This poor fish was my dinner recently at one of my favourite restaurants in Hsinchu called simply 1,2,3. It’s a Hsinchu institution, having been in the same location for perhaps 20 years or more (as I have been told). I count about 3 generations working there. It serves standard local food – nothing too special and is perhaps comparable to your favourite “greasy spoon” in most cities and towns everywhere. It’s a pretty popular spot for foreigners including a large number of beer drinking chain smoking Japanese. The menu is on the wall except for us linguistically challenged where they produce an English menu – luckily a couple of the girls there speak English and I believe Japanese. I usually call ahead and order the steamed fish (pictured) but otherwise I usually stick to the same food you find everywhere – Kung Pao Chicken, Garlic Pork, Shrimp Balls, and Green Vegetables.
No visit or stay is complete without sampling the menu at this restaurant. It’s quite close to the Sol Hotel and is located on what is sometimes called the “Canal Around” which traverses the area between Lin-Sen Rd and Chung-Yang Rd.
There are a few more pictures on Flickr.