Winter-exclusive strawberry dessert is here！ Enjoy the sweet taste of authentic Japanese sweets

Text & Photos /Viviyu

Since Man Can moved to Minfu Street, this is my second visit. Last time I couldn’t get a seat and ended up eating ice cream on the roadside. This time, I came back after waiting for the seasonal strawberry ice to be launched！ On a winter holiday afternoon, luckily there weren’t too many people, or I would have had to wait outside again.

Originally a small shop in a garage, it gained popularity for its unique style. The new location feels more spacious and comfortable. Most tables are for four people, so it’s easy to share a table if you come as a couple.

Next to the business cards are Japanese-style maneki-neko (lucky cats). The decor shows a strong love for Japan, and the combination of books and magazines shows the owner’s thoughtful touches.

Closed on Mondays. They may close early if ingredients run out, especially the grilled mochi, which sells out quickly. If you want to try it, come early.

The interior has simple decor without excessive ornamentation, but it has a strong indie vibe.

The walls are covered with messages from visiting customers, showing their strong support for the shop. When you visit, you can also leave a message or doodle your own note here.

Beautiful years hand-carved wooden signs. The shop also sells some wooden crafts.

The open kitchen design lets you see the owner busy preparing meals from the outside.

The shop mainly serves Japanese-style ice desserts and sweets, including the popular matcha shaved ice, red bean series, and grilled mochi. Grilled mochi refers to roasted rice dumplings. There are also some other sweet options to choose from.

This is the target of my visit — the “Winter-limited Strawberry Ice.” Even though I wanted to try everything.

Anita has learned many characters since starting school, and now she orders from the menu all by herself, showing a strong personal preference.

Fresh Strawberry Ice $110
The strawberry ice is served in a round wooden bowl, accompanied by two wooden “tama tama” spoons exclusive to Man Can, giving off a strong Japanese vibe.

It features a huge ball of strawberry ice cream (probably Häagen-Dazs strawberry cheese flavor?), surrounded by fresh strawberries. The sweet and sour strawberries paired with shaved ice are irresistible, bite after bite.

The bowl is so small that the ice is piled super high, and you have to be careful when scooping in case anything falls off. A bright red strawberry looks juicy and fresh.

One grilled mochi plus a cup of barley tea — a simple yet delightful combo. Even though we’re in Taiwan, we can enjoy the same delicious food as in Japan.

Sweet Soy Sauce Mochi $35
The grilled mochi is pretty good, seasoned with organic miso. The balance between the sweetness and saltiness of the soy sauce is just right, and the mochi is slightly firm with a chewy texture.

The savory and sweet aroma of the miso is especially unique, delivering great taste in a simple way.

Seaweed Mochi $35
Just as I was deciding what to order, the table next to me started filling with the aroma of seaweed. I knew I had to order it too. A whole skewer has about four mochi pieces, wrapped in grilled seaweed on the outside.

The taste is both salty and sweet, with a rich seaweed aroma. The mochi is very chewy, and it pairs perfectly with barley tea.

Seeing how satisfied VINCENT looked, you can tell how tempting ice cream is for kids.

With its refined Japanese style, it’s quite unique in the Taoyuan area. No wonder it has a loyal customer base. Ordering a sweet treat during leisure time leaves you wanting to come back. Next time, I’ll try something else.

たまたま Man Can
Address: No. 3, Minfu 3rd St., Taoyuan City, Taoyuan County. Phone: 0987535236
Business hours: Tue–Sat 12:00–21:00, Sun 12:00–18:00 (Closed on Mondays)
 

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