Counter (Takadanobaba)
From the Waseda exit of Takadanobaba Station, head towards the shopping district in front of the station. On both sides of the road leading to the restaurant, signs in Korean, Chinese, English and other languages are flying, and a row of lively restaurants and eateries create an exotic atmosphere.
The restaurant we were heading for was on the third floor of a brand new building. What bright lighting! Most of the customers seemed to be foreigners. It also seemed to be popular with Taiwanese people living in Japan. Manager Kou, who is originally from Taipei, started the restaurant with the idea of "bringing Taiwan's popular one-person hotpot to Tokyo."
Shacha cabbage hotpot
The soup is made by adding vegetables and fruit to chicken bones and simmering them for 8 hours, then adding soy sauce, pepper, and secret spices. The Chinese cabbage hotpot is seasoned with onion, garlic, and chajimi sauce. In addition to meat and vegetables, there is a wide variety of ingredients, including fish balls and pork balls. For the final dish, you can choose from Taiwanese ramen, glass noodles, or udon. One portion costs 1,980 yen.
Classic fried pork ribs
This is a staple at Taiwanese night markets. The pork cartilage is rubbed with garlic, soy sauce, and sake, left for over eight hours, then coated with sweet potato powder and deep-fried until crispy. The chili sauce that is poured over it at the end is extremely spicy. Be careful, as it comes with a bone. 700 yen.
Spicy stewed duck blood
As the name suggests, it is made by simmering coagulated duck blood. It is a deep local food and goes well with beer. Duck blood looks like liver, but has a firm texture, similar to tofu or soft konjac. 600 yen.
Some people enjoy a one-person hotpot, while others enjoy a two-person hotpot divided into yin and yang. There are four types of hotpot. The soup base is the same, but the seasonings and spices added vary. The base ingredients include vegetables and fried tofu skin.
A rare dish is "rice blood," which is like a mochi made from glutinous rice and pig blood. It expands a little when boiled. You can choose from beef, pork, or chicken as your meat. Of course, you can also order other vegetables and meats.
There are also a variety of other dishes that would make great snacks, so you can enjoy the feeling of traveling to Taiwan without leaving your home.
Lily, a staff member, first frys the garlic and onions, then adds the soup to prepare the hot pot. 
The interior has a retro feel and smells great.
