Niao Shao Izakaya

Niao Shao (蔦燒Niǎo shāo) is a Taiwanese izakaya chain that opened its first shop in Beitou in 2017, spread along the MRT Red Line, and then moved into New Taipei. The Japanese styling is the look, not the origin: it's a local company, with its own central kitchen and a sister business that imports sake. The focus is yakitori grilled over binchotan charcoal, using fresh rather than frozen chicken.

The house signature is the handmade chicken meatball (手工雞肉丸, tsukune), around NT$160, alongside chicken thigh skewers done with salt, sauce, mentaiko or scallion (NT$170–190). Skewers come two to an order. Off the grill there's thick-cut beef tongue, sake-steamed clams, overnight-dried fish and fried rice. Our review of the Tamsui branch recommends the pork fried rice, which comes in a big portion, and notes that it isn't cheap by Taiwan standards.

Niao Shao is dinner only, usually from around 5 or 6 PM until midnight, and you order from a paper menu. Reservations are a good idea and can be made through the chain's LINE account.