The legacy of military dependents' villages lives on at this nostalgic little eatery near Taipei Arena!

Text and photos byGui Xiaosun

I’m also a small-time fan on Instagram.

There are a few people I often pay attention to, like 'Lin Kailuo thecaroltw.' Many of the places she features are right up my alley—for instance, this spot, 'Cunzikou Military Village Cuisine.' A single photo by the entrance left a deep impression on me. Little did I know that during my three-day trip to Taipei, the first night’s accommodation—'Meistay Taipei Arena'—was just a 3–5-minute walk away from here. But I have to admit, it wasn’t until after I returned that I noticed there’s a super famous bento shop, Chenmi Café, right downstairs from 'Meistay Taipei Arena'!

That day, as I passed by, I always thought the place looked 'authentically old,' very much like those 'wonderfully vintage' shops you’d see on the streets of Hong Kong. Who would’ve guessed that just yesterday, I saw a front-page news story saying it’s a beloved bento shop among many celebrities—and it was even featured on Kangsi Coming?! @@ Coming back, I truly felt a pang of regret. Next time I’m in the area, I absolutely have to give it a try. XD

Actually, there’s been a lot going on lately, and every little thing has been 'impacting' my inner senses... Like cyberbullying, or the Nepal earthquake... Each incident has deeply affected me. Take the Nepal earthquake, for example—I’ve never been to the country, but seeing all the compilations people put together… It really leaves you feeling helpless for such a small nation that 'relies solely on tourism for its economy.' I also realized that the porters who carry luggage up the mountains for tourists earn such meager wages... I honestly don’t understand how anyone could 'exploit' them like that!

Many things are beyond our control or simply unfair, and the only thing we can do is 'to do what you can, well.' If you visit these countries, try not to haggle within reason—maybe the extra one or two hundred yuan you give could be enough to feed their family for a week. That’s definitely more meaningful than participating in some donation campaign afterward!

Also, when it comes to so-called 'cyberbullying,' sure, freedom of speech is everyone’s right, but the one thing I feel is really important is: 'If you’re going to stab me, at least let me know who you are!' You can criticize my actions or voice your opinions about things you disagree with, but please 'have the guts to speak up openly'—show your identity and let everyone see where your sense of justice comes from.

And also, never lightly give up on your life.

You can choose to escape—but don’t give up on your life. You can quit your job, give up on love, cut off contact with anyone, and retreat to a quiet corner of the world for a while—because giving up your life means hurting everyone who loves you. Though I believe in that moment, you might forget how important they are. So go traveling. When you feel lost, go somewhere far, far away—to a place untouched by all this chaos... Take the time to reconnect with your heart. You should know that while anyone in the world may not like you, how can you not like yourself?!

Life often throws different kinds of challenges at us, and the more you care about others, the easier it is to get hurt. Perhaps we should rethink what 'caring' means—who exactly is it worth directing that care toward? Isn’t it okay to be a little selfish or a little domineering once in a while?

Okay, I rambled on again, didn’t I? XD Alright, this place, 'Cunzikou Military Village Cuisine,' is just an 8-minute walk from Taipei Arena, and it’s pretty easy to find. That evening, we arrived around 7 PM and were greeted by crowds of office workers heading home after work—it immediately won us over. Because this is clearly a dinner spot even locals flock to, which made it feel super authentic.

There were also wine promoters around, and a few tables looked like they were filled with colleagues gathering for a lively meal after work. The dining space isn’t huge, but not too small either—though tables filled up quickly, XD.

From the atmosphere outside to the vibe inside, everything really gave off strong 'military village' vibes. I think this must be a genuinely preserved and continued taste of 'military village culture'—and the aunties and grandmas were all super nice and straightforward. Following their rhythm really got my blood pumping. XD

There was a constant flow of customers. On an ordinary weekday evening, the place was packed to the brim—that alone was exciting. On the table was a mug of chili sauce—the flavor was super authentic. Must be something people from mainland China love, right? At least half my family’s heritage says so XD.

And the food came out pretty fast, too. From ordering to having everything on the table took only about 10–15 minutes. Also, I have to mention, there were quite a few dishes not listed on the menu—but I only found out about them when I asked the auntie. For example, the fried tofu I ordered turned out to be 'stinky tofu'!! XD We also got dumplings, stinky tofu, fried flatbread, and a bunch of side dishes. This stinky tofu was a bit different—it didn’t smell as strong, but it was still really fragrant, and it was stir-fried. How unique is that?!

The freshly sliced side dishes were all self-serve by the counter. The beef tripe and pig’s tail were both great—tender and chewy. You’ll just want to keep eating more and more. This next dish is the stir-fried flatbread—it’s almost like stir-fried scallion pancakes, kind of reminiscent of the scrambled egg noodle stir-fry you’d find on Zhongxiao Street. The egg flavor wrapped around the bread was delicious. But don’t be fooled by the portion size—it’s surprisingly filling, XD.

The dumplings were kind of a mix? I didn’t specify what flavors I wanted, and ended up with one leek dumpling and nine cabbage ones!! XD But being a leek lover, I still thought the leek ones tasted way better than the cabbage. So if you go, remember to ask about the flavors. But the dumpling wrappers were great—thick enough and super chewy. XD

After all the thoughts I shared earlier about recent feelings, I wanted to share this with you all—during these three days in Taipei, I didn’t take many photos. Instead, I spent more time soaking in the everyday pace of life in Taipei. And this 'Cunzikou Military Village Cuisine' is just near Taipei Arena. In a couple of days, I’ll share more about 'Meistay Taipei Arena'—I highly recommend noting down both spots if you’re coming to Taipei Arena for a concert. Great food, great stay, and a wonderful Taipei trip!

Cunzikou Military Village Cuisine:
No. 34, Lane 52, Alley 12, Section 3, Bade Road, Taipei City
02 2579 6455

[Enjoy life, don’t be bored. – Gui Xiaosun]