Izakayas can also be bright and spacious — grilled to order to bring out the true flavor of the ingredients

Text and photos byAmon, Taiwan Explorer

I personally love barbecue, especially when it's cooked over pure charcoal. Whether you have to grill it yourself or not, I enjoy it either way. When I received an invitation from my hometown's Genkiyaki Izakaya, I was a bit surprised but immediately agreed to go. Genkiyaki Izakaya is located at the triangular intersection of Section 1 and Section 2 of University Road. Walking from Section 1 toward Section 2 from the entrance of Zhongzheng University, turn left after seeing Damin South Road or the triangular intersection, and you’ll find Genkiyaki Izakaya just a few meters ahead. The red signboard stands out vividly at night, and there’s even a small shrine resembling a Tudi Gong temple at the entrance. There are motorcycle parking spaces in the alley, making parking quite convenient.

Stepping inside, I was surprised to find that the interior is actually upscale, spacious, and very brightly lit. The tables are quite large, able to fit a full spread of ordered dishes. The chairs are bench-style, offering comfortable seating. There’s enough space between tables so it doesn’t feel cramped, breaking away from the traditional image of dark and narrow izakayas.

Checkout counter
This counter might even be bigger than some high-end restaurants’. They should add a few bar stools — it’d give off a real bar vibe XDD

Business hours are from 5 PM to midnight. The shop also offers free Wi-Fi. Don’t forget to check in. I arrived at a great time — they even had grilled oysters, 6 pieces for NT$50, which felt super cheap. I definitely had to get some.

Let’s take a look at the menu
There are quite a few food options, divided into categories like seafood, grilled (yakimono), meat, vegetables, and others. There are also combo platters and rice dishes. The yakimono series uses a heated stone plate to grill steak — I’d never seen this in a barbecue shop before, only in Western-style steak restaurants. It felt pretty cool. The combo platters are more varied, letting you try multiple items at once. The staff has already curated the combinations, and they’re a bit more affordable. If it’s your first visit, I’d recommend starting with a combo platter. Once you find something you like, you can always order more of that later. Unless otherwise marked, prices listed are per skewer.

Drinks section
When I visited, the tea drinks were sold out, leaving only juice, soda, and beer. I was tempted by the beer — it pairs so well with barbecue — but considering everyone rode motorcycles, we couldn’t risk drinking and driving, so I had to pass.

In the end, I went with white grape juice with added aloe, which was refreshing.

There’s also a draft beer machine, but it’s priced per cup. There doesn’t seem to be an all-you-can-drink option. Maybe they could consider adding an unlimited drink option during certain hours for an extra fee XDD

The ingredients in the display case all looked quite fresh. Which one should I order first?

Utensils and cups are self-service. The shop doesn’t charge a service fee, so everyone helps themselves.

Since the table next to us ordered a lot, their grill was quickly piled high with ingredients. Everything is grilled to order. You can see the owner diligently grilling each skewer in front of the grill — no slack at all, clearly putting in a lot of effort.

Mochi | 35
I thought we’d start with some meat skewers, but instead, this dessert came out first. The grilled mochi (?) had a pleasantly chewy texture and sweet aroma. Paired with peanuts and sugar powder, it gave off a lovely sweet taste. This one was surprisingly good. However, if you prefer savory flavors, you might not enjoy it as much.

The outside was slightly crispy from the grill, but the inside remained soft and chewy. With the peanut powder and sugar, it tasted sweet and quite nice.

Corn egg fried rice $80
Even though it’s a barbecue and beer place, I thought we should get some fried rice to tide us over. Otherwise, waiting for the meat skewers to cook might leave everyone starving XD.

The fried rice was quite fluffy, with visible grains. As soon as it was served, the aroma of rice wafted through the air. With onions and corn mixed in, it had a slight sweetness from the veggies. The taste was good, though it might have used a bit too much oil — that could use some improvement.

Seafood platter $150
At a barbecue spot, seafood is almost essential. The seafood platter includes two snapper cheeks and one mackerel — both popular choices — so we went for it.

Snapper cheek $70 / 2 pieces
Snapper cheeks come from the part of the fish with high movement, so they’re rich in fat. The flesh is incredibly tender and sweet. Just a light salt-grill and a sprinkle of pepper salt make it amazing. It goes well with rice or as a drink pairing. These snapper cheeks were almost flying off the shelf. If it weren’t for the two meat combos we ordered (and the fear of not finishing everything), I would’ve gotten a few more.

Mackerel $100
A common and affordable favorite at barbecue joints, but not many places do it well. Genkiyaki Izakaya’s version is pretty good. It’s Norwegian mackerel, and the portion is quite generous. Its golden appearance is super appetizing. The flesh is delicate yet not dry. A few drops of lemon juice elevate the flavor even more. This dish could easily be recommended alongside the snapper cheeks. Seafood lovers shouldn’t miss it.

Grilled Fresh Oysters $50
These are fresh oysters in their shells, plump and juicy inside. Once you pry open the shell, you can see the delicious oyster meat—wow, it’s really tempting, makes your mouth water just looking at it. I heard the owner goes to the fish market early every morning to handpick them, so the seafood here is of great quality.

