"Taiwan Dim Sum Cafe ChaBou." This is a restaurant run by a Taiwanese owner who serves authentic Taiwanese home cooking and medicinal tea. It is loved by many regular customers because the mild, not spicy taste never gets boring and makes you want to come back again and again.

The restaurant is run by a married couple, and this time, we asked Ms. Takagi about her commitment to Taiwanese cuisine and medicinal tea, and her recommended menu.

Look for the Terrace

The shop is located in a residential area about a 4-minute walk south from Issha Station on the Higashiyama subway line.

A small and cozy store.

Pets are allowed on the small terrace with 3 tables! However, due to the small space, they ask only for small dogs.

Ms. Takagi herself used to have a dog and thought, "It would be nice if there was a space where dogs can eat together," so she created this terrace.

Feel at Home and Relax in the Warm Atmosphere

Ms. Takagi has a wealth of knowledge about medicinal tea.

Originally from Taiwan, Ms. Takagi has lived in Japan since the age of 12 due to family reasons. Originally, she ran a Chinese restaurant in another place, but she said that she had doubts about the image that "Taiwanese food is spicy."

Ms. Takagi: "I wanted to change the image that 'Taiwanese food is spicy.' Taiwanese food is actually not spicy."

Therefore, in 2015, the current restaurant was opened with the concept of "Taiwanese home cooking". The store name "ChaBou" means "a shop where you can eat tea and sweets" in Taiwanese.

Ms. Takagi: "We want our guests to feel at home and relax. That's why we greet our guests by saying 'Hello' or 'Welcome back' instead of saying 'Irasshaimase.'"

Taiwanese Home Cooking and the Taste of ChaBou

Even if you say “Taiwanese cuisine” in one word, there are various kinds.

Ms. Takagi: “There are many ethnic groups living in Taiwan, and they can be roughly divided into four groups. Just as in Japan, the foods and seasonings that are eaten differ between the Kanto region and the Kansai region.

Furthermore, in Taiwan, many people live in three households, and because they cook according to their children, many of them use gentle seasonings that do not use spicy or condiments. It seems that garlic is not used in stir-fried vegetables, which is a standard Chinese dish.

Ms. Takagi: "What I serve at my restaurant is Taiwanese cuisine, or rather, 'our taste at home'. It's not very oily and has a light taste, so health-conscious people often come here."

Medicinal Tea to Drink According to the Weather and Physical Condition

Medicinal tea sold in the store

Ms. Takagi has a wealth of knowledge about Taiwanese medicinal teas, and offers them according to the weather and the customer's physical condition that day. There are also regulars who order "today's tea, please."

Ms. Takagi: "In Taiwanese households, it's common knowledge. It's family wisdom that grandpa and grandma taught me."

There are many kinds of tea in ChaBou, so please ask Ms. Takagi.

ChaBou Recommended Menu

ChaBou offers a wide variety of menus, from Taiwanese home cooking to sweets to medicinal teas. We asked Ms. Takagi about his recommended menu!

Most Popular! If you come to ChaBou, the first thing you should try is this "Taiwan xiaolongbao"

Taiwan xiaolongbao ¥480 (tax included)

The most popular item at ChaBou is xiaolongbao!

The key to this xiaolongbao is the skin. The combination of the chewy and thick skin and the meat and soup inside is irresistible. By using medium-strength flour and using hot water instead of water when mixing the flour, it seems that you can make a skin that is elastic and has a chewy texture.

It is recommended to eat the first piece without adding anything. The inside is hot, so put it on the spoon, tear off the skin a little, and enjoy the taste of the soup first. After that, take a bite with the soup! Please enjoy the taste of xiaolongbao, which is gentle but has a strong flavor.

For the second piece, take the ginger in the soy sauce and put it on the xiao long bao and eat it. You can enjoy a different taste from what you eat without adding anything.

If you come to ChaBou, please try xiaolongbao first!

Low-fat, light-tasting Rouleau rice bowl

Rouleau rice bowl ¥800 (tax included)

Recently, the Taiwanese food “Rouleau rice bowl” has become popular in Japan. Of course, it is a standard menu item even at ChaBou.

Rouleau rice bowl is often made with pork belly, but ChaBou uses minced pork to avoid oil. Therefore, it is refreshing and not heavy at all! Rouleau rice bowl is a dish that even children can eat until the end without getting tired of it.

The point is to use red onions. Red onions have a stronger aroma than regular onions, so they are used when you want to use them instead of garlic.

All of ChaBou's dishes are not spicy, so if you want a spicy taste, this homemade chili oil is recommended! If you add a little to roux rice, it will add just the right amount of spiciness and flavor.

Homemade chili oil (left) and Japanese pepper (right)

In addition, there is also Taiwanese pepper! This one contains chili pepper, cinnamon, and star anise, and you can enjoy a different taste with a rich flavor and a spicy spiciness.

You can also purchase both the homemade chili oil and Japanese pepper at the shop.

For alcohol snacks! "Soft bamboo shoots" using Tainan's famous bamboo shoots

Soft bamboo shoot ¥600 (tax included)

This is a popular menu item that goes well with sake. A dish made with Tainan's famous bamboo shoots and homemade chili oil.

The bamboo shoots have a crunchy texture, but are also very soft.

It is so popular that there are customers who buy just this to take home.

Refreshingly Sweet Healthy Sweets "Azuki Touhua"

Azuki Touhua (hot & cold) ¥600 (tax included)

Taiwan's classic sweets "Touhua". ChaBou also offers a wide variety of touhua. This time I had azuki touhua.

Touhua, adzuki red beans, and basil seeds are contained in a mildly sweet syrup flavored with brown sugar. Touhua is hardened with soy milk, agar, and gelatin, and is a soft, smooth and healthy food.

Basil seeds are rich in dietary fiber, just like the superfood chia seeds, and it is said that in Taiwan, it is customary to eat them after meals. The chewy texture is a nice accent.

It's a healthy sweet that you can eat without feeling guilty because it's not overpowering and has a refreshing sweetness!

"Healing health Tea (Kunlun Snow Chrysanthemum Tea)" that you can choose according to your physical condition

Healing health tea “Kunlun snow chrysanthemum tea” ¥ 750 (tax included)

ChaBou has a wide variety of medicinal teas, but this time I had Ms. Takagi's recommended "Konlun snow chrysanthemum tea".

This tea is made from chamomile, which grows at an altitude of 2,000 meters or more. There is no peculiarity, and it is so refreshing that even people who are not good at herbal tea can drink it. It seems that you can expect effects such as sleep, antioxidant, prevention of modern diseases, and elimination of summer fatigue.

If you would like medicinal tea, please ask Ms. Takagi. She will provide you with the right tea according to your current physical condition and worries.

Daily Special Dim Sum Lunch ¥1,250 (tax included)

ChaBou offers a wide variety of lunch menus, such as the "Daily Special Dim Sum Lunch" and the "Daily Luxury Dim Sum Lunch". Since you can enjoy various kinds at once, it is also recommended to choose the lunch menu if you visit at noon.

At ChaBou, you can enjoy authentic Taiwanese home-cooked food, and you will be healed not only by the delicious food, but also by Ms. Takagi's warm personality. She is fluent in Japanese and has a wealth of knowledge about medicinal dishes, so be sure to ask him anything when you visit the shop.