"Ryohei Hieda's two-Michelin-star kaiseki is RyuGin's Taipei sister, cooking Japanese technique with Taiwanese produce across a mapped seasonal tasting."
About Shoun RyuGin
Shoun RyuGin is the two-Michelin-star kaiseki restaurant in the Dazhi area of Taipei, the Taipei sister to chef Seiji Yamamoto's three-star RyuGin in Tokyo. Chef de cuisine Ryohei Hieda runs the kitchen, and the restaurant has held two stars and a place on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list for cooking that applies the full discipline of Japanese kaiseki to Taiwanese produce.
This is top-tier Japanese cooking in a long tasting-menu format. For more of the city's best tables, compare the modern Taiwanese tasting at RAW, the French-Taiwanese cooking at Tairroir and the Asian-French menu at Logy. For a marker night, see our anniversary dining guide.
The Kitchen
Hieda cooks a seasonal kaiseki built on Taiwanese produce rather than imported Japanese ingredients - he visits local farms regularly and renders the catch and harvest through traditional Japanese technique. The seven- and ten-course menus arrive with a map showing where each ingredient was grown, a signature of the room, and the cooking moves through clear seasonal markers: a delicate opening course, charcoal-grilled fish or meat at the heart of the meal, and the RyuGin lineage's famous candy-shell dessert to close. The full menu runs from around 6,500 New Taiwan dollars a head before service, with tea, sake and wine pairings on offer. This is a precise, several-hour meal best taken slowly, with the kitchen pacing each course from the counter and open kitchen.
The Room
The restaurant sits at No. 301, Lequn 3rd Road, in the Dazhi area of the Zhongshan district, a quieter pocket of Taipei away from the Xinyi crush. The 36-seat room is restrained and elegant in the kaiseki manner - pale wood, low light and a counter that looks into the open kitchen, where much of the finishing happens in front of you. Service is formal but warm, well-versed in walking guests through the menu and the ingredient map. It is the kind of room built for a long, attentive dinner rather than a quick meal. Because the restaurant is small and holds two stars, tables go well ahead, so booking early - and asking about the counter - is wise.
Best for a Special Occasion
The two stars, the counter and the long kaiseki format make Shoun RyuGin a landmark anniversary dinner or a memorable proposal, and a confident table to impress visiting clients in Taipei.
Not for
Not for a casual or quick meal - this is a several-hour, top-priced two-star kaiseki tasting booked well ahead, built for a planned special occasion.
Frequently Asked
What is Shoun RyuGin known for?
Shoun RyuGin is known as the two-Michelin-star Taipei sister to Tokyo's RyuGin, cooking traditional Japanese kaiseki with Taiwanese produce. Chef Ryohei Hieda's seven- and ten-course menus arrive with a map of where each ingredient was grown, and the restaurant sits on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list.
Who is the chef at Shoun RyuGin?
Ryohei Hieda is the chef de cuisine. He trained in the RyuGin group under founder Seiji Yamamoto, whose three-star RyuGin in Tokyo is the parent restaurant, and now leads the Taipei kitchen, sourcing from Taiwanese farms for a seasonal kaiseki.
How much does Shoun RyuGin cost?
The seasonal kaiseki tasting runs from around 6,500 New Taiwan dollars per person before a service charge, with seven- and ten-course options. Tea, sake and wine pairings are offered on top, placing it among the top fine-dining tables in Taipei.
Where is Shoun RyuGin in Taipei?
Shoun RyuGin is at No. 301, Lequn 3rd Road, in the Dazhi area of the Zhongshan district, a quieter part of Taipei away from Xinyi. The 36-seat room centres on a counter looking into the open kitchen.
Do you need a reservation at Shoun RyuGin?
Yes. The room seats only 36 and holds two Michelin stars, so tables go well in advance. Booking early is essential, and it is worth asking about counter seats, which look directly into the open kitchen.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Shoun RyuGin
Booking early is essential; Shoun RyuGin is a 36-seat, two-star kaiseki at No. 301, Lequn 3rd Road in Dazhi - ask about the counter over the open kitchen.
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Practical Information
AddressNo. 301, Lequn 3rd Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei 104, Taiwan
NeighbourhoodDazhi, Zhongshan District
CuisineJapanese kaiseki
PriceSeasonal kaiseki from ~NT$6,500; pairings extra
Dress CodeSmart
Seating36-seat room and counter over the open kitchen
ReservationEssential
