Niao Shao Izakaya Tamsui

Niao Shao Izakaya has a really chill vibe. There’s wood everywhere and you can smell the charcoal as soon as you walk in. It’s family-friendly, the service is quick, and the music is just loud enough to keep things lively without making it hard to talk. I also appreciate that it doesn’t smell like cigarettes, which is pretty common in izakayas in Japan, but not here in Taiwan. The air conditioning is nice and cool. We haven’t made it through the whole menu yet, but everything I’ve tried so far has been great. I’d happily recommend this place to friends. Here’s a quick rundown of what we’ve had so far.

The salmon sashimi features thick-cut slices of fresh salmon. It is served with both soy sauce and lime on the side, though the soy sauce tends to overpower the lime's flavor. I recommend trying one piece with just lime and another with only soy sauce to better appreciate each option. The seaweed served with it is mild, but when combined with the salmon, it provides a subtle textural contrast that is welcome since the salmon is especially soft. The wasabi is real, not a strong horseradish flavor. You can have a nice-sized piece of salmon and enjoy the true wasabi flavor.

The beef skewer is tender, salty, wonderful BBQ’d beef, grilled to perfection. It's flavorful on its own, but a squeeze of tiny lime elevates it even more. This dish is an absolute 10 out of 10.

The salt and pepper yams were a surprise. They’re crispy, kind of like warm jicama, and remind me a bit of an undercooked potato, but in a good way. You get salt, white pepper, a bit of 5-spice, and a touch of sweetness. If you want a veggie that’s a little different, this is a good pick.

Chicken thigh skewers are basically what you would expect: plain salted barbecued chicken on a stick. In my opinion, it needs a bit of lime to jazz it up, but it's an excellent choice for kids or picky eaters.

Pork fried rice: I very highly recommend this dish. It arrives very steamy and dramatic, blowing in the air conditioning. Sweet with 5-spice, but not cloyingly so, and just the right amount of salt. This is a big bang for your buck. You get a lot of food, and it's super satisfying.

The lotus is an interesting one. It’s got an earthy, almost mushroom-like flavor, and the texture is both tender and a little crisp. It wasn’t my favorite, though. I think it could use a bit more salt to bring out the flavor.

The cherry blossom lemonade is really nice. It's sweet but not too sweet, with just a hint of bitterness and a strong floral aroma. I’ll definitely get this again. There is also standard Kirin beer, but you can also get beer with fruit flavor added. It makes it a bit more like a light IPA. There is a lemon one and a yuzu one (although Google Translate says it is grapefruit). The yuzu beer is citrusy and a little bitter from the beer flavor and the yuzu.

Overall Niao Shao is very good food all around. It's not cheap in regards to food in Taiwan, but it's worth the price if you're looking for tasty seafood and skewers, as well as some wonderful fried rice.

The Tasting Notes