So uniquely stylish—a refined Japanese restaurant in Changhua with just two menu options

Text & photos byMika

Changhua is a place I rarely visit. Though it’s relatively close to me, I don’t have many relatives or friends there, so I seldom come. Xihu is even more off my radar. If it weren’t for this invitation to Changhua’s Xihu, I wouldn’t have had the chance to discover such a distinctive Japanese eatery. I was genuinely surprised that in this rural town of Xihu, right next to the Military Park, there’s a mid-to-high-end refined Japanese restaurant—and it stubbornly offers only two set meals: 1,260 and 880 NTD. No à la carte, no other options. How cool is that? A place this bold and principled makes sense in a city—I get it, city folks can afford it. But “Two Fish” is in Changhua’s Xihu. Isn’t that a bit risky? Well… the reality is, business is booming. As long as the quality is top-notch, discerning diners will find their way there, no matter the location!!

The exterior of Two Fish Restaurant is sleek and modern, with a spacious parking lot.

The interior design combines black and red, embodying a modern, minimalist aesthetic. The space cleverly uses mirrored surfaces and floor-to-ceiling windows to create an airy, expansive feel.

The bar counter doesn’t resemble a typical Japanese restaurant setup—it’s not cluttered with seafood and dishes. The distinct dining area and stylish bar counter feel more like a trendy mixology bar, breaking away from conventional Japanese eatery norms. It’s got real character.

By the time I arrived, it was almost 2 PM on a weekday, yet the place was nearly full. Clearly, people in Changhua’s Xihu have great taste too.

The chef’s focused expression while cooking—sitting at the bar is like being in the front row of a rock concert, offering an up-close view of the performance.

The use of mirrors and floor-to-ceiling windows extends the restaurant’s sense of space.

Next door is the Military Park—you can dine right alongside the aircraft.

Complimentary side dish: Yuzu radish

Homemade by the restaurant, this yuzu-marinated radish is lightly sweet and tangy with a fragrant citrus note. Crisp, refreshing, and appetizing.

Complimentary side dish: Cherry duck with Italian balsamic vinegar

The cherry duck is simmered in aged Italian red wine vinegar, best enjoyed with shredded onions. I absolutely love cherry duck—the texture is firm and juicy, rich in fat and meaty juices. Cooking it in balsamic vinegar adds layered aromas. Delicious.

The Two Fish 880 NTD set meal includes: Assorted vegetable and fruit rolls, mixed sashimi, sea bass yuzu grilled, angel shrimp tofu skin roll, seafood stir-fried udon, cup soup, and dessert (880 NTD)

Appetizer: Assorted vegetable and fruit rolls

Vietnamese spring roll wrappers filled with white shrimp, lettuce, mixed nuts, apple, orange, sweet potato, cucumber, sea urchin, and caviar. The rolls are drizzled with Japanese-style sauce or raspberry sauce. Topped with green tendrils and salt-grilled squid, which can be eaten as is. The sea urchin and caviar are sweet and briny without overpowering the dish. Paired with the crisp, refreshing veggies, fruits, and nuts, the multi-layered flavors are impressive. I love how the nuts add a satisfying crunch—such a smart touch.

Mixed sashimi

Includes longtail tuna, swordfish, salmon, tuna, and marinated abalone (simmered in kelp, bonito stock, sake, soy sauce, and daikon). Already seasoned, so no need for soy sauce. The fish is prepared daily. The freshness is evident in the vibrant color—rich, thick, generously cut slices.

Rich in fat, melt-in-your-mouth tender, sweet, and firm. Even I, not a sashimi fan, couldn’t resist a few pieces. That’s how good it is.

My friend, who can’t eat raw fish, asked the chef to sear it.

The seared surface locks in the sweetness and juices, enhancing the flavor even more.

Angel shrimp tofu skin roll

Tofu skin wraps taro, asparagus, and angel shrimp, then deep-fried and glazed with special mushroom soy sauce. Best paired with the steamed egg below. This meticulous, labor-intensive preparation is the essence of Japanese cuisine—every small bite showcases the chef’s creativity, skill, and premium ingredients.

