Recommended by netizens! Shilin’s popular izakaya with super affordable yakitori starting at just NT$40!

Text & Photos byOrange Dog Loves Candy

After visiting both Taiwanese and Japanese izakayas, I’ve noticed one of the biggest differences: Taiwanese people go to eat their fill, while Japanese people go to drink and unwind. In Japan, izakayas are usually lively places—great spots for after-work gatherings or bonding. So food takes a backseat to drinks, though there are still plenty of delicious dishes. It’s just that the portions aren’t as lavish as the “banquet-style” spreads we Taiwanese often order.

Because of this, no matter how tiring my travel schedule gets, I always enjoy ending the day at an izakaya. The lively atmosphere feels like it sweeps away the day’s fatigue. Though this habit hasn’t changed even in Taiwan—I still find that a few skewers and a drink in the evening help me sleep better XD. Fortunately, izakayas have become quite trendy, so finding a good one isn’t hard. But finding one that’s also affordably priced? That’s the challenge. In Taichung’s Fengjia area, there’s a great spot called Geki Shoku Yakitori, and in Taipei, this 【Mianjingchuan Japanese Yakitori Izakaya】 is another solid choice with reasonable prices.

Exit from Exit 2 of Shilin Station, where the night marks the start of bustling nightlife. The stalls and crowds at Shilin Night Market are lively (though the photo shows the back entrance, since the front was blocked by cars and too crowded to shoot). It’s less than a five-minute walk to find this 【Mianjingchuan Japanese Yakitori Izakaya】. This is the location of their second branch. I had previously tried their skewers at another location.<饭店觉得还不赖，那时就有不少网友推荐串烧店很不错，这个时间文林路上满是逛街游客、放学的学生、载客公车，它们就刚好在路边位置挺好找的。

Walking past the shop, you can see the kitchen grill station bustling with activity. The chefs are busy, deftly handling each skewer. The space inside isn’t large, so there aren’t many seats. But because the first branch has already built a strong reputation, the second branch naturally attracts steady crowds. Almost as soon as one group leaves, another arrives, so I’d recommend making a reservation in advance, as we did. Our table was booked for almost the exact time the next guests were due—it’s busier than I expected!

The atmosphere inside is pretty lively, and I’d say it’s got a genuine Japanese izakaya vibe, since no one minds how loud you talk XD. They offer a wide selection of skewers, and the prices are pretty reasonable for a skewer shop, so you can comfortably order more. But with so many choices, it’s a bit overwhelming—deciding what to get took some effort, especially when choosing between teriyaki and salt-grilled options.

What’s special is the variety of drinks available. Most affordable skewer shops mainly serve basic sodas and beers, but this place has a few less common brews worth trying. This time, I went with the ‘Black Sugar Plum Chianji.’ Since there were so many dishes, I won’t go into too much detail here—let’s take a look at what delicious items arrived at our table.

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

【Okinawan Black Sugar Plum Chianji │ NT$150 │ per glass】
Don’t misunderstand—this is the price for a single glass, not the whole bottle. I was interested partly because of the poster in the shop and the staff recommendation—it’s one of their popular plum wines. Plus, I’d never tried it before. I usually drink CHOYA, but this one is made with Okinawan black sugar and Nanko plums, steeped in awamori (a type of Okinawan liquor). Just a sniff brings out the rich aroma of black sugar mixed with a tangy scent.

Compared to CHOYA’s light and sweet-tart profile, this black sugar plum Chianji has a deeper acidity, though the black sugar aroma and sweetness are quite rich. But if you’re not a fan of sweet drinks, you might find this one a bit too sugary. Still, the fusion of flavors is quite unique. And as for Coca-Cola... well, no need to introduce that XD. If you like, you can also try adding cola to your black sugar plum wine.

【Teriyaki Eggplant Skewer │ NT$30 │ Teriyaki Angus Beef Rib Skewer │ NT$60 │ Teriyaki Tender Chicken Leg Skewer │ NT$60】
The eggplant retains a juicy texture—not overly dried out or too soft—and the sauce is pretty tasty. The beef rib skewer is tender with a bit of chew, and juice oozes out with each bite, fragrant without the sauce overpowering the beef flavor. The chicken leg is, unsurprisingly, delicious. These first three skewers made a great impression, and the food came out fairly quickly.

