Yecai
Address: No. 618, Chunri Road, Taoyuan District, Taoyuan City (2F, JC Park Chunri Hall)
Phone: (03)346-5332
Business Hours: 11:00–22:00

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