Kaohsiung’s "Lee’s Trading Company" sells food? It serves healthy, locally-sourced brunches.

Text and photos by /Miss kitb

Even Google isn’t all-knowing—sometimes you need to use the secret trick of “asking friends.”

A netizen recommended Kaohsiung’s must-visit Lee’s Trading Company. Its name doesn’t sound like a restaurant, but a quick search revealed it’s a super popular brunch spot. They serve healthy, natural, locally-sourced brunches—that’s exactly my kind of food. I planned to go right when they opened, but I ended up oversleeping. And since it was their busy Saturday meat day, I had to wait in line for a bit.

Luckily, as a solo diner, I didn’t have to wait long and was seated at the counter within ten minutes. The restaurant doesn’t have many seats—just two large tables for around ten people, plus some counter-facing and wall-facing spots, totaling about twenty seats. The decor has a rustic vibe, with distinctive floor tiles, chairs, and hanging lamps, creating an overall lively atmosphere.

The water here is herbal-infused, not fruit-infused—brewed with a mix of herbs. It doesn’t have an overpowering taste, but it’s quite unique. The star dish is "I’m Stuffed" (NT$270), which includes French toast, bread, sautéed mushrooms, sausages, quinoa, smoked salmon or a handmade seasonal soup, a sunny-side-up egg, and a green salad. Just looking at the spread feels indulgent, and you get to try a bit of everything.

Another featured dish is the "Winter Picnic Basket" (NT$260). Their menu changes seasonally, divided into spring/summer and autumn/winter. So in winter, you’ll get a green salad, cheese, fruits, freshly squeezed juice, and homemade English muffins. There are also lighter options like creamy egg dishes, French toast, creamy mushroom salad, and yogurt mousse. For those who don’t like raw veggies, there are two meat-only dishes without lettuce or bread—very considerate.

All brunches come with a cup of black tea. Since I don’t eat meat, I asked them to replace the sausage with mushrooms. All meals are made to order, so there’s a short wait before they’re served.

The entire meal is served on a big wooden board, densely packed with various vegetables and fruits, almost like a little forest. The server suggested starting with the yogurt, so I went with that first. Normally, I might add honey or maple syrup to my yogurt, but I’d never thought of black sugar—it turned out surprisingly good. Because the black sugar didn’t fully dissolve, it gave a crystalline, almost mochi-like texture, similar to eating frozen tofu pudding with brown sugar. This is a trick I’ll definitely try at home.

In small glass bottles, there’s quinoa (I’ve recently been researching this health food, so I’m somewhat familiar with it). The quinoa is mixed with several other grains and tastes quite satisfying. The ratio is just right—not too dry or soggy. The only downside is that the rice and pasta bits stick together a bit. After that came the grilled mushrooms and greens, paired with a slice of bread. The flavors were well-balanced. Since everything required some assembly, it took a little time—but totally worth it.

This colorful, veggie-packed breakfast is exactly the kind I’d want to eat every day, haha. It was an enlightening morning.

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INFO
Lee’s Trading Company
Address: No. 133, Ersheng 2nd Road, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: +886-07-333-3836
Business Hours: 08:00 – 15:00 (Closed on Thursdays)
Facebook:Lee’s Trading Company

miss kitB
An unconventional creative soul, aka a “multi-functional cross-media freelance artist.” Finds inspiration in boredom and joy as life’s greatest asset. Eats breakfast daily and travels the Earth every day.
Blog:http://kitx.mysinablog.com/index.php