There is a place in Kurashiki where you can enjoy authentic Taiwanese flavors.
Taiwan Meshi is a mobile food vendor that provides Taiwanese cuisine primarily at market events held in Okayama Prefecture.
The owner of Taiwan Meshi, Yamauchi Yuji, is the owner of Guesthouse Yuji-in located in the Bikan Historical Area.
While learning Taiwanese recipes from the Taiwanese staff who stayed at Yuji-in, he offers Taiwanese dishes that recreate the local flavors.
Why did Yamauchi start a Taiwanese food truck?
We will introduce the background leading to the birth of a food truck where you can enjoy authentic Taiwanese cuisine!
Introduction to Taiwan Meshi
Guesthouse Yuji-in, located in the back alleys of the Bikan Historical Area, which retains the townscape of the Edo period.
What kind of dishes can you enjoy from the Taiwanese cuisine created by the owner of Yuji-in?
We will introduce the charm of Taiwan Meshi!
What is Taiwan Meshi?
Taiwan Meshi is a mobile food vendor that provides Taiwanese cuisine at market events held in Okayama City and Kurashiki City.
In Kurashiki City, it mainly participates in the Night Market at Rintetsu Garden held in Mizushima and the KARAKOTO Sketch Marché where you can enjoy the view of the Seto Inland Sea at the foot of Ojigadake Hill.
The signature dish of Taiwan Meshi is Lu Rou Fan (Braised Pork Rice).
It is a classic Taiwanese dish where stewed pork is served over rice.
Additionally, there are Taiwanese burgers made with pork and cilantro from Arch Farm Co., Ltd. sandwiched in a chewy bun, and Beef Noodle Soup made with instant noodles commonly found in Taiwan.
The menu changes depending on the market events where they set up, which is a characteristic of Taiwan Meshi.
You can enjoy various Taiwanese dishes each time you visit.
The Charm of Taiwan Meshi
The dishes offered at Taiwan Meshi are made by the owner, Yamauchi, while learning recipes from the Taiwanese staff who stayed at Yuji-in.
As a result, the dishes faithfully recreate the flavors of Taiwan.
If there are no products that meet the requests of the market event organizers, he contacts the Taiwanese staff to develop new recipes.
The ability to enjoy Taiwanese cuisine that faithfully reproduces authentic flavors and the continuous creation of new products are the charms of Taiwan Meshi.
I Tried Taiwan Meshi!
I visited Taiwan Meshi while it was open and enjoyed the taste of Taiwan.
Here is an introduction to the authentic Taiwanese flavors you can enjoy in Kurashiki.
Today's Menu
As mentioned before, the interesting thing about Taiwan Meshi is that the menu changes daily.
When I visited, the following menu was available.
| Menu | Price (including tax) |
|---|---|
| Lu Rou Fan (Braised Pork Rice) | 750 yen |
| Chicken Rice | 650 yen |
| Beef Noodle Soup | 600 yen |
| Craft Cola | 500 yen |
| Lemon Squash | 500 yen |
All of them look interesting, but I can't fit them all in my stomach.
I chose three items from the menu that caught my attention and tried them!
Lu Rou Fan (Braised Pork Rice)
Lu Rou Fan is a classic Taiwanese dish where stewed pork cooked with soy sauce and sake is served over rice.
This was the first dish that Yamauchi learned from the Taiwanese staff at the guesthouse.
The sweetly stewed pork is tender, and the best way to enjoy it is to eat it together with the rice.
I think this dish will appeal to Japanese tastes!
By the way, when you purchase a product at Taiwan Meshi, they will put it in a perforated sheet.
This is said to be the sheet that comes with bento when you buy it at a convenience store in Taiwan.
Incorporating items used in daily life in Taiwan is also a highlight of Taiwan Meshi.
Beef Noodle Soup
The beef noodle soup provided by Taiwan Meshi uses instant noodles sold in Taiwan.
Perhaps due to the difference in spices, the aroma was clearly different from Japanese instant noodles.
Of course, you can also distinctly taste the spicy flavor reminiscent of Taiwan.
It feels strange to enjoy something that people living in Taiwan eat regularly in Kurashiki.
Craft Cola
The craft cola offered at Taiwan Meshi uses lemon grown at Kurashiki Hiramatsu Farm and cola syrup produced by Kurashiki Kosen.
Interestingly, the president of Kurashiki Kosen is a former classmate of Yamauchi from elementary school.
The president of Kurashiki Kosen, who had a connection with Kurashiki Hiramatsu Farm, suggested craft cola as a product using lemons.
After that, Yamauchi was consulted about whether it could be delivered to many people through Taiwan Meshi.
It has a refreshing lemon acidity and a distinct cinnamon aroma and flavor.
You can enjoy the unique taste that only craft cola can offer.
I asked the owner, Yamauchi Yuji, how Taiwan Meshi, which offers various Taiwanese dishes, was born.
Data on Taiwan Meshi
| Name | Taiwan Meshi |
|---|---|
| Address | Participates in market events in Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-441-1620 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | Participates in market events in Okayama Prefecture |
| Regular Holidays | Irregular holidays |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation | Not accepted |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | No toilet |
| Website | Taiwan Meshi |
