Japanese-style Light Brunch in Banqiao – Handmade Ichiyayaki Rice Ball Set Meal

Text and photos byPingzi

If you’re looking to enjoy a delicious brunch or Japanese cuisine in Banqiao, don’t miss this brunch, N<饭、锅物餐厅，萍子推荐御台所日式轻食早午餐meet brunch Banqiao，店内整个浓厚的日系居酒屋、浮世绘风格，店内虽标榜日式早午餐，但萍子觉得这里菜单偏向日式简餐，餐点料理以套餐为主，很精致丰盛，很饱足感，冬季来访可吃锅物，海鲜新鲜有卖点，并推出外带外送便当129元超值价（附味噌汤），IG打卡板桥热门名店。

To visit Yodaidokoro Japanese Light Brunch, take Taipei Metro’s “Ban-Nan Line” to Banqiao Station or Xinpu Station, then walk for about 15 minutes to reach it. Located on Danhai Road in Banqiao District along a major road, the spot is very prominent and close to the back gate of Zhili University of Science and Technology. At the entrance, you’ll find a Totoro figure, a No-Face character, and a waiting area with benches—perfect for gathering with friends.

As you step inside, you’ll see a simple white transparent storefront with traditional Japanese noren curtains, adding to the rich Japanese atmosphere. You can also peek into the interior scenery.

The Yodaidokoro Japanese Light Brunch logo is entirely in a Japanese style—it’s clear at a glance that this is a restaurant that takes Japanese cuisine seriously. It uses a color scheme of bright red, black, and white, incorporating cherry blossom and Japanese text elements, giving it a very high-quality feel.

Japanese noren curtains welcome diners, with bamboo patterns symbolizing continuous improvement and prosperity—a good omen for business.

Upon entering, you’ll see wooden tables and chairs neatly arranged on both sides of Yodaidokoro Japanese Light Brunch, with a spacious central aisle. At the end is an open checkout counter and the kitchen preparation area at the back. The overall indoor dining space is well-planned, neat, and comfortable.

One wall features specially selected Japanese ukiyo-e prints and geisha images, with bamboo blinds at the bottom and white lanterns hanging above, further enriching the Japanese ambiance.

Another wall showcases ukiyo-e patterns and traditional wallpaper, which is quite striking and perfect for photos and group shots.

At the very back, there is a seating area with two-person and four-person tables. The space is very spacious and not at all cramped, making it relaxing for a nice meal.

The No-Face character is adorable and “eats money”—super cute. There’s one on display here, very endearing.

The restaurant offers a wide selection of good alcoholic beverages, perfect for those who enjoy a drink.

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.

In every corner of the restaurant, there are many plush toys and dolls—super cute little items that make great photo props. Pingzi loves the No-Face character and wants to have brunch with it—a comforting kind of happiness.

The Yodaidokoro Japanese Light Brunch menu has been completely redesigned and planned. It’s becoming increasingly well-organized with a very Japanese design style. Ordering a drink with your meal gets you a discount of NT$20.

The Yodaidokoro Japanese Light Brunch menu mainly includes Japanese platters, N<饭、锅物、汤品、御品刺身、饮料为主，价钱不昂贵，套餐平均一套199元～340元价格，图文并茂，光看照片就得挑选粉久，因为看起来太美味了。

We ordered a hot pot dish: Yipin Jiushi Hot Pot for NT$289. It comes with an induction cooker, a small soup pot, and a spoon—all set up on the table first.

Then, the soup is poured in from a thermal pot. The broth is made from kombu and soy sauce, rich in flavor—it’s clear at a glance that quality ingredients were used and carefully simmered.

The thick kombu-soy sauce broth contains no added powders or artificial ingredients. It’s deeply flavorful, naturally sweet and mellow.

Drinking the kombu-soy sauce broth on its own isn’t bland—the sweetness brings out the saltiness, creating a rich taste.

The Yipin Jiushi Hot Pot for NT$289 immediately caught Pingzi’s eye. Just looking at the bamboo basket, it’s filled with an abundance of seafood (clams, squid, shrimp), wood ear mushrooms, chicken thigh meat, napa cabbage, and seasonal vegetables (corn, carrots, pumpkin, king oyster mushrooms)—very generous and hearty. The pricing and contents show how much care goes into the ingredient selection here.

The seasonal vegetables, enoki mushrooms, pumpkin, green onions, carrots, and corn are beautifully plated in a very Japanese style, adding visual appeal.

In today’s high-cost environment, all the seafood is personally handpicked by the shop owner and head chef from Zhuwei Fishing Market—very fresh and thoughtfully chosen.

The complete hot pot set also comes with a bowl of white rice, plus garlic, green onions, and soy sauce—very generous.

The white rice grains are distinct and fluffy, sprinkled with some sesame seeds, dried bonito flakes, and nori sheets—offering another way to enjoy it.

Start by putting the vegetables in the pot to draw out their natural sweetness. The veggies absorb the aroma and become even tastier. A quick blanch makes them crisp, sweet, and fresh.

The squid is very thick. Once placed in the pot, it cooks in no time. Eating it without dipping sauce still lets you enjoy the umami-rich broth—so fresh.

