Hsinchuku 新築窟 — Restaurant in Hsinchu

Today I visited this super unique restaurant near Hsinchu Train Station called Hsinchuku! At first, I just wanted to find a random place to eat, but a friend recommended this spot, saying it’s not only delicious but also great for taking photos. So I thought, why not give it a shot? And wow, it completely exceeded my expectations! This restaurant is actually a 90-year-old Japanese-style house that used to be a police dormitory. Now, it’s been transformed into a plant-based bistro and bar. Sounds cool already, right? The moment I saw the exterior, I was hooked. It felt like stepping into a scene from the Showa era, with the traditional wooden structure, black tiled roof, and all those vintage details. Even the outdoor terrace was beautifully decorated with plants and fairy lights, creating such a cozy vibe. Perfect for hanging out with friends or a date!

Stepping inside, I was blown away. Every detail seemed to tell a story. From the wooden beams on the ceiling to the warm-toned floors, and even the retro-style decor, it was all so charming yet modern at the same time. And guess what? The restaurant is pet-friendly too! Some customers had brought their dogs, and seeing those furry friends lying comfortably on the floor made me want to go home, grab my dog, and bring him here. It’s rare to find a place that’s this relaxing and welcoming.

But the real highlight? The creative plant-based dishes. Apparently, it’s run by a famous vegan restaurant team from Taipei, which explains why the menu looked so impressive. I ordered their signature “Egg Yolk Thai Basil Rice” and the hilariously named “Vietnamese Grandma’s Pineapple Spring Rolls,” paired with a handcrafted cocktail. The Thai basil rice was incredibly flavorful, with a rich blend of Thai spices and a perfectly soft-cooked egg yolk that mixed beautifully into the rice. And those spring rolls? Total game-changer. The filling was packed with sautéed mushrooms, tofu skin, and a surprising touch of pineapple puree! The sweet and tangy pineapple paired with the fragrant Thai basil was just so refreshing and flavorful—it was like a tropical vacation in every bite.

While enjoying my meal, I couldn’t help but admire the view outside and imagine what this old house used to look like. Its name, “HSINCHUKU,” not only resonates with the Japanese-era name for Hsinchu, “Shinchiku,” but also shares the same pronunciation as Tokyo’s Shinjuku district. The thoughtfulness in the design amazed me. It felt like I was part of a journey through time, experiencing a mix of history and modern creativity.

As I walked out after my meal, the setting sun cast a golden glow on the wooden beams, making the house look even more alive. I turned back for one last look and couldn’t help but feel grateful for such a beautiful experience. I’m definitely coming back, next time with friends—and my dog! A place like this, where history, delicious food, and a soothing atmosphere come together, is too special...

The meal was fantastic- the food was better than I could have expected. We had the not-eel-sushi rolls, the faux korean bbq, some kind of pineaple-sunshine-roll, and tofu, and zuchini. We started before the meal with a couple mixed drinks, including a super charming hot chocolate with mint. After we switched to coconut latte and coconut mochas. I've never had one before, and admit I was dubious but it was delicious and the portion was more than generous! We ended up taking a big majority of the food home and it was 2 more meals for us.

The only downside was that the restaurant, while being beautiful, was echoing and amplified every noise inside. There were people at other tables just letting the kids run over chairs and under tables and around the entire restaurant and stare at other people's tables and bump into things. Doors slammed and windows rattled, voices bounced off of everything and became very stressful so that we hurried to leave quickly and find a quieter place. Overall? food is excellent, we want to go back... but maybe eat at...

Amazing food in a beautiful, classic Japanese-style atmosphere. The food is truly fusion (regions vary depending on what you order.) The food was fresh and delicious.

Service was hit-and-miss. The server who took our order (a woman with a white bow in her hair) was excellent and did a great job communicating. However, there didn't seem to be a lot of communication between servers, and there were no dedicated servers for any particular table, which seemed a bit inefficient and resulted in errors. One of the other servers brought us a dish or two that didn't belong to us, and then removed one of them from our table without saying anything to us. Maybe he was in training or something.

Overall, however, a positive experience, and we will...