Craftsmanship from Hokkaido, Japan – A dreamy flavor where yuzu meets curry

Text & Photos byOld K

Rice House Kokeshi is a Japanese-style family eatery tucked away in the alleyways of Dihua Street. The owner is from Hokkaido, Japan, so naturally, you’ll find the most authentic Japanese cuisine here. Back in March this year, when I dined here with Meiji, the curry fried rice really won over Old K, and the grilled scallops and salmon also left a deep impression on Meiji!

So we’re back again!!!

But the timing wasn’t the greatest this time – quite a few dishes weren’t available.

Though it wasn’t really bad luck either, because just as we were about to order, another couple walked in, and there were only three bowls of rice left. We ordered the fruit curry and the pork curry, and after that, the couple couldn’t order anything, and the restaurant even put up a sign saying today’s meals were sold out. So we were actually the last two customers of the day — pretty lucky, right? XD

and the pork curry noodles (100 TWD)

This is Old K’s pork curry noodles. At just one hundred TWD per bowl, it looks like quite a bargain — the curry looks rich and thick, and there are plenty of sizable pork chunks!

The curry was indeed quite rich, with a hint of spiciness, slightly on the salty side, but it paired perfectly with the plain rice, which was also deliciously cooked.

The pork was tender yet not tough to chew, and every piece was consistently good – none were dry or lacking in flavor. It tasted even better than many curry rice meals that cost two hundred bucks a plate that Old K has had before.

After taking a few bites of the curry, it was Meiji’s turn with the fruit curry. Also, the small extra portion of curry served was the last of the day, and the owner kindly gave it to us — it even had some meat chunks in it. The owner is really nice!

Fruit curry (120 yuan)

This bowl of fruit curry is just too unique – the fruit used is actually yuzu, XD

And they gave quite a lot of yuzu. The combination of curry and yuzu worked surprisingly well. What would normally be a savory-sweet curry gained an additional tangy-sweet note from the yuzu. The yuzu is very juicy, adding a layer of liquid texture, which made the overall mouthfeel incredibly rich. Old K really liked this — it’s super unique.

Old K’s Tip: If you’re visiting Dadaocheng, Old K highly recommends dining here. The curry fried rice and fruit curry are both delicious, and the scallops and salmon are great too. Most importantly, it’s affordable and filling. Come hungry and try to eat your fill — once you’re full, you can go for a bike ride along the Dadaocheng Wharf, enjoy the view, and get some exercise. XD If you come, don’t miss it. PS. No reservations, so come early!

Old K’s Personal Rating (out of 10, higher is better)
Taste: 8.3 points
Value for Money: 8.5 points
Dining Environment: 6 points
Price: 8 points

Rice House Kokeshi
Facebook Page: Facebook Fan Page
Address: No. 13, Lane 209, Section 1, Dihua Street, Datong District, Taipei City
Business Hours: Tuesday to Friday 12:00–14:00 (last order) 17:30–20:30 (last order); Saturday to Sunday 12:00–20:00 (last order) (Closed on Mondays)

Old K
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