New Japanese Restaurant Kinshika Opens in Yonghe – Enjoy Premium Matsusaka Beef Nigiri Sushi from Japan

Text & Photos /kuni

(Kinshika’s Lunch Nigiri Sushi Set)

We learned from netizens that a new Japanese restaurant called Kinshika has opened on Dehe Road in Yonghe District. We dropped by without a reservation at lunchtime and were pleasantly surprised by the well-finished interior—clearly the owners aren’t amateurs. A friendly server promptly greeted us after we were seated. Upon arrival, we noticed that right across the street is Snow Fu, last year’s super-popular spot—maybe we’ll grab some shaved ice there later.

(Entrance)

Since it’s recently opened, the detailed menu hasn’t been officially printed yet. However, the lunch nigiri sushi set starts at NT$880, plus an additional 10% service charge. The evening omakase courses start from NT$1,580 and go up from there—quite a shock, as it’s likely the highest price point we’ve encountered in Zhonghe and Yonghe so far. But since we’re here, we’ll just…<饭类，直接点握寿司商午，同时要求炙烧类少些。起手式是佛手瓜与渍萝卜，规矩的酸脆。沙拉给了两种玉米，酱汁okay，可惜蔬菜新鲜度偏弱，吃完后是漫长等餐时间。

(Table Setting)

(Owner Chef Cheng Also Acts as Itamae)

(Salad)

(Chayote and Pickled Radish)

Surprisingly, the sushi here isn’t served one piece at a time but rather as a whole platter—a bit unexpected for this price range. Following the recommendation of Owner Chef Cheng, who also serves as the itamae, we started from the right side. First up was scallop, still delicious as ever, though it didn’t pair well with the pepper-flavored miso sauce.

The quality of the vinegared rice and nigiri craftsmanship is on par with nearby spots like HANA and ??. Occasionally, the rice was pressed a bit too tightly, such as with the Japanese bonito. The lightly torched halibut fin edge is already one of Taipei’s mainstream sushi offerings in recent years, and today it performed well, without any unpleasant aftertaste that I personally dislike. The sweet shrimp had decent sweetness, temperature, and freshness, and the separately grilled shrimp head stuffed with rice was also good, keeping the shrimp roe moist. The highlight was definitely the Japanese wagyu nigiri—the owner said it’s the renowned Matsusaka beef. I thought to myself, this probably can’t be a regular menu item.

The spaghetti eel was extremely tough and dry, which was a bit annoying for a moment. Luckily, the sea urchin wasn’t bad, but the thick metal spoon detracted from the overall flavor experience—such a pity.

(Lunch Nigiri Sushi Set)

(Chef Preparing Sauce for the Spaghetti Eel Sushi)

(They Actually Gave Us Matsusaka Wagyu)

(Clam Clear Soup)

(Dessert Not a Favorite—Roselle Jelly Had a Slightly Odd Taste)

After the meal, we were served a bowl of clam clear soup, fragrant and refreshing. During our chat, we learned that Owner Chef Cheng previously ran three restaurants in Taipei—Little Deer Handmade Happy Cuisine, Kin Sushi, and Sui Lang—but closed them all due to high rents. He then relocated to Yonghe in New Taipei to start anew, naming the place Kinshika, which clearly reflects its origins.

Kinshika
Address: No. 1, Dehe Road, Yonghe District, New Taipei City
Phone: (02)2923-5553 (02)2923-4477

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