Use a 10 NT coin for scale—it’s about 1.5 to 2 times the size of the coin. At this price, it’s really a steal. You have to order this when you come here. Once you take a bite, the flavor is incredibly fresh and juicy—awesome.

Bacon Platter $130
This is the shop’s recommended platter, featuring bacon with green beans, bacon with scallions, bacon with cucumber, and bacon with quail eggs—two skewers of each. It’s perfect for sharing and not too much for one person.

Bacon with Green Beans $35
This is the first time I’ve had green beans with bacon—it’s actually a pretty good combo, and it has a nice layered flavor.

Bacon with Cucumber $35
The savory saltiness of the bacon paired with the crisp, juicy cucumber is undoubtedly the best thing on this plate. Especially since the cucumber is cut into big chunks, stuffing the bacon rolls full, so it’s super juicy. The combination is really spot-on.

Bacon with Quail Eggs $35
I’ve had the exact same thing at another place before. The quail eggs are chewy and bouncy, and when paired with grilled bacon, the flavor is quite nice. The texture is also quite unique. If you haven’t tried this combo before, you should give it a shot.

Bacon with Scallions $35
A more common combo, the flavor is pretty standard.

Pull out the skewers and mix up the different bacon rolls—that way, it’s more fun to eat, and you won’t know what’s inside until you get to the center. Personally, I prefer the ones with cucumber and scallions. Also, since the bacon is already salty, combined with the shop’s special sauce, it’s perfect as a drinking snack.

Sausages $35
Grilled sausages—you’ll almost always find these at a barbecue joint. They’re practically a national dish. The aroma of meat wafts through the air, and the flavor is salty with a hint of fat—awesome. Eating this really makes you want to crack open a drink. Gotta hold back, though.

Ordered so much, and the table isn’t even full yet. Ha, guess we can order some more.

Plum Beef $140
I originally wanted to order beef short ribs today, but they were sold out, so I went with plum beef instead. After heating the stone plate to a high temperature, thick slices of beef are placed on it to sear. So when it’s served, you can still see the slightly bloody beef. There’s also some added onion for flavor.

If you don’t want it overcooked, it’s best to flip the beef quickly and sear it until it reaches the color shown in the photo above—that’s when it’s ready to eat. Otherwise, the meat might get too tough. In terms of portion, there are over ten slices per serving, so it’s great for sharing among a group.

Ah~~ Have a slice. The texture of the tender plum beef is just right, cooked to about medium-well, with a hint of sweet onion flavor. Since the slices are pretty thick, they have a satisfying bite and are really enjoyable. If you’re not into medium-rare, you can cook it longer to well-done, but it won’t be as tender. I wanted to sprinkle some rose salt for extra flavor, but it seems they’re not offering it right now. Hopefully, they’ll have it next time—I think beef with rose salt would taste even better.

Chicken Sausage $20
It seems a bit over-charred, maybe the grill was too hot right after cooking the sausages. This is what my friend ordered—the flavor is pretty unique. Hard to describe, but it’s not as greasy as pork sausage. If you’re wary of greasiness, you can go for this one. But I saw other tables ordering it to go with beer too—maybe it’s better that way.

Meat Skewer Platter $250
Includes pork belly skewers, beef skewers, chicken skewers, and scallion meat skewers—two of each. It’s a big meat combo, perfect for carnivores. The shop seems to focus on pork and beef, so there are fewer chicken options, and no lamb at all.

Scallion Meat Skewers $30/skewer
Made with pork loin slices, so the texture is a bit chewier. Paired with plenty of scallions, it’s a classic grilled meat flavor, and also a popular dish.

Pork Belly Skewers $30
Pork belly seared until the surface is slightly charred and golden. The skin is especially crispy. With the rich fat marbling, once you sprinkle some salt and pepper, it melts in your mouth—the flavor of the fat and the spice lingers, leaving a strong impression. But this one is better paired with beer or tea. It might be a bit greasy with juice.

Beef Skewers $40
The beef strips are skewered and grilled directly over charcoal. Compared to the earlier stone plate grilling, the meat is firmer and chewier, with a delightful smoky aroma — it also makes a great drinking snack.

Chicken Skewers $30
Made with chicken thigh meat, which is much more tender than chicken breast. Paired with the restaurant’s special barbecue sauce, after trying all four types, most people agreed this was the best in the meat platter.

Restaurant Promotions
1. Reserve for a group of five or more, and the featured daily item will be available at a discounted price.
2. During the summer vacation, buy 5 beers and get 1 free.

Overall
The prices are quite reasonable, and the food is grilled to order — not pre-fried and then grilled — so you can really taste the fresh flavor of the ingredients. The menu offers a wide variety, the space is spacious and comfortable, and on a cool summer night, it’s a great place to hang out with friends, enjoy some beer and barbecue, and chat. I recommend this place — the above is just my personal opinion, for reference only.

[Roots - BBQ & Beer House]facebook
Phone: 05-2723385
Address: No. 91-3, Shanzijiao, Fengshou Village, Minxiong Township, Chiayi County
Price: $20 and up