From left, Taipei Hibachi owner Chris Chen holds one of the restaurant’s signature dishes.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
NORTHAMPTON — A new era for a longtime family restaurant is in full force on 16 Crafts Ave.
After over a year of renovations that began in May 2023, the Chinese and Japanese Taipei & Tokyo reopened in mid-September under a new name, Taipei Hibachi.
Chris Chen, who owns the restaurant with his mother, said that they decided to change the name to focus on a more hibachi and sushi-oriented menu that features dishes like mixed vegetables hibachi, fired tofu hibachi, chicken hibachi, beef hibachi, shrimp hibachi, a salmon sushi special, a California Maki dinner and more.
“We might bring the Chinese menu back in the future; we’ll see how it goes,” Chen said. “But we’re now more focused on the hibachi and sushi.”
A big reason for this shift in menu is because Chen said it has become more difficult to find a good Chinese chef in the area.
He noted that, in general, he has heard from the Chinese community that Chinese restaurant establishments are not as ubiquitous as they once were.
“The amount of Chinese restaurants is reducing,” Chen said. “Most people are opening Japanese restaurants; those numbers are increasing.”
Despite the shift in menu, Taipei Hibachi still offers some Chinese appetizers and dishes like golden chicken fingers, crab rangoon and lo mein.
“We have a lot of customers that know we reopened but did not know we changed our name,” Chen said. “I’m telling them that because we just reopened, we try to focus on our hibachi side.”
The former Taipei & Tokyo closed in May 2023 to undergo renovations that included adding a handicap bathroom, changing the wall styles in the back of the restaurant creating a more open environment for people to enter the dining area.
Customers can also now see the chefs cook hibachi through big glass windows in the kitchen.
“We’re bringing a more favorable dining experience for our customers,” Chen said. “It looks like one big restaurant now.”
The Taipei & Tokyo restaurant in Northampton was a staple on Main Street for many years before moving to the 16 Crafts Ave. location sometime in the early 2010s. Chen and his mother bought the restaurant in 2004 from Chen’s father and two uncles, and they have been running the Northampton location ever since.
Like most restaurants, however, the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a difficult time for the former Taipei & Tokyo due to dining restrictions, which is why renovations to make the dining area feel more open and welcome became a top priority for them.
“After the pandemic passed, when we decided to do renovations, we were more focused on the dining experience,” Chen said.
Now with a new name and a refurbished restaurant, Chen said he is ready to spread Taipei Hibachi to as wide a customer base as possible.
“The main things we want to tell customers is we are open, we have a nice dining environment and good prices for food,” Chen said. “If they come visit us, they’ll get a whole new experience.”
Taipei Hibachi is currently open for dining, takeout and delivery on Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 4:30-9:30 p.m.
Outside of Taipei Hibachi, Chen’s family owns a Taipei and Tokyo in Bedford, New Hampshire.
