Kobe-style Japanese late-night diner in Kaohsiung: Hokkaido scallop cones & ultra-affordable grilled pork N<

Text & photos by /Shadow

Zangben Yakitori has been open for some time now and has become a popular hangout spot for local office workers after work. In fact, similar late-night grill diners are not uncommon in Kaohsiung, all of them adopting a distinctly Japanese izakaya style, serving up mainly grilled dishes and creative Japanese-inspired cuisine.

Once inside, you’re immediately greeted with plenty of Japanese elements. The most impressive sight is the numerous Japanese sake bottles displayed throughout the space. Although the seating layout is more Taiwanese-style, the semi-open kitchen gives off a vibe reminiscent of Japanese canteens.

The wide variety of Japanese sakes also opened our eyes—just looking at the shapes of the bottles could keep us talking for ages. Japanese sake isn’t only about brewing techniques; a lot of care goes into bottle design too, making it quite a fascinating subject to explore. (Drinking in excess is harmful to health.)

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive. Don’t drive if you’ve been drinking.

The complimentary edamame served had a fresh, natural taste that we really enjoyed.

The menu lists basic grilled items and main dishes, but the owner also prepares special dishes that are written on the chalkboard.

Drinks mainly consist of beer and original Japanese beverages.

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive. Don’t drive if you’ve been drinking.

Apple Park 180 TWD
Made with apples from Aomori, the flesh is scooped into spheres and paired with lobster salad and passion fruit sauce for a refreshing summer flavor. The Aomori apples are surprisingly large—we couldn’t stop taking bites of their crisp texture, and though we were already feeling quite full, there was still plenty of apple left. This dish makes a great appetizer.

Hokkaido Scallop Cone 150 TWD
This big scallop comes with a premium price tag, but the grilled scallop is naturally sweet and delicious, topped with fish roe for added texture. Unfortunately, the cone underneath isn’t very durable—it had already started to soften a bit by the time we finished taking photos, so it’s best to enjoy it while it’s fresh.

Grilled Pork N<100元
Pork N<是当天我最喜欢的一道主食。猪肉烤得香气十足，淋上酱汁之后，拌一拌会比较可口。

The sweet sauce pairs perfectly with the flavorful pork slices, making this dish incredibly appetizing. Highly recommended.

Zangben Small Set 7pcs 200 TWD
Besides grilled dishes, oden is another highlight here. The photo shows the small portion, which includes crab sticks, shiitake mushrooms, thick fish cakes, various meatballs, cod tofu, baby bok choy, cauliflower, and radish. Two dipping sauces are provided—the redder spicy one is extremely hot even in small amounts, while the miso-colored one is mild and suitable for most people. It’s a bit of a shame there’s no hot broth served with the oden; without it, the dish feels like it’s missing something.

Mentaiko Potato 180 TWD

The most eye-catching part is definitely the moment when the cheese is pulled—the potato is surrounded by lots of melted cheese. Cheese lovers will definitely enjoy this cheesy goodness.

Crispy Cheese Ribs Chicken Leg
This is part of a store promotion. The crispy part on top is potato, while the carbon-grilled chicken leg underneath is smothered in cheese.

Every piece of chicken is coated in cheese. Shadow isn’t a huge cheese fan, and too much cheese can be overwhelming—so he gave it all to his husband.

Mixed Skewers 250 TWD (6 skewers)
The mixed skewers set includes six pieces. Since we don’t eat beef, we skipped the beef skewer, leaving us with cumin lamb ribs, flower pork skewers, lightly salted chicken, soy-glazed chicken leg, and crispy pork intestines. Each skewer has its own unique flavor—not all coated in the same sauce—which was a pleasant surprise.

KIRIN Slush Beer 150 TWD

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive. Don’t drive if you’ve been drinking.

The slush beer shaped like ice cream is almost too pretty to drink. The slush, resembling beer foam, insulates the outside temperature, keeping the beer refreshingly cool at -5°C. (Excessive drinking is harmful to health)

In addition to skewers and pork N<印象不错之外，像苹果乐园特色料理，有让人耳目一新的感觉。店家强调所使用的食材有挑选过，料理手法也以天然调味，不用任何化学香料，现场现点现做为主，也因此价格会稍贵一些，这是可以理解的。附近上班族来用餐的还不少，下班后想和同事放松一下，这里倒是可以列入选项之一唷。

Kuramoto's charcoal-grilled skewers and Japanese oden
Address: No. 279, Zhongxiao 1st Rd., Xinxing District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 0932-796332
Business Hours: 18:00–01:00
Days Closed: Irregular

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