Hsinchu Jingtingjia: Izakaya Restaurant and Bar 京町家

Hsinchu Izakaya

Throughout Hsinchu, there are many remnants of the colonial era. During the roughly 50 years of Japanese control of the island, Japan pumped tons of money to remake Taiwan in their image. Although the Japanese were eventually defeated and control of the island was handed to the Kuomintang, parts of Taiwan still have historic Japanese architecture mixed in with both traditional Taiwanese buildings and modern skyscrapers.

Some of these nearly century-old houses are out in the open. While wandering down the street, the terracotta roofs of these homes are sure to catch your eye. There are other old houses that you have to get off the beaten path in Hsinchu to discover. One of these houses is Jingtingjia: Izakaya (京町家串燒居酒屋).

Feeling a bit hungry? Head over to the Hsinchu Police Dormitory turned into a modern Asian fusion restaurant!

A Hidden Gem

For many, the area around the East Gate (東門) is considered the heart of old Hsinchu. This area may be small, but it is still easy to get overwhelmed with the amount to see in such a compact area. While wandering along the banks of the Hsinchu canal (護城河) and admiring all of the colonial buildings, you’re sure to miss one of the more low-key sights in downtown Hsinchu. Much like the Traditional House of Dr. Li Kecheng, if you don’t know what you’re looking for, you’re going to walk right past this izakaya restaurant.

For Jingtingjia: Izakaya, being off the beaten path is not just a figure of speech. Nine times out of ten, you’ll walk right past the alleyway without knowing there is a historic house hidden just a few steps from where you are standing. Located at No. 6, Lane 19, Fuhou St (府後街19巷6號), this izakaya restaurant is open from 6 pm till 1 am. The main reason tourists stumble upon this hidden piece of local history is the bright Japanese-style lanterns that only turn on at night.

Reflecting the Past

Many of the old houses around Hsinchu have been rebuilt in recent years. However, this is still just a small fraction of all the traditional Japanese and Taiwanese homes that are still standing in the city. While some were able to get a quick facelift, others had to be built from the ground up. Fortunately, Jingtingjia: Izakaya still preserves a lot of its soul along with its original facade.

The history of Jingtingjia: Izakaya is also unique. Much like the Nanda Xiazhuting Japanese Police Dormitories, Jingtingjia: Izakaya was once a dormitory that housed Japanese citizens. After a century passed, many historic houses such as these fell into ruin. It wasn’t until manager Lin Guangliang (林光良) was riding his motorcycle that this home had a chance of being saved. After finding out that the dormitory was owned by Changhua Bank, Lin took this opportunity to both purchase and preserve the house.

Jintingjia: Izakaya is affiliated with the chain of izakaya restuarants known as Omura Takekusai (大村武). Much like Lin Guangliang, CEO Jian (簡執行長) also has a fondness for historical buildings. Jian has rebuilt and cared for many historic houses around Taiwan, Hsinchu’s Japanese dormitory was another structure on the list. Lin and Jian both rebuilt the dormitory as closely as they could to its original design, leaving the soul of the home very much intact.

Want some more history? Be sure to check out the Former Residence Principal Hsin Chih-Ping!

Take a Seat

There is already more than enough to separate Jingtingjia: Izakaya from the rest of the bar and barbeque joints around Hsinchu. The century-old building, vintage Japanese decor, and history already have tourists looking to get off the beaten path to uncover this treasure hidden in plain sight. One other thing that this restaurant offers that many others do not in Hsinchu is outdoor seating.

After being cooped up in the office all week, you don’t want to be confined inside while enjoying your meal. Although Jingtingjia: Izakaya has a unique ambiance, it is in the outdoor courtyard where you will really feel at home. With a koi pond bubbling in the corner, you can enjoy the night while snacking on some mouth-watering barbeque. Seating is limited, so if you’re wanting to make sure they have space for you, you may want to make a reservation.

Looking for more culture in Hsinchu? Be sure to head over to the City God Temple!

Snacking at the Izakaya

While we may come to Jingtingjia: Izakaya for the history, others come here for the food. Many tourists do a food tour throughout Hsinchu, stopping at some of the most famous eateries. Jingtingjia: Izakaya makes the list for most of your Taiwanese food bloggers.

Like most barbeque restaurants, you’ll be wanting to order a handful of skewers to share with everyone at your table. There are also several main dishes you can order, but typically you’ll be wanting to eat family-style at an izakaya. Coming from a person who is not a foodie, the barbeque is quite decent at this restaurant. The prices are a bit steep, but Jingtingjia: Izakaya makes for the perfect place to have a celebratory dinner or a fancy date night.

It would not be a traditional izakaya without also serving alcohol. You can find a variety of drinks on their menu ranging from everything from Japanese imports to non-alcoholic drinks. Most of the patrons at Jingtingjia: Izakaya can be found with a massive pint of beer. Slowly sipping the glass in-between bites of barbeque.

If you’re wanting to get more off the beaten path in Hsinchu, be sure to visit the Guandi Temple!

Jingtingjia: Izakaya 京町家

This izakaya makes it onto a long list of traditional Japanese buildings that have had a breath of life breathed into them. Many of the so-called historic buildings around Hsinchu are nothing more than a replica. While Jingtingjia: Izakaya has also made hefty renovations, you still get a sense of living in the past while you are chowing down on some skewers and washing it down with a cold beer.

If you’re wanting to visit this historic Japanese dormitory in Hsinchu, you’ll kinda need to go out of your way to save the date. Opening late in the day, travelers will have to set out some time to enjoy this izakaya firsthand. Although prices may be a bit above what your average budget backpacker is willing to fork out, you will be paying for an experience unlike any other.

You can find a full list of things to do in Hsinchu here!