Step into the Showa era and indulge in sweets at KADOYA, a retro-style café

Photos & Text by MOOK Scenic Spots / Liao Weiren
 
On a street corner near a main road, a magnetic-clad bungalow with large windows stands out slightly, its unassuming sign displaying the Japanese and English name “KADOYA.”

Located on Shulin Street in East District, Tainan, “KADOYA Café” is an immensely popular local dessert and coffee shop. Though not in a tourist area, the place gets crowded soon after opening in the afternoon, keeping the owner and staff busy non-stop.

The most eye-catching feature of the shop is the fridge by the counter, stacked with a dazzling array of sweets to choose from. But with such a variety of flavors and exquisite presentations, even the most decisive foodies might find it hard to choose.

The entire KADOYA building was designed, built, and decorated by the owner and his friends. Compared to Tainan’s recent old-building revival trend, KADOYA stands out with its dark black glass, cute sunshade canopy, and exterior walls covered in emerald green tiles.

The whole shop, inside and out, exudes a strong Western-Japanese vibe. The owner says this reflects the style of Japanese shops after Westernization during the Showa period, marking the cultural shift from sitting on tatami mats to sitting on chairs.