Location: Hsinchu Suginoya Japanese Cuisine (closed)
Travel notes: It's been a while since I went out alone to hunt for food. Since the baseball season started, I often buy a Subway sandwich and watch games all night. But one day last week, with no game of my team on, I rode my scooter to Linsen Road to wander. I saw the old place stinky tofu near Banyan Tree, but it was full. So I parked near a bank and strolled around looking for a place to eat. I came across a shop I'd read about long ago but never tried because its exterior was so peculiar—you couldn't see inside at all. I always passed by. This time, I mustered courage, pushed the door open, and went in. To my surprise, from inside you also couldn't see outside—not sure if that's good or bad. The owner seemed surprised by my sudden entry (understandable, as customers here are probably regulars; it takes resolve to push that door open!). Inside was completely different from what I imagined—no fancy decor, just a homely space with a revolving counter seating only a few. Being the only customer, I took my time ordering. It felt like a family-run Japanese restaurant; the owner was minding the shop while督促ing her kid with homework.…