Sea bass yuzu grilled

Includes crispy chestnut squash and yuzu-grilled (chestnut squash variety), served with mushroom white sauce and rich cheese. The sea bass is marinated in yuzu miso, topped with yam paste and salmon roe. Best enjoyed with the dashi-infused radish to balance the flavors.

The yuzu-miso marinated sea bass has a refreshing citrus aroma. Paired with yam paste, salmon roe, and dashi radish, it’s a medley of sweet, savory, and umami-rich flavors.

Crispy chestnut squash and yuzu-grilled (chestnut squash variety), served with mushroom white sauce and rich cheese. Chestnut squash is my favorite—its sweet, nutty flavor is irresistible. Grilled with mushroom white sauce and cheese, it becomes even more aromatic and decadent.

Seafood stir-fried udon

Sanuki udon noodles stir-fried with that day’s fresh seafood and a specially prepared soy-based broth—by the time you get to this dish, you’re probably already about 80% full. But trust us, this seafood stir-fry udon will make you save room for it. You’ll finish the whole bowl before you even realize it. Thanks to the chewy texture of the Sanuki udon soaking up the sweet, savory umami of the seafood and chef’s special soy broth, this is one delicious dish that leaves you wanting more—highly recommended!

A sweet and savory fish soup made by simmering fish bones, garlic, and vegetables, featuring that day’s freshly caught seafood as the star. This miso-flavored fish soup has a strong traditional Japanese feel. It’s quite rich in flavor, so while lovers of miso will adore it, personally, I’m not a huge fan of miso.

That day’s handmade dessert or hot sweet soup created by the chef. Today it was Japanese red bean matcha ice cream—my favorite matcha ice cream—and it definitely did not disappoint. So happy!

Little Cherry thought it was super yummy and wanted to eat more XDDD Actually, it’s because only we could eat it, and she couldn’t, so she protested with an empty bowl!

So tasty but can’t have any—Little Cherry could only salute the chef this way!

Little Cherry’s inner monologue: Why?! I can’t have any, I just wanna grow up faster...

The Two Fish 1260 set meal includes: Assorted vegetable & fruit rolls, assorted sashimi, grilled bluethroat snapper, butter-seared beef (can substitute with black pork if you don’t eat beef), Angus beef tendon rice (can substitute with seafood stir-fry udon if you don’t eat beef), crispy fried angel shrimp, cup soup, dessert (1260)

Appetizer – Assorted Vegetable & Fruit Rolls

Vietnamese-style spring roll wrappers paired with white shrimp, lettuce, assorted nuts, apple, orange, sweet potato, cucumber, sea urchin, and caviar. The vegetable rolls are drizzled with a Japanese-style sauce, and can also be eaten with raspberry sauce. Topped with green tendrils and salt-grilled squid, which can be eaten directly, and pan-seared scallops sprinkled with truffle salt. Compared to the 880 set, this one adds pan-seared scallops with a sprinkle of truffle salt, enhancing the sweet and juicy flavor of the scallops even more.

Assorted Sashimi

The sashimi includes angel shrimp, akamutsu (red rockfish), swordfish, salmon belly, tuna, and marinated abalone (simmered in kelp and bonito stock, sake, Japanese soy sauce, and daikon). It’s already seasoned, so it’s not recommended to dip in soy sauce. The fish is prepared using that day’s fresh catch.

It’s angel shrimp!! Squeal~~~ I love these soft, sweet, melt-in-your-mouth angel shrimp the most!! The other types—akamutsu, swordfish, salmon belly, tuna, and marinated abalone—are also different from the 880 set, but even richer and thicker!!

This is real wasabi that’s been freshly grated!! You can clearly see the wasabi fibers—why does this matter? Because there’s a lot of fake wasabi out there, so it’s good to pay attention when you’re eating it!

Eating it with wasabi is still my preferred way—the slight spiciness mixed with the rich, smooth, sweet, tender, and chewy texture is absolutely delicious.

