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 cuisine and N<饭，萍子要推荐台南毛N

Visiting Tainan Maodon

Featuring Tainan Maodon

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 sign at the entrance promotes their latest featured dish: the “Step-by-Step Advancement” N<饭款，光看就很澎湃，好吸晴。

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

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 vertical and long — just reading the descriptions of each dish makes you want to try them all. The visuals practically guide your taste buds. The N<<，强调每日直送海鲜渔获，所以在这里可吃到尚鲜海鲜，随着季节变化，渔获推出采用当季食材，N<饭作法采用江户时期的作法，尽可能呈现食物本身的原貌。

is illustrated in a charming sketch style for each N<饭的特色，看起来也很丰盛，也可以想像每款N<饭上桌的实际样貌，无处不感到用心。

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

One order of their signature N<饭，The basic N<<要590元comes with a soup, priced at around 600 NTD to start, with other options available for around 300+ NTD.<饭，没有酌收服务费。

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.<，这是每天早上到安平渔港采买的野生渔获，里头总共有16款海鲜在其中，下方扑醋饭，五颜六色缤纷多彩，光看非常吸晴，很有卖点，很有话题性，萍子也是因这毛N<饭来前往用餐。

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...<，分量蛮多的，萍子这天还两人吃一碗，非常饱足感。

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...<饭，在老屋感受吃美食的情境，台南东区毛N

Tainan East District Mao N
06-2092499.
No. 105, Dongrong Street, East District, Tainan City.
Business Hours: 11:30–14:00; 17:30–21:00.
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