All-you-can-eat homemade cookies? A unique pet-friendly café hidden in an old house

Photos & Text /Orange Dog Loves Candy

I recently came across a news story about a walking path near Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The path was forcibly demolished by the government because the leasing business had altered the traditional architectural landscape, and they were restoring the Showa-era wooden building to its original state. Taiwan, on the other hand, seems to do the opposite—often tearing down historically significant buildings and replacing them with imitation old-style complexes for nostalgia. I’m somewhat relieved that the recent trend of renovating old houses has at least preserved many historic residences. These old buildings may not have much cultural value, but they help retain some memories of life in old Taiwan. Recently, I heard about this old-house café called 【Li Wu Liang Shui】 around Minquan Road and Mofan Street. Several friends who visited really liked it, which made me even more curious to check it out myself.

The area around Mofan Street in Taichung was once known as Yamato Village during the Japanese colonial period, featuring rows of Japanese-style buildings, most of which were residences for high-ranking officials and their families. These were mostly single-story Japanese homes, often with additional garden spaces. I mention this because 【Li Wu Liang Shui】 is one of the buildings that has survived from that era.

But its location is very hidden—it’s tucked away in a narrow alley between Daye Road and Lane 223 of Minquan Road. Who would’ve thought such a hidden gem existed? The dark blue iron gate was half-open, and the washed-stone wall edges were lined with a row of shattered glass for security (a common sight in old houses). As a kid, seeing such walls always made me wary—thinking there might be something scary inside, XDDDDD. Stepping into the small garden, this well-preserved Japanese-style wooden single-story house quietly hides within. I’d heard the place is usually busy, but on this rainy day, it was surprisingly empty.

With the whole shop empty, I finally had the chance to take some photos and explore. There are several seating areas, each with its own unique vibe. While preserving the old house’s beams and pillars, the space has been maximally designed and arranged. The most distinctive feature is that it feels like a big boy’s toy room, with all kinds of figurines—modern designs and vintage styles, big and small—gathered throughout this old house.

You might say it’s a shop, but it also feels like a home. Maybe it’s the stacked wooden feel... If you don’t look toward the bar counter, there’s also a small private room, which is actually quite spacious, with the unique tranquility of the alleyway... It’s a rare kind of space.

The owner is a laid-back and chatty young man. When work is done, he casually sits at the bar playing Monster Hunter, and his profile looks a lot like Li Bo’en’s freestyle look... No wonder he seems so familiar... XD

It’s this relaxed and easygoing atmosphere that makes it hard not to like the place. There’s also a Labrador named Bobby who works as the shop dog. He’s great with guests and loves to lounge around. Watching his lazy demeanor somehow makes time feel still and peaceful. Happily, this is also a pet-friendly café—you can bring your dog in!! But try not to let them roam freely. The overall scent of the space reminds me of Yier San Ting in Kaohsiung’s West District, with a somewhat similar atmosphere.

The menu is framed like a small photo frame. They don’t serve anything too fancy—coffee and drinks are the basics. More familiar customers will even help you adjust the sweetness and proportions carefully, but only when the shop is quiet and the owner has time. Among the dishes, the more unique ones are meat, egg, veggie noodles, and homemade cookies. The homemade cookies, in particular, are all-you-can-eat—a rather bold concept for an independent café, considering how many big eaters there are (just kidding).

【Coffee with Fresh Milk / 120 NT】
This one is interesting... They first bring out a wine glass filled with dark coffee ice cubes, along with two cans of Pocari Sweat milk. It’s a DIY-style drink where you can adjust the amount and ratio to your liking—tasty and fun. I’d suggest adding one can first, then the other, because adding both at once will make the glass too full.

【Half-Milk / 100 NT】
This one might be called this, but actually, the menu says “super milky heavy milk tea.” The owner adjusts the ratio based on preferences—sweetness and the amount of fresh milk. I quite like it, though.

【Li Wu Latte / 120 NT】
Different cups have different latte art—at least the two I got today had different designs. The other one had a wing pattern with a 3D feel, the milk foam was slightly warm, but the texture was soft and a bit loose... The coffee part had a rich, bitter flavor, with a lower milk ratio. I personally like this taste, but preferences vary, and I think it can be adjusted slightly.

【Meat, Egg, Veggie Noodles / 100 NT】
Such an oddly straightforward name—it’s basically a bowl of instant noodles with meat, egg, and veggies. There’s probably the equivalent of two packs of noodles, lots of cabbage, a half-boiled egg, and you can choose pork or beef for the meat. I got pork, but the owner said beef is better. Speaking of instant noodles, they’re truly an essential life tool for guys—whether pulling all-nighters studying, standing guard during military service, or feeling exhausted while traveling, just having a simple hot bowl of noodles, even without all the extra veggies and meat, is already incredibly satisfying... The noodles were quite chewy, even though I soaked them a bit longer. The broth wasn’t like the scallion beef or pork rib soup I usually have—I couldn’t tell which type of instant noodles they were, but they were actually pretty good. I’m not saying you have to order them, but I liked them.

【Homemade Cookies / 100 NT / All-you-can-eat but don’t feed Bobby】
The owner isn’t joking... All-you-can-eat is real, and no feeding Bobby is real. Feeding human food to dogs isn’t good for them...

What makes this old-house café likable, aside from the decor and furnishings, is the friendly and laid-back shop dog, especially his food-begging and lazy demeanor. But mainly, it’s the owner’s friendly, easygoing attitude that makes you feel stress-free here. The life of an old house isn’t just about what it sells (though that matters), I think it’s the warmth of the people that truly sustains the old house’s spirit. If you’re looking for a hidden gem to relax in the afternoon, this secluded Li Wu Liang Shui is a great choice.

◎ Shop Introduction: [Li Wu Liang Shui Old-House Café Minquan Road │ West District]
◎ Address: No. 10, Lane 233, Minquan Road, West District, Taichung City (next alley to Lao Yang Café)
◎ Phone: 04-23050702
◎ Business Hours: 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
◎ Note: No days off; pets allowed but please avoid letting them run on the floor

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