The ultra-popular wooden barrel N< rice at Tainan’s old houses — 16 types of seafood piled so high you can’t even see the rice!

Text and photos byPingzi

In Tainan and craving Japanese food and N rice, Pingzi recommends the Tainan MaoN

Visiting Tainan Maodu Rice Specialty Shop, hidden in the alleys of Dongrong Street in East Tainan, you can tell at first glance that this is a restaurant reborn from an old house. Sixty years ago, this was an old printing factory, and only the door frame and old wooden door of the original exterior wall have been preserved. Follow Pingzi’s steps to explore it. PS: If you are driving here, it is recommended to park near Youth Road, Tainan Theological College, or the main road, then walk over.

Featuring Tainan Maodon N rice specialty store, with a brown color scheme using reversed white text — subtle yet blending old and new aesthetics. At first, hearing “Mao N” made people think it was a shop opened by architect Mao Senjiang, whom Pingzi really admires for his work. But after looking into it, they learned it’s actually the third location after “Noah’s Ark Western Cuisine” and “Little Ark Yakitori Bar.” After leasing the space, Mao N invited designer Chen Fengyao (previously behind the ORO series of cafes) to plan the space.

The red brick walls, aged wooden doors, paint, and time-worn textures give this facade extra character. Just standing in front of it is a delight, making you want to take endless photos.

Before dining, a staff member will ask how many people are in your party and what time you plan to finish. The place is often packed, so it’s recommended to make a reservation in advance.

A small blackboard on the wall introduces the different themes and ingredients featured each month. Just looking at it is soothing and makes you eager to step inside and eat.

Nearby, the original old door has been specially preserved. Its mottled, multicolored surface shows traces of various paints and retro styles — layers of history from old paint jobs stacked over time.

As you step inside, you’ll notice the long, narrow structure typical of older houses. The exterior retains a sense of heritage, while the interior features a modern Japanese-style design — similar to approaches used in Europe and Shanghai. The concept is to keep the outside as a historical building while giving the interior a fashionable twist. This fusion of old and new architecture creates a balanced and harmonious aesthetic without clashing.

This old house has been reborn — preserving its traditional structure while integrating new elements. Tainan Maodon Rice Specialty Store, an old-house restaurant, is one such example, featuring extensive wooden finishes, high stools, and long communal tables that enhance the sense of indoor space.

Dine at wooden tables under soft yellow lighting, creating a cozy atmosphere perfect for gatherings with friends.

At the far end of the long table is the open kitchen area, partially hidden behind a curtain, allowing you to catch glimpses of the cooking and serving process.

The ceiling reveals the triangular framework of the original printing factory, with red brick walls and Japanese-style lighting that washes over the walls.

Further inside, there’s a large wooden seating area along one wall, with original old window frames preserved around the space. It accommodates both four-person and larger groups, with bright natural light filtered through yellow-toned lighting, adding to the ambiance.

Beautiful copper pendant lights hang from above, becoming a visual focal point in the space, casting focused and atmospheric light.

On a nearby shelf, there are many business cards from related restaurants — all extensions of this brand — making you want to try them all.

That day, we were seated at a cozy two-person spot near the wall. The wooden chairs are surprisingly comfortable and don’t hurt your bottom.

The window side displays cabinets showcasing the rice sold in-store.

They also offer their in-house use of organic rice from Hualien’s family farms, allowing rice-loving gourmets to take some home.

The menu is long and vertical — just reading the descriptions of each dish makes you want to try them all. The visuals are practically designed to tempt your taste buds. The restaurant emphasizes daily delivery of fresh seafood, so you can enjoy very fresh fish here. The menu changes with the seasons, using seasonal ingredients. The rice is prepared using methods from the Edo period to present the food in its most natural state.

is illustrated in a charming sketch style for each N

After ordering, we simply looked up at the old house while waiting for our food to arrive.

One order of their signature rice bowl, The basic rice bowl starts at 590 NTD, comes with soup. Prices start at around 600 NTD, with other options available for around 300+ NTD. The rice bowl does not charge a service fee.

The table setting showcases Japanese-style spoons, bowls, and chopsticks.

Clam Red Miso Soup, 70 TWDThis is a miso soup with a savory-sweet broth, packed with plenty of clams simmered together, giving the soup a rich umami flavor.

The clams used are small-sized and very fresh, and when paired with tofu, they are very comforting to the stomach.

We ordered a signature dish from the store, the house special Mao N< served in a wooden barrel. It uses wild seafood purchased fresh every morning at Anping Fishing Port, featuring a total of 16 different types of seafood. The dish includes vinegared rice at the bottom, and its colorful and vibrant presentation is very eye-catching and appealing. Pingzi also came here specifically to try this Mao N< rice dish.

It’s filled with Japanese cuisine, freshly arranged in the wooden barrel, adding a touch of Japanese sentimentality, resembling the design concept of a jewelry box at sea.

Just looking at the Japanese dishes on top — fish roe, salmon, red snapper, tuna, shrimp, chestnuts, green onions, mustard, and more — there are various types of fish, and you can tell at a glance that the fish has rich fat content, resulting in better texture.

Just seeing these dishes, doesn’t it make your mouth water?

The ingredients are very fresh, making it incredibly satisfying to eat. This bowl of Mao N... is quite generous in portion, and Pingzi even shared one bowl between two people that day, which was very filling.

Beneath the sashimi is a generous layer of vinegared rice, sourced from organic rice grown by farmers in Hualien. The grains are distinct and firm, and when paired with the Japanese sashimi, it’s wonderfully sweet and fresh.

The fresh ingredients, paired with vinegar rice, taste incredibly fresh, full of ocean flavors, sweet and delicious.

If you’re also visiting Tainan or are a local residing in Tainan and want to enjoy fresh and delicious Mao N... rice, experiencing gourmet food in an old house, Tainan East District Mao N N N Rice Specialty Shop is definitely a great restaurant worth coming to for a meal, leaving you filled with emotion and making you want to visit Tainan East District Mao N N N Rice Specialty Shop again.

Tainan East District Mao N N Rice Specialty Store
06-2092499.
No. 105, Dongrong Street, East District, Tainan City.
Business Hours: 11:30–14:00; 17:30–21:00.
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upssmile Pingzi (up’s smile – Upward Smile)!
She is a designer as well as a photographer for Upward Smile Travel, Food, Design & Photography.
Passionate about “Travel,” “Food,” “Design,” and “Photography/Films.”