Michelin-listed Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa expands to Hsinchu
米其林推薦鰻魚飯名店「四代目菊川（Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa）」進駐新竹
| TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa, a Japanese restaurant group with more than 20 locations globally, is expanding its footprint in Taiwan with a new opening in Hsinchu on April 29.
The debut coincides with Mother’s Day and the launch of a Taiwan-exclusive yuzu-themed menu. Since entering Taiwan in 2023, the brand has leveraged nearly a century of eel wholesaling expertise. Otawa Masahiro, manager of the company’s overseas business department, said that Taiwan remains the brand’s most critical international market. Otawa said the brand is committed to maintaining the standards of its Japanese flagship stores, from the precise ratio of its secret sauce to the charcoal-grilling technique that creates a crisp exterior and tender interior. Brand Manager Chen Yu-an (陳育安) said Japanese representatives oversee minute details, including the exact placement of tableware and the sound of staff footsteps, to ensure a disciplined dining environment. The new Mother’s Day menu was developed specifically for Taiwanese palates. Chen explained that the acidity of yuzu balances the rich oils of summer eel. The featured yuzu sea feast set includes the signature ippon unagi (whole eel), black tiger prawn tempura with yuzu dipping sauce, and bluefin tuna sashimi from Tung Kang. For the first time in Taiwan, the salt-grilled eel is served with yuzu kosho to highlight the ingredient's quality. The culinary team also drew inspiration from Taipei’s Pinh Chiang Market, creating an eel bone and yuzu lotus root salad that features limited-edition crispy eel bones. To further bridge Japanese and local cultures, the menu includes a yuzu-infused oolong tea. Chen said the brand selects premium eels from across Asia, specifically using the 3.5P size, meaning 3.5 eels per kilogram. These eels weigh approximately 300 grams each, a golden ratio that ensures delicate bones and plump meat that does not dry out over charcoal. The Hsinchu location is the brand’s seventh in Taiwan. The restaurant features a warm wood-toned aesthetic, three private rooms, and an open glass kitchen where guests can observe the grilling process. It begins a trial run on April 29, with the official opening on May 1. For holiday gifting, the brand is offering the Whole Eel Filial Piety Gift Box, featuring both kabayaki and shirayaki styles. |
|
| Lyla Liu Taiwan News, Staff Reporter | |
| 2026-04-27 |
