A mini affordable Japanese eatery in Kaohsiung serves romantic "pink vinegar rice"!

Text & Photos by /Shadow

With summer arriving, opportunities to enjoy Japanese food increase. Snail Sushi, which opened at the end of May, was founded by a pair of young chefs who are passionate about Japanese culture and cuisine. They started interning at Japanese restaurants since high school and never imagined they would one day open their own shop—this all started from a casual joke with a friend that set them on a different life path.

Before opening their shop, they had worked at several Japanese restaurants and had clear ideas for their own place. They believed that as long as the direction is right, even if progress is slow, they will eventually get there. This philosophy is similar to that of a snail, hence the name "Snail Sushi."

Instead of going for traditional Japanese design elements, they opted for a more modern and minimalist restaurant style. The natural wood color adds warmth to the space. The entire area is not large and can only accommodate about sixteen people.

The first drink was served to us by the staff, but afterward we could help ourselves from the beverage area at the back. No service charge is applied when dining here.

Then they served complimentary pickled radish. The sourness of the radish seemed a bit too sharp—it probably wouldn’t taste like this if it were pickled with purely natural vinegar.

The tea cups with blue-and-white ink lines have a very Japanese feel. Most places we’ve seen use dark-colored cups, so this refreshing style of tableware is still quite rare.

For a Japanese restaurant, the menu doesn’t offer the most diverse selection. But it does include the basics: sashimi, nigiri sushi, grilled nigiri, hand rolls, N...<饭、烤物、炸物、蒸煮、汤品都有。除了上述内容外，另外有季节性套餐，这个套餐可以依客人的需求弹性调整。

Simply check the items directly on the menu and then hand it to the staff to place your order.

For limited-time items not on the menu, please check the blackboard inside the restaurant.

Seasonal Set Meal 500 TWD / per person (includes six dishes)

The appetizer is a dish of sweet vinegar with butterfly pea flower paired with thin yam noodles. The light purple sauce offers a sweet and sour flavor that pairs nicely with the smooth yam noodles.

Steamed egg with seafood, topped with a whole fresh shrimp on top and pure, plain steamed egg underneath—smooth and full of eggy aroma.

The sashimi includes salmon, tuna, and barramundi. The slices are of decent thickness and very fresh and delicious.

The richly fatty grilled salmon not only has the distinct flavor of salmon but also isn’t too dry. It doesn’t require much seasoning—just a little sprinkle of pepper salt enhances the taste and brings out the deliciousness of the salmon.

Chirashi sushi (you can also choose nigiri sushi)

The chirashi sushi is topped with flounder, spaghetti eel, a generous amount of fresh chopped scallions, and salmon roe, making for a very appealing color combination.

The authentic way to eat it is to mix wasabi and soy sauce together, then pour it over the chirashi sushi and mix it with the vinegar rice.

The sweet vinegar rice pairs perfectly with the savory sauce. The thick fat of the flounder, balanced with plenty of scallions, gives a well-rounded taste to the palate.

The miso soup is quite rich, containing tofu, clams, and chopped salmon. The white miso has a smooth taste. These are the six dishes in the seasonal set meal.

Assorted Sashimi 220 TWD / 7 pieces

Includes salmon, tuna, and barramundi. The ingredients are fresh and delicious, no complaints. It might look better in photos if served on a white plate.

Assorted Nigiri Sushi (7 pieces) 260 TWD

The chef’s nigiri skills are solid, and the vinegar rice is quite unique—it’s pink vinegar rice. I wonder if red vinegar was added?

Individual nigiri and grilled nigiri: tofu skin 15 TWD/piece, tamagoyaki (rolled omelet) 25 TWD/piece, scallop 55 TWD/piece, flounder fin meat 60 TWD/piece, mackerel 35 TWD/piece, shrimp 30 TWD/piece

With fresh ingredients and well-made vinegar rice, the overall quality is consistently good.

Grilled Pork Cutlet with Hatcho Miso 180 TWD

Even the fried pork cutlet remains tender and pink, and the sauce drizzled on top is hatcho miso—its salty-sweet flavor pairs perfectly with the cutlet.

Take a photo, check in, tag your friends, and give a like to the fan page to receive a Dole ice cream.

Named "Snail Sushi," it often leads many customers to mistakenly think there’s actual snail in the dish—quite amusing, really. In fact, the snail symbolizes the restaurant's philosophy, reminding the two young chefs to work steadily and diligently on every dish to win customers' favor. This cozy, compact Japanese eatery has limited seating, so be sure to make a reservation in advance. Highly recommended.

Snail Sushi - Huijing House
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Address: No. 140, Lin Sen 3rd Road, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 07-3318969
Business Hours: 11:30–14:30, 17:30–21:00; Closed on Thursdays

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