A small Japanese-style oden shop in Yilan, plus oyster vermicelli with chili oil that's bursting with flavor

Text & photos byPurple Smile

Jiāngxī is a famous hot spring destination. Unlike the Japanese who drink milk after a soak, we don’t have that habit—but sometimes you get hungry after a bath, and that’s when a simple snack hits the spot just right. Recently, a place called Shèngmǎn Hào opened here, serving straightforward oden and oyster vermicelli. After a hot spring session, warming up with hearty yet comforting food is simply satisfying.

This little shop is really tiny, but its location is great—right next to Jiāngxī Tāngwéigōu Park and just beside the famous Chūnhé Hot Spring. There’s even a parking lot across the street~~parking is super convenient.

Like Línběi Kǎohǎo, this place sticks to a very Japanese aesthetic~~~a style that really stands out in this area. It’s hard not to notice it when passing by.

The style is so outstanding that it’s highly eye-catching.

The menu focuses mainly on oden and oyster vermicelli, along with some side dishes and drinks—it’s perfect for this part of Jiāngxī.

The seating area inside is small, with only about six or seven spots!! Most are near the counter, plus there are two small tables by the entrance. That’s it!! So it fills up pretty quickly.

Oh, and there’s a self-service laundromat in the middle—how quirky is that?

The table has some specially made signature sauces, which are really good, and the choice of tableware is thoughtful!! You can tell it’s got that Japanese vibe.

Since we were sitting at the counter, we just lifted our cameras to snap pics of the ingredients inside.

Of course, and there’s also this big pot of tempting oden.

Menu!! There are quite a few oden options to choose from.

This side features the shop’s other star item—vermicelli!! Along with some side dishes and drinks.

We’d just finished soaking in a nearby hot spring, and with the cold weather, we ordered a bit more.

This is Shèngmǎn’s tendon vermicelli!! It comes with a bone-in tendon skewer!! Unlike the thick, gooey oyster vermicelli, this one is more like Kinmen-style oyster vermicelli—the thickness is somewhere between the regular version and Kinmen’s style, haha. Friends who haven’t tried Kinmen’s oyster vermicelli might find that hard to imagine!! Anyway, it’s the refreshing kind. The broth is the highlight here!! It really has that rich bonito and kelp stock flavor—very Japanese.

Oyster and intestine vermicelli!! A full bowl, super satisfying.

The chili oil here is also amazing—kind of like the famous chili oil from Ishigaki Island in Japan, fragrant but not too spicy. Really great, actually. Just a small spoonful transforms the flavor.

We randomly ordered some oden, with two types of dipping sauces on the side!! On a chilly day, having a bowl of oden and sipping the broth is just fantastic!! Especially after a relaxing hot spring soak, when you’re completely at ease, having this kind of warm, comforting snack is absolutely wonderful.

Don’t forget to pair it with a bowl of broth.

Shèngmǎn Hào
Address: No. 68, Deyang Road, Jiāngxī Township, Yilan County (next to Tāngwéigōu Park and Chūnhé Hot Spring)
Phone: 03 988 5628
Business hours: Weekdays 16:00–23:00 / Holidays 16:00–23:30
Official fan page

We are Purple Smile Ben & Jean—we love food, travel, photography, and gadgets.