Authentic Japanese head chef — newly opened in Yilan, nigiri sushi for under NT$30 per piece!

Text and photos byPurple Smile

Last time, through a friend’s recommendation, we learned that this Hakodate Sushi shop near St. Mary’s Hospital in Luodong has a story behind it. It turns out the head chef and owner is from Japan, and the female owner is Taiwanese. To bring the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship to Taiwan, they specifically returned to open this shop. So, following our friend’s lead, we came to try it out!! We heard it’s only been open a short while, but it’s already a favorite among medical staff from nearby St. Mary’s and Bo’ai Hospitals. After trying it ourselves, the flavor is truly extraordinary!! And the prices are very reasonable — for nigiri sushi, some six-piece sets are just NT$150!! That’s an average of less than NT$30 per piece, and made by professional chefs — really impressive!!

The location is near St. Mary’s Hospital in Luodong, around the intersection of Nanmen Road and Zhongzheng South Road.

Upon entering, there are five seats at the counter where you can watch the chef’s expert skills. It’s just a pity that sitting here means the door opening might be a bit distracting!! A small entrance foyer would improve the experience.

The owner is Japanese — haha, maybe you can even learn a few Japanese phrases from him. At least it’ll come in handy when ordering food in Japan in the future XD

Fresh seafood at the shop

The interior design of the shop follows an elegant, minimalist, and refined Japanese style~~ Some simple decorations in the shop were brought over from Japan.

There are three types of seating arrangements. One is as shown in the picture, where you usually take off your shoes, but here you can step in with shoes on. Another type is a traditional Japanese table where you can sit cross-legged to soak in the Japanese atmosphere. The third is regular tables and chairs, which are more convenient for movement and can also be pushed together.

This area has a very Japanese vibe!! It’s not very common in Taiwan, but sitting here for a while to enjoy the Japanese atmosphere is quite interesting.

Hakodate Sushi is, strictly speaking, all about bringing everyone authentic professional nigiri sushi. Take nigiri sushi for example — six pieces for just NT$150, which means each piece is under NT$30, under NT$30, under NT$30!! Super affordable price!! It’s even cheaper than a certain rotating sushi chain in Taiwan!!

We ordered soup and some nigiri sushi. This is salmon head miso soup — this soup is truly amazing. The first sip was mind-blowing — it’s the real Japanese taste!! Delicious and authentic!!

This is truly a delicious bowl of soup. Immediately, images of enjoying great Japanese cuisine in Japan popped into my head. The fish is tender, the soup is rich and flavorful, a complete delight.

This bowl of wild clam soup is also fantastic — very sweet and delicious.

The clam meat isn’t even the highlight anymore — the entire broth is infused with flavor.

Even the little one kept telling us how good the soup is!

Tian N< 240元
The tempura batter is super crispy, and the texture is different from what we’ve had in Japan!! Not sure if it’s due to different schools of cooking.

Chawanmushi — NT$80
At this price, it might seem a bit expensive, since it’s not usually the star of Japanese cuisine, especially in Taiwanese-style Japanese food. But it’s different here — the flavor is rich and delicious, with ginkgo added to enhance the texture — truly tasty.

Assorted nigiri sushi — 14 pieces for NT$450
An average of less than NT$40 per piece!! Really super generous!!

Sea urchin nigiri
This is amazing!! The first bite gives you the taste of the sea!! But this one is quite polarizing — those who love it, really love it!! Those who don’t, won’t like it no matter how good it is~

Salmon roe nigiri
You have to use your tongue tip to gently break the roe, slowly savor the flavor, then swallow it whole!! So satisfying!!

Salmon nigiri
Besides the quality of the fish itself, the vinegared rice is also a key element in nigiri sushi. The rice here is also very delicious. As for how professional it is, it’s hard to say, but it feels just like the sushi you’d have in Japan. Of course, the way it’s shaped is also key — it’s not just casually hand-formed.

Well-made nigiri sushi requires the rice vinegar mixture to be perfectly balanced. Additionally, the nigiri must be shaped with just the right firmness—when you put it in your mouth, it should melt instantly, allowing the rice and fish to blend seamlessly. Only then can you truly appreciate the beauty of nigiri sushi. Try ordering from a few different shops to see what we mean.

Moreover, the soul of nigiri sushi isn’t the raw fish—it’s the vinegared rice itself. The proper way to eat it is to pick up the nigiri with your hand and dip the fish side (not the rice) into soy sauce. When eating, let the fish touch your tongue first, with the rice facing upward, so you can fully savor the freshness and flavor of the ingredients.

As for the ginger slices on the side, they’re meant to cleanse your palate between different types of fish. Start with lighter flavors and gradually move on to stronger ones.

Grilled Uni (Sea Urchin) & Salmon Nigiri Sushi – 1 pc ¥120

We’re also huge fans of grilled nigiri sushi because the grilling process brings out the rich oils, enhancing the flavor even more. This grilled uni and salmon nigiri literally melts in your mouth.

Salt-Grilled Scallop Sushi – 1 pc ¥130

The texture here is incredibly tender and soft—so satisfying.

This seems to be flounder!!! It melts in your mouth even more, and the grilling level is just right. Otherwise, too much fat could ruin the texture.

Seafood Assortment N< 360元

The visual appeal of this one is amazing!! It looks delicious—and it really is. Freshness is everything.

DIY Family Hand Roll Platter

Who knew you could DIY at a sushi place? It’s not overly difficult, but it’s not super simple either. It’s not just about stuffing the ingredients in—you have to roll it nicely, with the right portioning, to make it truly delicious.

Yay~~ our own handmade one, so good!!

This Hakodate Sushi place is really great. For under ¥30, you can get an amazing piece of nigiri sushi—not machine-made, but hand-formed by skilled chefs. We think the nigiri here is an incredible value. Just a few pieces plus a bowl of soup will leave you perfectly satisfied. And if you go for the rolls, it’s even better value (6-piece roll set for ¥60, almost cheaper than convenience store prices).

Hakodate Sushi
Address: No. 193, Zhongzheng South Road, Luodong Town, Yilan County
Phone: 03 953 0308
Business Hours: 11:00–14:00 / 17:00–21:00

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