【Green Onion Beef Short Rib Skewer │ NT$75 │ Green Onion Beef Rib Skewer │ NT$65 │ Matsusaka Pork Skewer │ NT$60 │ Green Onion Three-Layer Pork Skewer │ NT$65 │ Chicken Wings │ NT$50】
I’ve been here before for their...<饭，那时就很喜欢葱段串烧跟N<饭的组合，新鲜葱段不会烤得太干瘪，随着牛猪肉入口一咬还带点甜味，特别是牛小排跟三层猪肉不要错过，几乎是觉得必点，松阪猪当然干爽脆弹又不油腻，倒是鸡翅这个价位一份两支还不错，而且这份几乎都选盐烤，简单盐味淡淡的咸更显各种肉质在烤过后逼出的油甜与香气，我还蛮喜欢的。

【Grilled Shiitake Mushroom Skewer │ NT$40 │ Grilled {J White Bamboo Shoot Skewer │ NT$30】
When the grilling is done well, even vegetable or mushroom skewers can be delicious. Especially the {J white bamboo shoots—they’re not something every place offers, but the resulting crispy, juicy, sweet taste is addictive. Highly recommended.

【Butter Corn Skewer │ NT$40 │ Salt-Grilled Angus Beef Short Rib Skewer │ NT$70 │ Teriyaki Chicken Artery Skewer │ NT$40】
The corn is super sweet and plump, with just the right amount of butter to bring out a rich aroma without being greasy. The beef short rib’s tenderness and sweetness are a given. But what intrigued me most was the chicken artery—it’s somewhat like chicken heart tubes I’ve had before, tender yet slightly chewy. The teriyaki flavor is a bit strong, but it’s still tasty, and it’s a less common ingredient I’d recommend trying.

【Grilled Willow Leaf Fish Skewer │ NT$40 │ set of 3】
This one’s really quite cheap, though the willow leaf fish is a bit on the lean side. It could be more plump, but you can still find fish roe in the belly. Though I’ve had ones with more filling before.

【Grilled King Prawns (3 skewers) │ NT$80】
This one’s an absolute must-order. The firm, sweet prawn meat is grilled to perfection, keeping its fresh, sweet taste. Both the heads and bodies are delicious—don’t waste the rich flavor in the heads!

【Teriyaki Chicken Liver Skewer │ NT$40】
Not everyone is a fan of offal skewers, but this shop’s chicken liver is really tasty. Though it’s cooked a bit more than the chicken liver skewers I had recently at a raw-chicken skewer place, the deep flavor is still excellent. One skewer just isn’t enough!

【Teriyaki Giant Squid │ NT$150】
Some BBQ joints serve whole squid uncut, but here it’s teriyaki-grilled and then sliced into bite-sized pieces. It’s really delicious—the squid is fresh, soft, and pleasantly chewy. Perfect for pairing with drinks.

【Salmon Roe Donburi│90 TWD│Highly Recommended】
I noticed quite a few customers ordering this dish—it might be the presentation, but honestly, it looks amazing. Smoked salmon roe, semi-soft egg, grilled salmon, and chopped scallions all mixed together make for a wickedly delicious combo. It was so good I wanted more.

Pairing it with a bowl of tofu miso soup is not a bad idea either—their miso soup is pretty hearty, with a nice balance of saltiness and umami.

【Mentaiko Yam│60 TWD】
This seems like a staple at izakayas, but it’s actually really tasty. Grilled mentaiko, rich and creamy mayo, plus crisp and refreshing yam—it’s savory without being heavy.

【Fried Vegetable Platter│100 TWD】
There’s also a bit of salad, but I think it’s nice to have some veggie sides when drinking at an izakaya. This one is quite generous, with three or four kinds of veggies, all fried to a crisp without being greasy. The tempura itself isn’t heavily seasoned, so dipping it in sauce is recommended.

【Japanese-Style Wasabi Lobster Salad│120 TWD│Best Value Recommendation】
I never expected such a huge portion—enough for about three people. There’s plenty of both greens and lobster salad. The light tanginess from the vinaigrette, combined with the cool crunch of the lettuce, makes it super appetizing. Who knew this izakaya would be this generous?

Frankly, izakayas aren’t usually known for being budget-friendly, especially in Taipei. So I went in prepared, but I didn’t expect this place, 【Mianjingchuan Japanese Yakitori Izakaya】 in Shilin, to have such reasonable prices while still serving delicious skewers. No wonder their bookings are always full. There are also lots of students dining here, and the ambiance is really great—though the business is almost as bustling as another spot, 【Zhigiren Direct Grill N...<饭】一样好，我想就多打通电话先预订位置吧。

[Mianjingchuan Japanese Yakitori Izakaya - Second Location │ Shilin District, Shilin Station]
◎ Phone: 02-28816119
◎ Address: No. 312, Wenhua Road, Shilin District, Taipei City
◎ Business Hours: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM
◎ Tip: We recommend making a reservation in advance to avoid waiting during busy hours.
◎ Nearby MRT Station: Exit 2 of Shilin Station on the Tamsui Line, about a 5-minute walk

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