Grilled Bluethroat Snapper

Made with that day’s freshly caught fish. The fish, also known as bluethroat snapper or karei, is mainly found in Japan’s Suruga Bay and has evenly distributed fat. The meat is soft, tender, and not fishy. Today we had the fish cheek, which is everyone’s favorite part during moon-viewing barbecues—it’s the tenderest part, rich in fat, and simply melts in your mouth. How can you not love it?

Butter-Seared Beef

American beef short rib with even marbling, slowly pan-seared in top-grade French butter, plus the chef’s special sauce (can substitute with black pork if you don’t eat beef). Black pork is cooked in a soy-glazed style (with sansho juice), served with roasted chestnut pumpkin and yuzu-glazed kabocha (the pumpkin variety is chestnut pumpkin), paired with mushroom white sauce and rich cheese.

The American beef short rib has the most even marbling, and when pan-seared in butter, it has a milky flavor that makes it even more tender and smooth.

Angus Beef Tendon Rice

Made with premium American Angus beef (prime grade), using cuts with more marbling and tendons, simmered for one and a half hours with high-quality spices, and served over butter and fresh cream rice (can substitute with seafood stir-fry udon if you don’t eat beef)

The Angus beef tendon rice is simmered until extremely tender and flavorful. Though it holds its shape, it melts in your mouth, with every bite bursting with intense beef aroma.

Crispy Fried Angel Shrimp

The angel shrimp and seasonal vegetables are coated in a special batter and deep-fried, then served with Japanese tempura sauce. Some say eating angel shrimp raw is a waste, but I think frying them into tempura takes them to the next level—the crispy texture is even more irresistible, okay?! ← Because I’m a fried food lover XD. The tempura at Two Fish is so good—the veggies stay crispy even after cooling, with no greasiness, and the special batter is amazing, offering a toasty aroma with a hint of sweetness while locking in the juicy freshness of the vegetables. I love it.

Be sure to eat it with Japanese tempura sauce for an extra refreshing kick.

The sweet angel shrimp, once fried, gains a crispy outer layer, changing the flavor but doubling the deliciousness ← the voice of a fried food lover XD!

A sweet and savory fish soup made by simmering fish bones, garlic, and vegetables, with that day’s fresh seafood added—same as the 880 set!

That day’s handmade dessert or hot sweet soup created by the chef. The dessert is different from the 880 set—it’s a luxurious upgraded version!! Now with a lemon cake, which makes all the difference~that lemon cake is just too good!! The natural citrusy sour-sweet aroma combined with a moist and dense cake body has received unanimous praise. Big thumbs up!!

Chocolate ice cream—I’m usually not a fan of overly sweet things, but this chocolate is rich with a slightly bitter-sweet taste, higher in purity, and I like it.

For those who don’t eat ice cream, you can choose sesame paste!! Also, the dessert chefs at Two Fish are very careful to filter out all the sesame pulp, so there’s no gritty feeling. It has a rich sesame aroma, soft and sweet texture. It’s the first time I’ve tried sesame paste like this—it’s really unique and refreshing.

The servers at Two Fish Restaurant are all carefully selected—sweet, cute, and incredibly attentive. I can only say their service is truly exceptional. Not only do they clear plates promptly, but they also keenly observe your needs and offer help proactively. Especially with kids, it was such a hassle asking the staff to bring hot water and clear the table repeatedly—so sorry for the trouble!

This is a refined Japanese restaurant with great character and commitment, offering only two set meal options: 1260 and 880. But rest assured, every dish will leave you satisfied and full!!

It’s located right next to the Junji Park in Xihu, Changhua. After your meal, you can even take a stroll in the park. Such a unique and hidden gem—Two Fish Restaurant. Next time you’re in Xihu, don’t forget to give it a try!

Two Fish Restaurant
Address: No. 18, Lane 132, Datong Road, Dutu Village, Xihu Township, Changhua County
Phone: 04-8828088 / 04-8821420
Facebook Page:Click me, click me

Traveling is to return to where you were with deeper understanding
MIKA’s Travel & Food Diary

Deliciousness non-stop from morning to night
Download the “ETtoday News Cloud APP” for the latest food updates →
iOS:https://goo.gl/rmIDdx
Android:https://goo.gl/XPe8Uj