Affordable Japanese cafeteria tucked in Kaohsiung’s alleys – A young owner chases dreams by studying culinary arts in Japan

Text & Photos /Shadow

No matter how beautiful the mountain scenery is, it’s not the life she truly wanted. So she chose to return to the city to pursue her passion in the food industry — this is the story of the owner of Warm & Cozy Cafeteria. Her family originally ran a homestay in the mountains, and after graduation, she naturally started helping out at the family business. However, having studied in Japan, she remained passionate about Japanese cuisine. With her family’s support, she chose an old house in an alleyway to start chasing her dream.

The overall color scheme is dominated by gray tones, which fits perfectly with the vibe of a Japanese cafeteria. It wasn’t until chatting with the owner that we learned the cafeteria has been open for a year already, relying solely on word-of-mouth from customers rather than aggressive marketing.

The layout here is quite unique — Shadow had never seen a space divided between upstairs and downstairs in the same unit before. The first floor has seating for eight to ten people, while the second floor features a semi-open Japanese-style area and two four-person tables.

The menu focuses on set meals, N<饭、烤炸物为主，价格不算太贵，很亲民。

Featuring seasonal seafood made into set meals, it’s definitely worth a try for fish lovers.

Japanese pork cutlet N<160元(附汤)

The owner, who once studied in Japan, has a deep understanding of N<饭味道掌握得宜，眼前这碗朴实的猪排N<饭，有着令人熟悉的味道。

The slightly runny egg and sauce have a sweet and smooth flavor. The rice, seasoned by the sauce, tastes subtly sweet, making you want to keep eating more. Even my husband loved the flavor of the sauce — he finished his portion in no time.<饭给吃光。

Mackerel Set Meal 250 TWD

In addition to a side salad, steamed egg custard, dried bonito tofu soup, the set also comes with pickles. These pickles have a unique flavor — crisp and refreshing with a slight spicy kick from mustard.

The restaurant’s seafood comes from Qijin. This mackerel is incredibly fresh — you don’t need any fancy cooking methods to enjoy its naturally sweet and tender flesh.

Fried Chicken 120 TWD (à la carte)

The chicken pieces are fried to golden perfection, crispy on the outside yet still juicy inside. The chicken is marinated before frying, and the sauce drizzled on top adds the perfect finishing touch.

Grilled Squid 120 TWD

The squid isn’t as large as you might expect, but after grilling, it’s served with optional pepper salt and Japanese mayonnaise.

The squid itself is thick and chewy.

Freshly Squeezed Kiwi Juice 80 TWD (left), Iced Black Tea 50 TWD (right)

The kiwi juice has a rich flavor and isn’t overly sweet. A bit of a downside is that it might use riper kiwis, giving the juice a slightly overripe taste that affects the overall flavor a little. But it’s a matter of personal preference — my husband didn’t mind it at all.

After the meal, the auntie at the shop even treated us to some cheesecake. The owner said the auntie is great at making desserts, including homemade cookies and cakes. The cheesecake has a light, smooth, and rich texture — we really liked it. (Desserts require advance reservation)

Though not professionally trained, the owner pursued her love for cooking all the way to Japan. The dishes she makes did not disappoint us. This small cafeteria is tucked away in an alley. Though it’s been open for a year, not many people know about it yet. Foodies looking for hidden gems should add it to their list and come meet this young owner. Highly recommended.

Warm & Cozy Cafeteria

Address: No. 14, Lane 55, Sec. 2, Minzu Rd., Xinxing District, Kaohsiung City
Map:https://goo.gl/maps/LCkX5vF5jiB2
Phone: 07-2362362
Business Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–20:00 | Sat 11:00–14:00, 17:00–21:00 (last order 20:00)
Note: Desserts require advance reservation

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