Do you love nigiri sushi? The Japanese head chef satisfies discerning foodies’ picky palates.

Text and photos byMaji Bunny

I’m truly passionate about Japanese cuisine, especially nigiri sushi and sashimi—they’re just amazing. If you often check my Facebook, you’ll probably notice I eat out at Japanese restaurants almost every other day. I love all kinds of Japanese food. Nowadays, the price range for Japanese cuisine is huge, from affordable options around 200 NT per dish to high-end sets costing several thousand NT. To enjoy delicious, satisfying, and worthwhile meals, you really need to compare and experience them carefully.

This time, I was invited to visit Songcheng, which felt like a rather magical coincidence. The process was full of twists and turns—I almost didn’t make it (basically, you weren’t even in Taiwan, okay? >").<），庆幸最后终于成行，才能难得在台北体验到这么正统精致美味的日本料理，因为崧成老板专程聘请三位日本远道而来的日籍达人掌舵，相信绝对可以满足饕客们的挑剔味蕾。

%剂侠沓ぃ涸?拘耪?br /> The chef’s focused expression while cooking is captivating, drawing your gaze and making you feel a deep respect for the nigiri sushi.

Located at the intersection of Minsheng East Road and Jianguo North Road, “Songcheng Japanese Cuisine” is a newly opened Japanese restaurant that debuted in November 2013. It quickly gained attention upon opening, with its most eye-catching highlight being the three Japanese head chefs specially hired from Japan. The restaurant emphasizes authentic and refined Japanese kaiseki courses, attracting many gourmets.

Songcheng offers both set meals and à la carte options. If you want a complete and varied meal without the hassle of ordering, set meals are usually a great choice—let the chef do the thinking while you enjoy a relaxed and happy meal.

The vermilion Zen-style entrance door exudes a strong Japanese atmosphere.

At the entrance, a small karesansui (dry landscape garden) welcomes guests, showcasing delicate Japanese elegance.

The seating area on the first floor is understated and calm, while the second floor is reserved for private rooms. I didn’t go up to take photos this time, but the pictures show it’s quite suitable for hosting guests or gatherings.

I usually prefer the counter seating where I can chat with the chef, but this time it’s a Japanese chef—I’d probably only manage to say “Oishii!” XDDD

Songcheng’s dinner falls into the mid-to-high-end Japanese cuisine category, leaning more toward ryotei-style dining, with prices starting from 1,500 NT. Naturally, the dishes and their refinement are of a higher caliber, especially since Head Chef Mototada Masanobu’s nigiri sushi is already quite well-known in Japan, so the focus here is also on nigiri sushi. However, don’t let the price scare you—this time, Bunny was invited to taste Songcheng’s more affordable lunch, starting from 580 NT. Among Taipei’s high-end Japanese restaurants, it’s already considered a reasonable price.

Compared to dinner, Songcheng’s lunch is just slightly more simplified, but in terms of refinement, taste, variety, and portion size, it’s no less impressive than dinner. It’s truly another great value option for Japanese cuisine lovers. Plus, it’s presentable for business lunches and easy on the wallet—perfect for inviting clients to lunch.

What I find particularly thoughtful about the restaurant is the wide variety of lunch options, including nigiri sushi, Japanese bento, hot pot dishes, N<饭、定食...，不像有些店家只提供一成不变的商午定食，让喜欢多样化的我感到选择很丰富。

My friend and I came this time to try the “nigiri sushi” and “Songcheng Bento.” When the nigiri sushi was served, my eyes immediately lit up. Honestly, this has already gone beyond the level of a business lunch—it’s basically high-end cuisine. Although this set costs 980 NT + 10%, I feel it’s far superior to many restaurants’ nigiri sushi sets.

From the plating, color, freshness, and taste, everything is at a high level. I like the understated plating—the brightly colored nigiri sushi looks vivid and delicious. The sashimi is fresh and has a nice firmness, and the vinegared rice has the right level of firmness, offering a rich and satisfying texture.

Moreover, they serve it the traditional way—wasabi is placed directly inside the sashimi, not mixed into the soy sauce like the Taiwanese style. With such high-quality nigiri sushi, made by Japanese experts, you can enjoy authentic Japanese flavors without flying to Japan. It’s really a great deal for lunch！

The Songcheng Bento is also one of the signature lunch options. Priced at 580 NT + 10%, but with so many items and exquisite plating, it feels like a mini kaiseki, reminding me of the set meals at Kyoto’s Yamazaki Inn, yet even better value.

The set comes with a refreshing Japanese-style salad.

The chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) is incredibly delicious, with a deep flavor and delicate texture. I recently had a terrible chawanmushi at a big hotel, which made me realize that even this small dish requires skill and knowledge.

The bento is so generous—sashimi, nigiri sushi, tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet), tempura... It’s like a mini version of all the signature dishes, not only refined but also very satisfying.

There’s also tempura shrimp and other fried side dishes.

Simmered dish.

This is a fish dish, and the way it’s served is quite creative.

Even the nigiri sushi is so abundant—you can really feel the chefs’ dedication. This bento completely outshines the previous nigiri sushi set.

The pickled radish also has a very Japanese flavor, sweet and tangy, perfect for whetting the appetite.

Looking at Head Chef Mototada Masanobu’s focused expression, you can really sense the Japanese emphasis on food and their attitude toward dining.

Even the lunch dessert isn’t an afterthought—served is a jelly made by a French Le Cordon Bleu pastry chef, crystal clear, visually and tastefully perfect, bringing a real sense of happiness.

In addition to hot tea, there’s also coffee after the meal. Take your time eating, take your time sitting, and enjoy a wonderful afternoon.

This experience at Songcheng Japanese Cuisine was very pleasant. The overall quality of the dishes was excellent, and compared to that, lunch is really a great value. If you want to try high-end Japanese food, or if you’re treating someone and want to impress without breaking the bank, Songcheng’s lunch is a fantastic choice.

But I did see photos of a certain someone having dinner here, and those images were absolutely killing me. Plus, it turns out there’s a master chef here, Chef Ryota Sunazawa, who has a unique skill—“designer decorative sushi.” Whether it’s Mickey Mouse sushi, Hello Kitty sushi, no problem. They can even do custom orders. That someone even had my favorite “Doraemon sushi.” Is this too much? I really want to try it too. How come I had no idea when I came for lunch? I definitely need to come back for dinner sometime.

Actually, I think the reason I love Japanese cuisine might be because I’m kind of a pretentious person... XDDD. I always go for food that’s both delicious and beautiful, where all the senses—sight, smell, taste—are in perfect harmony. That’s why I also prefer refined Japanese dishes.

Taiwan has a wide variety of Japanese cuisines, each with its own distinctive flavors. But if you want to experience more authentic Japanese tastes, come to Songcheng and meet the three Japanese chefs. Feel the rich flavors of Japan.

Songcheng Japanese Cuisine
SHU SEI JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Official Website:http://www.shusei.com.tw/
Phone: 02-2517-6869
Address: 1-2F, No. 3, Sec. 3, Minsheng E. Rd., Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Business Hours:
Lunch: 11:30–14:30
Dinner: 17:30–21:30

The restaurant has its own parking lot, which is very convenient.

Maji Bunny’s Flying Map
Eat, walk, snap, play... Welcome to join me in living life to the fullest.