Hand-patted, Q-elicious burger patties – Nagoya Daidokoro’s authentic miso flavors wafting to Taipei

Text & Photos /Orange Dog Loves Sweets

Although izakaya dining can be pricey, I absolutely love hitting up izakayas – the fun and relaxing time chatting over small dishes and the occasional drink is just so joyful. Then one day, I casually came across this burger patty spot on Xiaohu’s blog, and my heart instantly fell head over heels in love with it T_T!!!

Ramen, sashimi, and burger patties are my top three favorite Japanese foods. I immediately pulled out my calendar to start planning when I could head up north for work and then swing by for dinner after work to give it a try. And Brother Tiger was super kind and even offered to personally take me there so I wouldn’t get lost XDDD

Actually, the last time I was in Taipei, I had been dying to find it myself, but I really didn’t know the area around Shuanglian Station at all. I wandered through the alleys for ages, but no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find that Japanese-style izakaya (the only place nearby I was familiar with was the Shin Ei Hotel I used to stay at – such a great and affordable place!). Hungry and tired, I had no choice but to give up!!


Then on this day, with someone familiar leading the way, I realized I had passed by its alley entrance hundreds of times without even realizing it. Only when I walked in did I discover this little shop “Nagoya Daidokoro” – I almost cried!!


The shop is really tiny, with a warm wooden color scheme and a fully authentic Japanese vibe. Right at the entrance there’s a small bar counter with seating for about four people, and a big red lantern sways to greet guests.


The owner’s wife takes orders from outside customers through a little window – what a fun scene to watch. The weather that day was super cold too, so the whole atmosphere was just perfect – nothing else describes it better than “just right”!

The entire shop feels like it’s been decorated using a hand-made price list – it looks a bit chaotic, but I actually really like that unique charm – the simple, unpretentious vibe of a small shop.


Inside, it’s the kitchen, bar counter, and seating all in one – the space is tight, haha. And because there aren’t many staff, all the cups and plates are placed on the tables for customers to grab themselves, which is actually quite convenient.


The shop can barely squeeze in about 10 seats total – 4 inside and 6 outside – so they do take phone reservations (but only for spots before 6 PM). Like us that day, we forgot to make a reservation, so we had to finish eating before the reserved guests arrived.


I noticed a lot of people getting takeout from here. Even though it hasn’t even been open for half a year, business seems pretty good.


Oh, and there are handy coat hooks on the wall so you can hang your jacket up yourself – otherwise, the small space really doesn’t have much room to leave coats lying around.


The owner is a genuine Japanese man originally from Nagoya, who was literally flown in to Taiwan, and he and his wife run the place together. The boss’s Chinese is super basic – probably just limited to something like “ni hao ma?” Haha, not that exaggerated. But basically, communication and taking orders are handled by the boss’s wife, who speaks both languages and is really friendly and welcoming.

Glancing at the menu, the prices are actually more affordable than typical izakayas. A few main dishes are under 200 NT or even just over 100 NT.

But since I let Brother Tiger order the dishes he thought were tasty, I didn’t dig too deeply into the menu. It’s just a shame I forgot to order a little drink to go with it!! They do offer some Japanese sake options though.


The first dish to arrive was [Special Miso Oden / Assorted / 120 NT]. It didn’t look like a lot, but that’s the price. When I come to Taipei occasionally, I’m not too picky. Their specialty is the miso sauce – it’s mostly based on red miso, and of course, there’s also the chef’s secret special sauce that can’t be revealed, haha.

It includes daikon (white radish), boiled egg, konnyaku, fried tofu, and abura-age tofu. Except for the daikon and egg, everything comes with two pieces. It’s served with green onions and yellow mustard.

 
Fried tofu has always been my favorite. When I eat braised pork rice, aside from pairing it with pickled cabbage, I also love having some fried tofu. But sometimes it depends on luck – whether the texture is fluffy or firm and smooth isn’t the same at every shop. This one really hit the spot for me, plus the miso sauce has that rich saltiness with a sweet aftertaste – delicious.


The other abura-age tofu is also pretty great, as the tofu itself has a strong aroma.


And I absolutely must recommend the daikon – the chunks are big and thick. Just looking at the color tells you the miso sauce has fully soaked into it. One bite and you get a burst of savory broth – super tasty. Must-order.

The egg is also pretty good, although the egg’s performance is probably about as good as it gets.


The second item I wanted to try first was the star – [Handmade Pan-Fried Egg Burger Patty / 180 NT]. This is the deliciousness I’ve been dreaming about. The soft, golden yolk sits like a playful kid atop a thick, deep-red burger patty, surrounded by finely shredded cabbage.


The base sauce is made with red miso and also includes ketchup, giving off a sweet and tangy tomato aroma. The half-boiled egg is cooked perfectly – you can tell just by looking at the photo, no need to elaborate further.


But honestly, the burger patty exceeded my expectations even more...


While eating and chatting here, you’ll constantly hear one sound – the “slap slap” noise of the boss pounding the burger patties. Since this is practically the shop’s signature item, they must get a lot of orders for it!! You can see the boss has an innocent and cute smile, but when it comes to cooking, he’s just as down-to-earth as I am.

Every step is done thoroughly – making sure the patty is firm before frying. It’s a 100% pure pork burger patty. The moment my chopsticks first press down, the firm elasticity comes straight back through – I’m really not exaggerating...


Then one bite – the solid, tender, fragrant pork fills your mouth with a rich, mellow aroma. As you chew, the meat juice mixes with the sweet and tangy sauce. It’s a level of delicious satisfaction that totally exceeded my expectations!! Don’t even ask if any dragons flew out – it’s like three little pigs happily bouncing around in my mouth.


And finally, there’s the [Special Fried Chicken Wings / 5 pcs / NT$120]. It’s not really that expensive when you think about it—five pieces for that price isn’t bad—but once you take your first bite, you won’t even care about the cost. I’ve had juicy fried chicken wings before, but the chicken here is tender and succulent.


What really surprised me was the chicken skin, which soaks up the rich sauce without being overly salty. When you bite into it, the aroma of the sauce blends with a hint of pepper, bursting through the crispy skin with every chew. I used to think there was a limit to how delicious fried chicken wings could be, but the ones at Nagoya Daidokoro completely changed my perception!! Absolutely amazing flavor!!

I wasn’t super hungry that day because I’d just polished off two pancakes before coming here, and although Hu kept asking if I wanted to order more XD, I’m finally trying to lose weight, so I didn’t want to overeat. That day, I only tried two or three dishes, but it was already such a different experience from typical Taiwanese izakayas!

If he hadn’t wandered down this little alleyway, how would anyone have discovered this deliciousness? I’m guessing the head chef must have some serious culinary skills—he’s no amateur in Nagoya. Otherwise, how could he create Japanese flavors that are so distinct from those in Taiwan? Just the hamburger steak alone shows the incredible attention to detail and dedication he puts into every aspect of his cooking. That’s why I decided I had to push this article out ASAP!!

The emotional impact of that deliciousness is just too overwhelming to put into words XDDD!! There are several other dishes I haven’t tried yet that I’m really curious about—I hope there’s a seat for me next time I go!!





[Nagoya Daidokoro]

Address: No. 50, Chifeng Street, Datong District, Taipei City
Phone:02-2555-5078
Business Hours: 4:30 PM – 10:30 PM (Closed on Sundays, no service charge)
Transportation: About a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Shuanglian Station on the Taipei Metro Tamsui-Xinyi Line

Limited seating—recommended to takeout or make a reservation in advance. Reservations are only available for before 6:00 PM!
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