Taipei-style omakase Japanese cuisine in Taichung – super sweet botan shrimp & sea urchin

Text & Photos bySir San Gao

After resting at the Water Dance Resort for the night, I had already arranged to head to Kyo Sushi for lunch the next day. The chef at Kyo Sushi said he came from Shinjuku Tsunahachi in Taipei. On weekends at noon, there are three price options: NT$1,380, NT$1,880, and NT$2,380. We chose the NT$1,880 set. One of the sets was mainly cooked dishes for J, but she wanted some raw items as well – she’s quite picky, to be honest.

At Kyo Sushi on the weekend noon, it seemed to have a regular clientele, gradually filling up. The chef spoke with a Taiwanese accent but was very approachable. First, we tried the preserved peanuts with a military dependents' village flavor on the table – they were delicious, retaining a slight crunch but overall had a soft, tender texture. The sweet brine flavor was well absorbed, and the peanuts had a rich aroma.

At our table (Kapo), it was almost all raw fish throughout, and I thought there would at least be some appetizers or a piece or two of sushi. Later, grilled dishes and main courses arrived. For me, the pacing of the meal felt well controlled, but J had a tougher time – probably because she initially said she wanted cooked food, so dishes were slow to arrive. She kept munching on peanuts (so chewy!), but then she said she could also eat grilled items, which solved things. For example, the red throat fish, which has rich fat under the skin and is suitable for slight grilling, and I also got a tasty piece. The mid-meal snack, fried burdock, was also delicious – the oil and salt levels were just right and it was crispy.

%Both hard to describe/p>

%Cheeks... Hmm? The umami of the expanding... of the flavor/p>

%Calculations/p>

%Register your ID number, and the dish will be spicy/p>

%Quickly grilled, the price is low, and there are some mountain vegetables in between/p>

%The beef bowl is quite large, and there's a sense of fragrance/p>

%Cheeks... Hmm? The presentation is elegant/p>

%Recommended for those who want a rich taste, the soup base is excellent/p>

%The grilled dish is memorable, the texture of the dish and the real thing match well, and there's nothing fishy about it/p>

%Recommended if you want something light, the portion is not too much/p>

%Overall, it's good/p>

%Record}

For J, the red throat and green... replaced the sea bream, tuna, and scallops, and later we added a scallop and sea urchin burger for her. At checkout, it was NT$260, which wasn’t expensive relatively speaking.

The grilled horsehead fish was delicious – the slightly charred, crispy skin brought out the fat, complementing the delicate and sweet flesh of the fish. The beef short rib was a letdown though – it was almost fully cooked when served, and I really couldn’t swallow it. After I mentioned it, the chef remade it, and this time it was much better, though the meat quality was still just okay.

%Impressions from here/p>

%Impressions from everyone/p>

The grilled rice ball was especially memorable in this meal – the outer layer was charcoal-grilled to a crisp, and it wasn’t until I took a couple of bites that I discovered the surprise inside: a burst of sea urchin and salmon roe umami.

The tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet) had a slightly springy texture with a strong honey aroma.

The dessert was melon from Meinong and pudding, and we finished with a cup of hot coffee – the coffee was really good~

The only thing I’d really want to change in this meal is the beef. Everything else was about what I expected. The service was great. On the right side of the restaurant, in the basement, is a shared parking lot for the building (no lift), but if you notify them in advance, someone will come to guide you.

Kyo Sushi

Address: No. 99, Municipal Road, West District, Taichung City
Business Hours: 11:45 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:45 PM – 9:00 PM
Phone: 04-22553833

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