Umeko Japanese Unagi Restaurant — Restaurant in Zhongshan District

Visited Umeko for my dad's birthday celebration and was not disappointed. Umeko have two outlets right across each other, one with taiwanese and the other with japanese cuisine, so do not enter the wrong one. We order 3 of their set meals (~NT$780) and a few ala carte dishes to share among us, as we werent very hungry and we couldnt be more than satisfied and full.

I had their miso-grilled codfish and it was my favourite. The fish melts in your mouth and the miso marinade have a great balance, bringing out the natural sweetness of the fish but giving its own savoury twist.

We also tried their salt grilled mackerel and the chef/owner even gave us tips on how to nicely savor the different parts of the fish to have a full experience of different flavours and textures.. He provided some finely grated radish with ponzu as a freebie to eat with the fish. Excellent service from the owner! The lamb ribs were great as well. I have never been a fan of lamb but this ribs were really tender and not gamey at all. My dad loved it!

The set lunch comes with an appetizer (sashimi or avocado handroll or shrimp handroll), a side (Fresh tiger prawn with a small serving of potato salad), egg dish (chawanmushi or egg roll), soup (miso or eel), dessert (almond or plum jelly) and of course, a main dish (you get to choose from a pretty extensive list). It was pretty worth it, considering the mains have a good portion size and quality ingredients. The courses were just right with its size and taste, complementing the next.

We of course couldnt miss out on their most famous unagi bento. The unagi is nice and flaky with a tangy yet sweet marinade. The meal tasted great and did not disappoint, but I would not miss out on their other seafood dishes.

I also ordered a few uni nigiri, which were not the best quality but still quite good. A little pricey for its value, but not too bad.

Overall, this restaurant is the one if you are looking for delicious fresh japanese seafood. The servers were very meticulous and considerate to our every needs and wants, which some might find too much but I find it nice and homely. They also gave us great recommendations and were very knowledgable about how to savor their food. Would go back again when...

Umeko Japanese Unagi Restaurant is an absolute treasure trove of flavours, and trust me, your taste buds are in for a wild and delightful ride!

Let's kick things off with the Unagi Don. Picture this: perfectly grilled eel, glazed with a sweet, heavenly sauce, lounging on a cloud of fluffy rice. It's like a flavour symphony in your mouth, and every bite feels like a standing ovation for your taste buds. Seriously, it's so good you'll consider writing a love letter to their eel.

Now, let's talk tempura. Umeko's tempura is a crispy, golden work of art. It's as if they've discovered the secret to transforming ordinary ingredients into crunchy pieces of heaven. Each bite is like a celebration, and you'll find yourself in a friendly competition with your friends over who gets the last piece.

But the fun doesn't stop there – cue the cuttlefish balls! These little flavour bombs are like a party in your mouth. They're delightfully tender on the inside, making them the perfect dance partners for your taste buds.

And then there's the chawanmushi, a silky, savoury custard that's like a warm hug from your grandma. It's comfort food taken to the next level, and it's so good that you might start plotting ways to smuggle a few extra servings home.

Oh, but we're not done yet! The plum jelly dessert is like the grand finale of a fireworks show. It's sweet, tangy, and a refreshing way to end your Umeko feast. It's so good that you'll be licking the bowl to make sure you don't miss a single drop.

But what really makes Umeko shine is the fantastic staff and the cosy, welcoming atmosphere. It's the kind of place where you can let loose, laugh with friends, and savour every moment. The staff will treat you like family, and you'll leave with a heart full of happiness and a tummy full of unforgettable flavours.

Thank you to my Taiwanese friend for the friendliest experience of local hospitality and the fantastic feast...

Umeko Restaurant was an absolute gem 💎.

It was highly recommended by a friend of mine and when I did a Google search of the restaurant, it had over 2.3k positive reviews. Thankfully, I was still able to secure a dinner reservation.

The eel was grilled just right and glaced with a teriyaki sauce over a bed of rice. The drizzle was done nicely without being overly salty. Becuase it was so yummy, I wished that they could have served up a lil more rice. 🍚

The prawn tempura we ordered was also deep fried to perfection and it was not at all oily. The prawns were fresh and the pumpkin slices paired very well with the tempura dip.

We had also managed to order giant sotong balls from the neighboring Umeko (Taiwanese cuisine) 😅

The restaurant had a nice, steady flow of customers, striking a perfect balance between bustling and overcrowded.

The Japanese-inspired interior design and the attentive staff who offered great recommendations on their signature dishes made it even better.

I read this Google review, calling it a "culinary journey to Japan in the heart of Taipei," and I couldn't agree more.

If you find yourself in the area and need of a dining spot, I can't recommend Umeko enough. This place truly lives up to its well-deserved...