01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Drawn in by fragrant spices, visitors make their way to MEILI, a Taiwanese cafe in Akatsutsumi near Shimo-takaido Station. The menu's cornerstone is lu rou fan (braised minced pork over rice), where rich pork seasoned deliberately with spices like star anise delivers deep savoury flavour, rounded out by a clear herbal soup served on the side. Options such as mapo tofu rice with a lingering tingle of Sichuan pepper and crisp, aromatic pepper buns evocative of Taiwanese night markets make it a reliable lunch stop for a hearty meal.
During cafe hours, the draw shifts to gentle, unpretentious sweets paired with tea. Douhua (soft tofu pudding) topped with peanuts and grass jelly offers refreshing sweetness and satisfying substance. Rich Taiwanese tea pudding served with ice cream and raw gateau chocolat are also on hand, best enjoyed unhurriedly with aromatic Taiwanese coffee or Taiwanese tea that includes one free refill.
The space carries an unhurried, calm mood, and visitors who time their stop right might catch a glimpse of the shop's charming resident Shiba Inu relaxing inside. From a casual solo lunch to a mid-walk tea break, it is an easygoing place to pause and soak in authentic Taiwanese lingering flavours.
