Sushi and one-night dry-aged skewers for just NT$398 all-you-can-eat at Banqiao izakaya serving Japanese A5 wagyu

Reported by Hua Shaofu / New Taipei City

Located in Banqiao Nanya Night Market, the carefree and whimsical Izakaya offers an all-you-can-eat menu featuring sashimi, sushi, fried dishes, grilled items, stews, and drinks. It sees long queues every evening. On weekdays, adults pay just NT$398, and NT$428 on weekends. Kids are NT$168 on weekdays and NT$198 on weekends. For an additional NT$198, you can enjoy all-you-can-drink Taiwan Beer, Budweiser, and Heineken.

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▲ The carefree and whimsical Izakaya serves the highest-grade Japanese A5 wagyu. (Photo / Reporter Hua Shaofu)

“The owner of an izakaya must have character. You can’t just agree with everything customers say or immediately change things because of complaints.” The owner of this shop, Ah Q, is a person with a very unique and charismatic personality. He was born in Taiwan, worked in Japan for several years, and spent a few years in China before returning to Taiwan. He didn't rush to reopen his shop after returning, as he wanted to carefully plan the concept of the new store.

▲ The shop hopes every customer gets to enjoy fresh ingredients. (Photo / Reporter Hua Shaofu)

Japanese cuisine is seen as a symbol of luxury in many people’s minds. Ah Q said: “I don’t think we’re running a high-end or super fancy Japanese restaurant. But I believe our food offers great value.” Since the business transitioned, some have left negative reviews for not being able to get a reservation or complaining about portion sizes being based on group size. “But this is all-you-can-eat. If you finish, you can order more. I’ll still give it to you. What are you afraid of losing out on? For just over NT$300, you can eat such delicious sashimi—you’re already getting more than your money’s worth.”

▲ All-you-can-eat starts at just NT$398, yet includes sashimi and plenty of great grilled items. (Photo / Reporter Hua Shaofu)

Ah Q used to work in Japan and also has connections there, which is why the shop sources ingredients in this way. He says that the shop sometimes offers grade 5 Miyazaki wagyu. Ah Q vows to provide proof that the shop uses top-tier beef. “Each piece and each cut has its own certification. We want this cut and this grade. We can’t just make up reasons to call it premium. For 100 grams, we sell it for NT$3,500.” But the shop’s beef soup is also made using A2 grade or higher wagyu, equally rich and delicious.

▲ The beef soup is made with A2 grade or higher wagyu. (Photo / Reporter Hua Shaofu)

The shop’s menu changes monthly and is currently divided into five main categories: sashimi (salmon, swordfish, octopus, abalone), hand-pressed sushi (torched salmon, Kyoto scallion swordfish, shrimp avocado, shrimp roe, wakame seaweed, juicy octopus, salmon flakes); fried items (crispy shrimp sticks, curry korokke, vegetable tempura, Japanese-style fried tofu, crispy fish cutlet, golden pork cutlet); stews (beef hot pot, beef udon, miso tofu soup, salmon ochazuke); grilled dishes (carefree grilled shrimp, romantic one-night dry skewers, soy-glazed pork belly, spicy beef ribs, Hai Dafu grilled chicken, old-style grilled skewers).

▲ One-night dry skewers, rarely seen on the market, are also part of the all-you-can-eat offering. (Photo / Reporter Hua Shaofu)

Although the shop currently opens at 5 PM and claims to stay open until 2 AM, it actually stops accepting new customers after 9:30 PM. Ah Q said: “Maybe Taiwanese habits are different from those in Japan. We’re not refusing customers just because we want to. We hope each guest who comes at this time won’t be disappointed with what they can’t get.”

▲ Ah Q said: “We don’t promote dishes we can’t guarantee. Many are special items!” (Photo / Reporter Hua Shaofu)