For the shrimp, simply peel off the shell with your lips, take a bite of the fresh shrimp — tender and pink, absolutely delicious.

The clams are plump and juicy, with a hint of saltiness and delicate flesh — once you start eating, you just can't stop. Clam lovers definitely shouldn’t miss this.

The chicken thigh meat is specially selected from the well-exercised part of the chicken, resulting in exceptionally good texture. When you bite into it, the meat is springy, tender and pink, making it incredibly moreish.

Japanese teriyaki chicken thigh for 180 NT$, available as an à la carte item. It’s also made with premium chicken thigh meat, grilled to give a slightly charred surface, then brushed with a special sauce — very juicy, tender, and so good you won’t want it to end. In no time, the whole chicken thigh is gone.

Each piece of chicken thigh meat is visibly thick-cut, with fine, full, and springy texture — so delicious you’ll wish for another plate.

Handmade white croaker dried overnight for 299 NT$, part of the set menu. Once it’s served, you’re wowed again by the lavish plating. There’s a traditional Japanese wooden plate at the bottom, with an ornamental plate that includes salad, four side dishes, two grilled rice balls, and the main dish — handmade white croaker dried overnight. Just visually, it whets your appetite with its vibrant and colorful presentation, truly luxurious and appetizing.

The handmade white croaker dried overnight — the catch is bought weekly by the shop owner from the Zuodeng Fish Market. The white croaker is personally purchased and sun-dried, with carefully selected coarse salt used in the preparation. Just looking at this hand-processed, sun- and air-dried white croaker, the flavor is noticeably different. With the chef’s perfect control of the heat, the fish meat is delicate and tender. Squeezing some lemon juice over it enhances the flavor and brings out the freshness of the fish — absolutely delicious. Even the head of the white croaker is edible, crispy and crunchy, showing true culinary skill.

The side dishes follow a refined approach and are seasonally rotated. On the day of our visit, we had king oyster mushrooms, tomato marinated in red wine, sesame tofu, pickled plum and bitter melon, and taro salad shaped into a whole ball, garnished underneath with a large green leaf — all very thoughtfully presented. Take a bite of the marinated tomato — sweet and tangy — paired with blanched king oyster mushrooms tossed in sauce, carrying a faint hint of mustard aroma. The sides are refreshing and incredibly tasty. The bitter melon is processed to have almost no bitterness, making it very appetizing.

The salad is served with sesame sauce, and there’s also a bowl of miso soup on the side. The miso soup is packed with ingredients like tofu and kelp. It has a smooth texture without any grittiness, and every sip delivers the rich umami of the miso.

There are two grilled rice balls, which are even more filling than a bowl of rice. These rice balls are crafted with care — the chef sprinkles a bit of salt and seaweed while making them, then wraps them with a crispy sheet of nori. The rice balls aren’t overly seasoned, with a deep brown color, and are brushed with a special sauce that’s lightly savory and salty. When you bite into the grilled rice ball, the grains are distinct and the texture is delightfully crispy — absolutely delicious.

In seasons like autumn and winter, just ordering a hot pot or a teriyaki chicken thigh à la carte can fill you up with great satisfaction for just a few hundred NT$. It’s incredibly hearty.

For drinks, we chose Red Plum Vinegar Cooler for 80 NT$ and Hokkaido Cocoa Latte for 100 NT$. The drinks are also made with care. At these individual prices, they’re not expensive. The Red Plum Vinegar Cooler has a sweet and tangy flavor from the plum and tomato, which helps cut through greasiness. The Hokkaido Cocoa Latte is neither too sweet nor too heavy, topped with very creamy foam and a rich, not-too-sweet cocoa aroma — really delicious.

Nowadays, if you want to enjoy tasty meals, this place also offers takeout and custom bento boxes. This particular bento is Crispy Fried Chicken (129 NT$, as shown in the photo), and it comes with a bowl of miso soup — highly recommended. The side dishes in each bento are rotated seasonally, and the oil used here is specially selected, very clean, resulting in golden, crispy fried chicken that’s really tasty. We strongly recommend residents of Banqiao District and nearby office workers to consider ordering these bentos. Delivery service is also available.

Pingzi was really moved by her experience at the Yutai-Do Japanese Light Meal Brunch. She didn’t expect Banqiao to have another such delicious and well-prepared Japanese restaurant offering brunch and casual Japanese meals. The thoughtful planning, reasonable pricing, and the chef’s dedication to culinary excellence make it an unforgettable meal. If you’re near Banqiao Station or Xinpuxi Station and looking for an affordable yet quality dining option, this is the place.

Yutai-Do Japanese Light Meal Brunch meet brunch Banqiao
Fan page
Phone: 02-2250-1548
Address: No. 63, Xinhai Road, Banqiao District, New Taipei City
Business hours: 11:00–14:00, 17:00–21:00

Upssmile Pingzi (Up’s Smile – Upward Smile)！
She is a designer and also a photographer for Upward Smile Travel, Food, Design & Film.
Passionate about “travel,” “food,” “design,” “photography,” and film.