Today, I want to introduce a new Japanese restaurant I found in Kaohsiung. In Taipei, there are tons of different Japanese restaurants, from high-end kaiseki to inexpensive izakaya. Unlike in Taipei, there are not many choices in Kaohsiung. Every time I want to dine out, the list is always fixed. This Japanese restaurant, close to the museum area, is the new one I found. This restaurant is more like an izakaya, has counter area and table area. It was not so crowded, very chilling. The ingredients are fresh, the food is tasty, although the price is a little bit high. But the most important thing is the bistro offers a wide variety of food in the menu.

I visited the izakaya with one of my friend- old head Chen. On that day, I just done finishing the second vaccine of the Covid-19. I know I cannot exercise right after the vaccine, so I invited him to give this new izakaya a try, and we havent met each other for a long time. Before the Covid, I used to stay in Taiwan only for a week and then fly back to Vietnam. I came back to Taiwan for the doctor appointment only. So I usually don’t meet my friends when I come back to Taiwan. But sometimes I got to stay longer. More exactly, I stayed longer because it was when Henry came to Taiwan to visit me. When being in long distance relationship, I always tried to seek chances to fly to Japan or make him fly here. Sometimes I even feel I was too excited to seek all kinds of chances to see him, but he was not like that at all. Well, can’t blame him, because he didn’t like long distance relationship in the beginning. That was probably why he was less enthusiastic than me. But anyway, when he came to visit or when I found chances to go to Japan, I stayed for a longer time, and alone. Actually, looking back on that time, I was quite careless about spending money. He was a student so basically I paid everything, including flight tickets and accommodation. I spent quite a lot of money when dating him though, including paying him debt haha. Well, that was long time ago, let the past be the past. I only want to remember the good part of Henry.

But now, I stay in Taiwan for a longer time because every time I come back I got problems with entry permission going to Vietnam. (Fortunately at the moment I am writing this post, no need any entry permission anymore!!) So I got many chances to meet my old friends. I don’t have many close friends, so I think I should keep in touch with those few friends I am really close with. Still, many of my friends have family, so most of our gathering becomes children’s party. But I am still happy, get to meet them sometimes, and cook for their family haha.

The first time I got stuck in Taiwan in 2020, I cooked for my university classmates, some people that I am close with. Before leaving Taiwan, I got to meet my close high school friends and Aimee. And I got a chance to one of my university classmate’s wedding, and it basically became a class reunion, even met Benson. Also, I went back to the dancing classroom to visit their new location, and had a good lunch with the instructor. Last year, I cooked for my high school friends for twice, and even their family, because I always prepared too much food. Also, I got to meet Yuna for several times. Because of the Covid, I got so many good memories with meeting close friends again. Although they are always the same groups of people, I am satisfied with it. Keeping in touch with close friends is not easy, and I am happy I did it.

Anyway, coming back the izakaya, I had a good night with Old Head, I got to try everything and he got to finish all the rest of food haha. And I even took away some dishes I like as the bento the next day. I love that restaurant. When my dad was quarantined in the hotel, I even delivered the sushi set from that izakaya to him. The quality is very good.

Since I started to prepare my own meal, I rarely dine out. And the more I cook, the more I think I am able to make the same food on the menu. So I don’t know how to order in restaurants. That’s why it always takes me a long time to find a place to eat. I want something that I can’t make at home. On that day, I was craving for yaki udon. And this izakaya did offer many choices that I want to try! That was why I order tons of different dishes! Hope I can go there again very soon!

八田源 Japanese cuisine
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