Taipei’s Affordable Izakaya: Skewers for NT$100 & All-You-Can-Drink!

Text & Photos byWisely

Frequent travelers to Japan will know that “gek-an” means super cheap, and this ‘Gek-an no Shokuji Sakaba’ (Super Cheap Food & Drink Bar) in the Dongcheng district is all about great value meals. Its first branch opened behind SOGO, while the second is near the City Hall MRT station. The skewers here are incredibly cheap at just NT$38 each, so three skewers cost only NT$100. That’s why I teamed up with a Japanese friend who loves—and can handle—his drinks, along with Xiao D, for a dining visit.

We chose the more lively Zhongxiao No. 1 Branch for our meal, which is just a ten-minute walk from Dongcheng SOGO. You can find it by turning into Dinghao Mingdian City, right next to the eye-catching Sanheyuan Taiwanese-style eatery, so it’s not hard to locate.

The interior is very Japanese-style and atmospheric, featuring lots of wall decorations of Japanese sake bottles and, most notably, numerous maneki-neko (lucky cat) fabric hangings that are super cute. The service is great, and there’s no loud music to disturb your meal.

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive.

The bar offers a wide selection of drinks, from sake and beer to cocktails and sours, catering to both male and female tastes. Having traveled to Japan many times myself, I was impressed by the fine collection of sake and other drinks in the cabinet and fridge. Drink enthusiasts can go for the NT$498/person corner highball all-you-can-drink (single drink NT$98), the ladies-only plum wine all-you-can-drink for NT$498 (Wed–Thu, 8pm–11pm), or the Japanese sake (Kurosawa Shiroka / hot or cold) all-you-can-drink for NT$498/person. It’s truly a night where you might not want to stop drinking. XD

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive.

【※Excessive drinking is harmful to health | Underage individuals should not drink alcohol | Don’t drink and drive, safety comes first】

Wisely and friends this time drank a total of NT$101 worth of white peach sour, NT$498 on the sake all-you-can-drink, and NT$100 on Japanese Kitty soda, paired with delicious flavorful skewers and a variety of side dishes. On average, each person spent around NT$500–700.

The shop’s homemade pickles are super tasty at NT$68, with a well-balanced sweet and sour flavor that’s really appetizing. The taste is excellent, and once you try it, you’ll want to buy some to take home. Each jar is NT$150 and requires pre-ordering two days in advance. There’s an option to buy eight and get one free, or buy eight jars with free home delivery.

The mentaiko chicken skewers are NT$38 per skewer, or three for NT$100. They have a savory and tender taste that’s perfect with drinks, and Wisely really loves them—he could easily order another round!

The salt-grilled and scallion-salt flavored chicken thigh skewers are NT$100 and NT$168 respectively, and both are must-try delicacies.

The super value homemade rainbow salad is NT$188. With its Japanese-style dressing, fresh veggies, diced raw fish, and salmon roe, every bite feels light and is perfect for female office workers or those watching their weight.

The super affordable grilled wheat gluten stew (NT$128) has a very old-school Taiwanese flavor, mixing gluten with braised pork belly and mushrooms. It’s a nostalgic and delicious small dish that makes you want to pair it with a bowl of rice.

The golden abalone mushrooms (NT$168), stir-fried with salted egg and assorted vegetables, have a very authentic Taiwanese stir-fry flavor. They’re great with rice or noodles, and the cooking is top-notch—not soggy or bland at all.

For fried items, we had the fish karaage (NT$128), which is crispy outside and soft inside, delicious whether squeezed with yuzu or dipped in mayo.

The limited-edition sakura shrimp fried rice (NT$168) is generously portioned and aromatic. The rice grains are fried to be fluffy and separate, plus it’s seasoned with onion and red chili for extra flavor, making it a satisfying and well-balanced meal.

The pink udon (NT$128) and Hokkaido cheese udon (NT$168) each have their unique flavors. The former mixes mentaiko into the udon, making the pickled fish roe flavor even more irresistible, while the latter features rich, sweet cheese as its highlight—absolutely delicious!

The grilled lamb chops (NT$398) may be slightly pricier per serving, but the value is excellent. The meat is tender and perfectly grilled, with almost no gamy smell, and the beautiful plating is also a feast for the eyes.

The much-praised salt-grilled salmon fillet (NT$168) is generous in portion and full of flavor, with a crispy outside and tender inside that preserves the fish’s taste. The seasoning isn’t too salty, so it doesn’t overpower the fish’s natural flavor. It’s a dish I highly recommend for pairing with drinks.

Gek-an no Shokuji Sakaba (Zhongxiao No. 1 Branch)
Address: No. 10-1, Lane 101, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-8771-0380
Hours: Mon–Thu 6pm–1am, Fri–Sat 6pm–2am
Website:FB
Other info: Dining time limit is 2.5 hours, minimum charge per person is NT$300, service fee is 10%

Wisely
A Pisces man who records food, travel, and life,
Who enjoys capturing life’s little moments in ordinary days.
Always yearning for the rich and colorful stories of many people,
I also take my blog entries very seriously, documenting the little moments of my life,
so that the footprints I've experienced and explored in life are not just left in my mind.
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