Time to unwind with drinks and meat after work—Japanese izakaya in Tainan: fried shrimp sushi & asparagus pork belly

Text & photos byMimi Han

Yay~ If you’re into Japanese izakayas, Sister Man recommends the delicious Huba River Izakaya. The chef is Japanese, the menu offers way more variety than your average izakaya, including many creative dishes. Plus, quite a few Japanese and other foreigners come here to dine. Though the prices are slightly higher, we absolutely loved it—check out Mimi’s share right away~

This Huba River Izakaya is located at the intersection of Minquan Road and Xihe Road, near Zhonghua West Road. With its red-and-black exterior and strings of red lanterns hanging both inside and out, it stands out vividly at night. Open for just over a year, it already has a very steady clientele, often nearly full in the evenings. As for transportation, there's no need to worry—a large public parking lot sits right across the street, making it very convenient.

The interior is full of Japanese flair, and the color scheme is surprisingly photogenic. The counter and seating area can accommodate around 20–30 people. The staff mentioned that if the weather is warm, outdoor seating is also available. That day, several tables were occupied outside as well~

Hanging on the walls are paintings from Japan, which add a nice touch to the ambiance.

Sitting at the counter is great—you can clearly watch the chef prepare the food, with all kinds of fresh seafood displayed right in front. There's this glass panel on the counter that’s “super cool,” giving a really neat view. Who would’ve thought to design it like this? XD

Options abound: hand rolls, salads, side dishes, sushi, grilled items, deep-fried dishes, and signature specialties… There’s even hot pot, soups, and N<饭、乌冬面等菜色，相当丰富。另外店里也有不少品项的日本酒，真的是很原汁原味的日式居酒屋唷~

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive. Don’t drive after drinking.

Mentaiko cheese egg—Sister can’t resist ordering anything with mentaiko (spicy cod roe) when she sees it on the menu XD. This whole rolled omelet wraps up rich cheese and umami-packed mentaiko. It looks simple, but the unexpected combo of three distinctly aromatic ingredients is strangely addictive—and surprisingly delicious.

Salt-grilled beef rib skewers—the beef is grilled to perfection, so what else is there to say!? Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. I finished the whole plate without biting into a single tough tendon—prepared really well. A must-order~

Asparagus pork belly—juicy pork wrapped around refreshing asparagus cuts down on the guilt factor. It’s also topped with passion fruit mayo, eliminating any greasy feel typical of grilled skewers. If I didn’t have to watch my image, I could totally finish this plate all by myself. Highly recommended.

Fried prawn sushi—this is the first time I’ve tried a tempura-style sushi like this. It’s warm and has a satisfying crunch when you bite into it, which is pretty unique. Plus, there are shrimp roe inside.

Mentaiko cream udon—Q-textured udon noodles paired with creamy, milky sauce. Then you pierce the egg yolk on top, and the golden yolk oozes out. So naughty XD. This one’s just to fill you up—there’s always that feeling that a meal isn’t complete without some rice or noodles.

Mackerel miso stew—this is a common home-cooked dish in Japan, simple yet delicious. However, Mimi herself doesn’t love how oily this type of fish can be, but Colin really enjoys it.

Grilled sweetfish—the sauce is sweet and salty, the flesh is delicate and delicious, and the tiny bones have been meticulously removed. A squeeze of yuzu juice adds even more sweetness.

Angus beef tartare salad—Japanese folks don’t just love sashimi; they’re also big on raw beef. The meat slices at Huba River seem to be of quite high grade, as the marbling is beautiful~ The sauce is light and refreshing, complemented by the onions underneath, instantly bringing out the natural sweetness of the beef. Absolutely captivating.

Hehe~ Sit down, order a few favorite dishes, pair them with a little drink—feels super refreshing der~ Moments like these, slow and adult-like, grilling skewers definitely calls for Peruvian beer, right!? Huba River serves Asahi beer, and there are also plenty of Japanese sake options—it’s a very Japanese-style izakaya!! And that day, we saw several Japanese customers too. The owner (I think!?!) responded fluently, very international XD

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive. Don’t drive after drinking.

Overall, my impression of Huba River Izakaya is very good. The dishes are above standard, and many of the creative flavors are ones you won’t find elsewhere. Add in the nice atmosphere, friendly and enthusiastic staff, and it’s the kind of place where you’ll want to come back again. Sharing with everyone~

Huba River Izakaya
Address: No. 26, Xihe Road, West Central District, Tainan City
Phone: 06-3585983
Business Hours: 17:30–01:30
FB: 【Huba River Izakaya – BBQ Restaurant · Eatery · Gastro Bar】

Mimi Han
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