In Taiwanese, a gassakusya is a school co-op canteen where students can buy goods and snacks during their breaks. Based on this concept, this new Taiwanese restaurant in Shinjuku serves old-fashioned light meals, using recipes from owner and chef Jiang Huang’s grandparents and ingredients imported from Taiwan.
Gassakusya specialises in douhua, a soybean pudding available from ¥378. This refreshing, sweet dessert is available in four variations: plain soybean, passion fruit (¥648), with chewy taro bubbles, and Gassakusya’s exclusive recipe of white tapioca, aiyu jelly (made from creeping fig seeds) and shaved ice in a sugar-based syrup (¥594). Don’t pass on the toppings! Especially not the peanut caramel, which is shaved off a large block imported from Taiwan – it’s both visually appealing and delicious.
Other options include stewed pork and soft-boiled eggs toasted sandwiches (¥528), braised pork rice roll (¥550), and Taiwanese gua bao burgers made with steamed bread and loaded with stewed pork, pickled Chinese cabbage and peanuts (¥550)
Look out for the thumbs-up symbols on the menu – they mark special dishes that are only available when dining in.