Grilled skewers, fried dishes, and beer—this affordable Japanese izakaya in Nangang has it all

Text & Photos /Buddy Little Rabbit

Since my company is near the Nangang Exhibition Center, I’ve had my eye on this izakaya for a while. This time, I made plans with friends to have a drink after work on Friday. Worried about the commute from Taipei after work, I searched online for “Nangang izakaya,” and 【Busho Sake Japanese Izakaya】 popped up right away—it’s the very place I’d been keeping an eye on. The reviews were pretty good, so I came here since it’s close to the office.

The overall decor of Busho Sake is full of rich Japanese style. The venue has seating, a bar counter, and two more private rooms that can accommodate about six people. If you’re in a larger group, remember to book early—the place gets busy on weekend nights.

They offer yakitori (grilled skewers), yaki mono (fried dishes), ika sōmen (one-night-dried fish), nimono (simmered dishes), teishoku (set meals), yakimono (grilled dishes), and small plates... There are plenty of skewer options, which is great for someone like me who loves to order randomly. Many of them are my favorite Japanese izakaya dishes, making it super easy to go overboard with ordering... XD.

What’s special about Busho Sake is that few izakayas are open for lunch. They offer limited lunch sets—I’ll bring my colleagues here for lunch next time.

Today, our group just wanted to have a few drinks. The beer selection was limited to Heineken, ORION Okinawa Draft Beer, and 18-Day Taiwanese Draft Beer (bottled). Since we were at an izakaya, the three of us beer enthusiasts went with ORION Okinawa Draft Beer (129 NTD per glass), while the other two chose 18-Day Taiwanese Draft Beer (139 NTD per bottle).

※ Don’t drink and drive. Drinking in excess is harmful to health. Persons under 18 are not allowed to drink alcohol.

I actually would’ve liked to try some sake, but the bottled sake here is a bit pricey. I’ll give it a shot next time.

Oh~ My favorite Dassai isn’t on the drink menu. That one’s so good—I’ll have to bring back a few bottles from Japan next time I visit.

There are also some recommended seasonal seafood dishes on the blackboard, but we didn’t see them when we came. We only ordered from the menu. Next time, I’ll pay attention to that section.

The food at Busho Sake is really tasty—I personally thought everything was delicious. This experience was completely free of any misses, and I liked several dishes. It really suits my taste and pairs well with drinks. You can check out the photos and pick your favorites.

【Fried Chicken (Karaage)】

【Salt-grilled Mackerel Pork】

【Salt-grilled Corn with Husk】

I really love corn with the husk. The grill level here is just right—juicy, crispy, and sweet.

Yakitori (Grilled Skewers)【Mentaiko Scallop & Cheese Beef Roll】

Skewered 【Pepper-seasoned King Oyster Mushrooms】

Forgot what’s in the middle—probably chicken meatballs?

Skewered 【Mentaiko Chicken】

Skewered 【Pepper-seasoned King Oyster Mushrooms】

【Crispy Scallion Pork Intestines】

【Sauce-grilled Salmon Rice Skewer】

This is kind of like a grilled rice ball. The outside is a little crispy, but the inside is moist and soft. Still, it’s really delicious—I ate one myself.

【Osaka-style Octopus Skewer】

This might be...【Scallion-grilled Pork Belly】Can't remember, we came to drink. By the end I don't even remember what we ordered... XD.

[Grilled Salted Flower Beef]

This one left a deep impression on me because it was so delicious. I even asked the server specifically, and they said it was Angus beef. Later I even ordered an extra portion.

This seems like the second round of ordering—I can’t really recall what we got, just ordered randomly and ate everything up.

[Salt-grilled Deep-sea Squid Rolls]

[Miso and Garlic Braised Pork Ribs]

Haha, in the end we somehow ordered a risotto even though we were super full, so I couldn’t eat much of it when it came.

[White Sauce Chicken Risotto]

It was pretty good overall, but there were a lot of bell peppers, which I don’t like, so I had to pick them out for ages.

[Bushido Sake Japanese Izakaya]—whether it’s the space, atmosphere, or food, everything is above average. The prices are also much more reasonable than many izakayas in Taipei. The service is very friendly. It seems like they close at 22:30 on Fridays, but the owner let us chat until 11:30 without rushing us out. When we left, he was all smiles—such a nice guy.

Plus, it’s really close to my office and my home in Xizhi, so it’s super convenient to go home after eating and drinking. It’s a great choice for friends in the Nangang–Xizhi area. I’ll probably come here often... XDDD. (Hey colleagues in Nangang, let’s make plans soon!!!)

Bushido Sake Japanese Izakaya
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Address: No. 111, Section 1, Nangang Road, Nangang District, Taipei City (near Nangang Exhibition Center MRT Station)
Phone: 02-2653-6773 (cash only)
Business hours: Sunday–Thursday 11:30–21:30, Friday–Saturday 11:30–22:30

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