Popular Budget Late-Night Eats in Tainan: Japanese Cuisine Available Only at Night!

Text & Photos bymimi Han

This 【Koedo Japanese Yōkan Cuisine】 offers affordable and delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere, making it great for dining or chatting with friends. That day, when I met up with friends here, I discovered that this frequently passed street actually has a tasty eatery that only opens at night. Let me share it with you~

【Koedo Japanese Yōkan Cuisine】 is located next to the rotary at Section 1, Lin Sen Road, near the Datong Underpass. It was formerly the Chuman-tei BBQ shop. Later, the owner invited a Japanese cuisine chef to revamp the menu from just BBQ options to a wider variety of choices, and the name was changed as well XD. The exterior features several red lanterns and simple decor, giving off a cozy izakaya vibe.

There aren’t many seats inside, but business gets better as the night goes on, with lots of regulars coming in. The sumo-themed wall art, corner decorations… the space has quite a Japanese feel. The young and pretty owner is cheerful and easygoing—definitely the kind of person you’d want to be friends with XD.

A string of menus hangs above the counter, which apparently aren’t on the official ordering menu—but I only realized that when I got home later. I’ll have to come back to try ordering some of those dishes next time.

Show your check-in or give a like now and get a free drink. That day, the drink offered was Calpis.

There’s a good selection of Japanese dishes such as sashimi, sushi, hand rolls, hot pot, and fried items, as well as Taiwanese-style skewers, stir-fries, and soups... It feels like there are quite a few options, and the prices are reasonable. It’s recommended to call ahead to make a reservation, as everything is freshly grilled or prepared, so there may be some wait time. And if you visit during peak hours, you might end up waiting even longer!

● 《ET News Cloud》 reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, don’t drive if you’ve been drinking.

Japanese-Style Grilled Salmon Sashimi Salad (220 TWD) – This one is quite unique. I hadn’t often seen sashimi used directly in salads before. That day, it was probably made with salmon. Besides the fresh greens, you can also taste the rich fat of the fish—it’s delicious.

Hiroshima Large Oysters (120 TWD) – Someone at the scene even asked me… isn’t this just oyster!? Come on, they’re basically the same thing, okay!? Fortunately, I didn’t say it too loudly = =". You can choose between Japanese-style and Thai-style preparations. The fresh seafood is refreshing, and the oysters are quite large!

American Boneless Beef Skewers (160 TWD) – The doneness seems to be around medium-rare to medium. The chef also sprinkled a bit of shichimi togarashi for extra flavor. The meat is tender, and the grilling is well done—highly recommended~

Grilled Scallion Pork Belly (150 TWD) – Pork belly, which I’d normally think of as greasy, becomes much lighter with this preparation. It doesn’t feel overly oily. The grilled fat, combined with the aroma of scallions, is really appealing. It’s a great choice to pair with beer or a drink.

Salt-Grilled Chicken Leg Skewers (90 TWD) – The skin is slightly crispy, and the chicken is juicy and tender. For any place that does barbecue, grilling chicken legs well should be basic skill, right XD?

The plate also comes with kumquat and shichimi togarashi for you to mix in. But honestly, eating it as is is already great~

On the left is Grilled Salmon Cubes with Scallions Nigiri (90 TWD), and on the right is Grilled Salmon Nigiri (90 TWD). Mimi is totally a salmon lover—she orders it every time she sees it. She just loves its silky texture.

And Koedo didn’t disappoint—the vinegar rice is well-prepared too, not falling apart at all!

The Grilled Salmon Cubes with Scallions Nigiri has a bit of a chirashi feel to it, with great layering. The slightly grilled salmon brings out more of its fatty aroma—you’ll just want to pop the whole piece into your mouth.

The Salmon Nigiri can be ordered raw or grilled, and it’s even topped with salmon roe for decoration. The fish slices are also cut quite thick. I have no resistance to salmon—I absolutely love this rich, smooth flavor.

This visit happened to be during an indulgent late-night snack time. The three of us didn’t order too much. Throughout the evening, quite a few customers kept coming in, all looking like regulars. If you ever want to have a meal with friends or siblings, this is a pretty good spot to try. Parking nearby is convenient too. I recommend this somewhat hidden gem of a 【Koedo Japanese Yōkan Cuisine】 to everyone—UpXD!

Koedo Japanese Yōkan Cuisine
Address: No. 26, Section 1, Lin Sen Road, East District, Tainan City (next to the Datong Underpass rotary)
Phone: 06-2142855
OPEN: 17:30–01:00 (Closed on Tuesdays)
FB:https://www.facebook.com/zmt062142855

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