Sweeping in from Japan – Don’t miss the tamagoyaki and hamburger steak at “Da’an Forest Cafeteria”

Text & photos byKui Xiao Sun

★ Da’an Forest Cafeteria: 161-3, Section 1, Xinyi South Road, Taipei City (Exit 1 of Da’an Forest Park MRT Station) ＼ 02 2755 0997 ＼ Open 11:30–14:00, 17:00–22:00

The Japanese casual diner ‘maido ookini’ has 450 branches across Japan!* Its standout features are the open kitchen, where you can watch chefs cook up a storm, and its affordable prices. No wonder when ‘maido ookini’ arrived in Taiwan, it quickly became a sensation~ And because it’s located right next to Taipei’s Da’an Forest Park, it’s been dubbed the ‘Da’an Forest Cafeteria’ for now! This time in Taipei, besides this spot, another place I wanted to visit was the MUJI Diner... Hitting two Japanese eateries in one go felt truly exciting and joyful. Both are Japanese-style diners but offer completely different vibes. If I had to choose one to frequent regularly, I’d go with the ‘Da’an Forest Cafeteria’... There are so many reasons—feel free to compare them for yourself XD

We arrived around 1 PM, and the line outside hadn’t thinned at all… We waited about 30–40 minutes before it was our turn, and there were simple menus displayed on the floor-to-ceiling windows in the waiting area. As soon as we stepped inside, we were enveloped by a warm atmosphere—it really felt like a classic, beloved cafeteria that everyone knows and loves.

After being seated by the staff, you’ll first move along the line to pick up cold dishes or drinks. There are choices like vegetables and sashimi here, all priced very reasonably between NT$30–35.

Next, simply queue up again for hot dishes. This is another reason I find it more appealing than the MUJI Diner—most of the food is prepared freshly right in front of you. That alone makes the warm dishes extra inviting.

First up is the tamagoyaki, a dish highly recommended by many. I went for the mixed tamagoyaki with cheese and green onions. Watching the chef expertly flip and cook it made my mouth water, seriously XD

Along the line, an array of dishes await you. I have to say, you’d better think about how much you can actually eat, because when every item looks so delicious... making a choice becomes surprisingly hard XD Freshly made veggies and tofu with a lightly sweet flavor... really inviting. Fried korokke, hamburger steaks—how could you not order these deep-fried favorites at a Japanese diner? Fish, onion beef... each dish just makes you want to stretch your stomach a little XD

At the end of the line, there’s also oden. By the time we got here, we didn’t dare order any more—but it all looked so good XD

Each of us got a full plate back to our seats, and we suddenly realized we’d actually gotten quite a lot. Especially seeing that other people around us didn’t get as much, we felt like we might’ve startled a few folks XD In the end, we thought the portion could’ve easily fed three or four people. What’s wild is that the two of us almost finished everything (guess practice really does make perfect XD)!

We ordered stewed hamburger steak and clear udon noodles. We did a bit of homework before coming—tamagoyaki and hamburger steak are must-orders. Aside from the stewed version, there’s also a fried hamburger steak option XD The stewed hamburger steak we had came with a bit of pasta on the side, and the sauce was delicious—not too salty. For kids, just ordering this would be a filling meal.

Onion beef, egg tofu, and fresh mushroom greens—pair these with a bowl of rice and you’re set. The onion beef wasn’t too salty, and both veggie dishes were sweet and savory, comforting home-style plates.

Mackerel, chicken thigh cutlet, and shrimp tempura. Hot, freshly made food is always the most alluring. Add in the freshly cooked tamagoyaki—seeing all this, do you think we over-ordered? The silky smooth tamagoyaki is definitely a must-order. Actually, the craziest part is we managed to finish everything we ordered XD

One thing that stuck with me during this visit to the ‘Da’an Forest Cafeteria’ was sitting next to an elderly woman, probably in her sixties or seventies. She was dining alone. She moved with the kind of familiarity only regulars have, yet ate quietly, browsing the dishes before settling on fried pork cutlet and udon noodles. Her demeanor reminded me of my own grandmother—the kind of refined air you see in those who received a Japanese education. Her every movement was captivating.

If you get the chance to visit such a cafeteria, maybe this style of dining culture will charm you too.

[Enjoy life without boredom. – Kui Xiao Sun]