Taoyuan Japanese Cuisine – Don’t miss the super shrimp tempura roll sushi sprinkled with fish roe!

Text and photos by /Viviyu

I had already wanted to try Pirate Sushi when it was at its Nanchang Road branch, though I hadn’t made a special trip. Later, I learned they had opened a new store on Nanping Road in Taoyuan. That day, I found myself nearby and unsure what to eat, so I rushed over before the lunch break. But since I hadn’t done any research beforehand, I didn’t order their signature Caterpillar Roll but went with a regular business lunch instead. My friend’s dish was definitely much tastier—next time I’ll know exactly what delicious items to order Up~~

Pirate Japanese Cuisine, located on Nanping Road, has public parking spaces and a parking lot nearby, both charging NT$30 per hour—parking is quite convenient.

During weekdays’ lunch hours, they offer great-value lunch sets, perfect for nearby office workers who want to save time and money while still satisfying their cravings—it’s really good value.

The most famous items at the shop are probably the sushi rolls. Ordering from this series is usually a safe bet—I’ll go for the Dragon Roll next time~

They also provide other menu options for you to check out, with plenty of choices.

If you’re not sure what to order, you can also try their generous portioned set meals. Note that a 10% service charge applies when ordering set meals.

When I walked in, it was almost lunch break time, and the staff informed me that ordering is available until 2 PM, and dining until 2:30 PM. Quite a few tables of customers came in afterward—it seems everyone eats a bit later around here.

Because I ordered some N<饭的关系，所以有附送了一碗味噌汤，这里的味噌汤除了豆腐和海带芽之外，还有加入高丽菜，汤头已经改良为台湾人习惯的味道，比较轻淡些。

Sashimi N<$200

When the staff served it, I was actually a bit disappointed because there was a lot of seaweed sprouts piled up in front. Uh, although the sashimi texture was okay, this place really isn’t ideal for sashimi N<，应该是来吃卷寿司的啦…

The sashimi was cut to a medium thickness, but paired with overly sour vinegar rice, the overall taste leaned too acidic for my liking—I’m still not quite used to it. Next time I’d rather have N<饭还是去坐着做吧…

Sesame Tofu $90

The dishes my friend ordered were indeed all the shop’s signatures. I originally thought it was just ordinary tofu, but when it arrived, I realized it had a texture similar to the peanut tofu I love—the exterior is fried first and then drizzled with sauce, and the middle has a chewy squid-like texture. This one is a must-order, absolutely delicious.

Super Shrimp Tempura Roll Sushi $200

Inside is freshly fried shrimp tempura—you can still taste the crispy outer layer when eating it. On top, there’s plenty of fish roe, and what’s sprinkled is fried tempura flakes. I think the portion is really quite large, and the texture is great too. Next time I really must order the sushi rolls!

Mentaiko Chicken Wings $190

I added this because I really wanted to try it, but the mentaiko flavor is a bit spicy, and the chicken wings are not very big—it’s more of a light snack than a main dish.

Miso Grilled Fish $120

This miso grilled fish has a sweet flavor. Eating it alone might feel a bit rich, but I enjoyed it with the vinegar rice. This one is probably also great for kids to try.

What I took away from visiting Pirate is that if you don’t know how to order, you might completely dismiss the food here. If it weren’t for my friend ordering some tasty signature dishes, I would’ve written this place off as somewhere to visit only once. So really, knowing what to order is super important—next time I’ll make sure to do my homework before coming in… hehe.

Pirate Japanese Cuisine (Taoyuan Nanping Branch)
Address: No. 326, Nanping Road, Taoyuan District, Taoyuan City
Phone: 03-356 2438
Business Hours: Tuesday–Thursday: 11:30 – 14:00, 17:00 – 21:30
Friday–Sunday: 11:30 – 14:00, 17:00 – 22:00 (Closed every Monday)

JoinViviyu’s Little World Fan PageReceive instant messages without missing a single one
‘VIVIYU Small World’Travel across Taiwan. Look toward the world