The highly sought-after Cat’s Private Kitchen, fully booked until 2015, offers a relaxing, homely atmosphere just like being at home.

Text and photos byMazhi Little Rabbit

Simple, everyday home-style dishes, infused with care and creativity, deliver rich, layered flavors that evoke childhood memories, transforming into a blissful taste of happiness — this little joy is priceless...

%jituotujuyantuγchangmo/p>

"Pure Happiness" was my immediate feeling upon returning from my first visit to Cat’s Private Kitchen.

Claiming any connection to 【Cat’s Private Kitchen on the Roof】 would be a long story. (This article is about to get wordy again — please bear with me.)

Actually, I had heard about 【Cat’s Private Kitchen】 more than once. The owner’s sister, Ivy (Ivy Flower Lifestyle & Cozy Dwelling), and younger sister, Kumei (my sister’s high school best friend), are both good friends of mine in Tainan. Kumei even went to Taipei to learn how to be an assistant chef under her brother at Cat’s Private Kitchen. Although I had only heard from the sisters how popular the place was, I never paid much attention. (Truly, how ignorant of me!)

Until one day, our foodie friend Yunyun asked if anyone wanted to go eat at “Cat’s Private Kitchen.” But it was said to be extremely hard to get a reservation... That’s when it hit me — wasn’t this the place run by my good friend’s brother/sister? Maybe I could use some connections to ask around. (Thinking I could sneak in the back door.) Little did I know, things weren’t as simple as a fool might imagine. Even knowing sisters, brothers, or the Emperor himself wouldn’t help — sorry, reservations were already full until 2015...

What the heck!!! Who knew Cat’s Private Kitchen would be such a wildly popular hidden gem!! Realizing too late and failing to book a spot, I returned in tears, ready to apologize to everyone. All I could do was obediently join the waitlist and hope for a cancellation. Maybe next time, if fate allows... (Still bitter.)

Then one day, my friend Kumei called to say that Cat’s Private Kitchen was moving to a new location. The new address on Yixian Road was bigger and could accommodate two tables per meal (one table for 8–10 people, another for 10–16 people). I was finally allowed to make a reservation on the official opening day (following the rules), and so I finally made it to this dream-like private kitchen restaurant.

Originally located in their own apartment, the private dining spot 【Cat’s Private Kitchen】 could only host one group per meal — lunch or dinner (about 6–8 people each time). With endless praise, a constant stream of new customers, and loyal repeat visitors, it quickly became nearly impossible to get a reservation.

%jijiaojituo de zhuonong.

Owners Roy and Pangpang actually hope that guests feel like visiting friends at home — to relax and enjoy the dishes they’ve put heart and emotion into. That’s why dining here means slowing down.

%jiaquzhan de naipiha.

%jiamao de huanchen jiu shi zhu ren de shenying, ... de bupin, ... de huanjing, queshi goucheng le renmen xiang zhu zai zheli de yuanyin.

%ji zhuozi, zhongdao dajiaochu, manman de guo pan yu zahuozhong de canting, meili de xiao yuanzi... zhe jiushi rensheng a, rang wo ye haoxiang banlai zhu a.

%ji keyi he zhu ren yi qi suíbian liáo tian, ye keyi gen fu wu yuan yi qi kai wan xiao, meiyou lirun yaoli de yaoyan... (zhen de dang ni jia de suíxìng)

%ji ke yi cong pang zhu ren yi qi he cha, tamen de qingxu zong shi tebie tuo fu, wo men zhen de hen xihuan zhe zhong fangshi. (zhen de rang ni ganjue xiang zai jia yi yang)

%ji ke yi shuo zhu ren jia li de dongxi dou mai le hen duo, dan shi yi nian ye bu hui bai yi ci... (mingming yi nian bai bu dao yi ci, dongxi que mai yi da dui)<）

%ji jiao xiang yue shu you you lai wo jia li kan wo zai zuo fan de jingguo... (xianzai yi jing bu zai you na zhong xiwang le)

%ji jia li de ji zhuozi, zhuozi shang de cai, erqie mei ge cai dou you xiangtong de fengge, dan ye you gezhi de tese. (zhe ge zhen de hen you jia de ganjue)

%ji ke yi gen zhu ren yi qi canjia zuofa, wo men dou shi zai zi ji jia li xiang xiang ruhe zuo fan, ye you ren shuo zhe zhong fangshi hěn ziran, wo men dou hen xihuan. (zhen de rang ni ganjue xiang zai jia yi yang)

%ji mei ge ren de canju dou hen gezhong geyang, dan dou hen you jiating de wenhua.

%ji shi cao naiyou mo gu jie gua zha xia

%ji jia nai you mo gu jie gua zha xia, wai guo qing脆, nei bu ruan糯, jie gua de qingxin yu xianghe, chushi fangshi you chuangyi.
The shrimp are crispy and textured, while the zucchini adds an unexpectedly refreshing contrast.

%ji jia zhu yan gan As someone who loves pig liver, I never imagined it could be prepared like this. The first bite was genuinely surprising — it felt quite like eating a pork chop. The liver is seared fragrantly with just the right tenderness, and the orange juice gives it a refreshing tang — a very French-style dish.

%ji ji si qing la xia

%ji jia si qing la xia, wo men ben lai yi wei shi qing la xia, dan jie guo que shi yi zhong xin de changshi. jie guo que shi yi zhong xin de changshi. zhe dào cài zài wài mian hěn nán yù dào, yě méi yǒu shén me tèbié de fāngfǎ, dàn shì yǒu yì zhōng bù tóng de wèidào. zài zhège cài lǐ, yǒu yì zhōng bù tóng de fāngshì lái chǔlǐ si qīng, ràng rén gǎndào hěn xīnqí. zài chī guò zhège cài hòu, wǒ men dōu juéde hěn yǒu yìsi. (zhēn de hěn bù tóng, yě hěn yǒu yìsi)

% I was curious about what the signature dish was, and my heart was set on the beef tongue. But when it arrived, it turned out to be sesame oil chicken noodles...">

% I never expected the boss to serve us such a simple-looking dish... This is actually sesame oil chicken noodles..."><

% The portion was generous, and the thick soup with sesame oil chicken noodles might not look premium, but I really liked the simplicity of the dish. Even though it wasn't a creamy soup, the flavor was rich.">

% The sesame oil chicken noodles."> The authentic sesame oil chicken soup had a strong aroma from the aged ginger, but this soup seemed to have a touch of cream, making it smooth and not overly spicy. It had the texture of a rich sesame oil chicken soup—fragrant, thick, and delicious. Everyone couldn’t stop praising it; it probably deserved the title of Best Dish of the Day!

% I never thought the sesame oil chicken at this place could be this good. There wasn’t much of it, but it was very tasty. It wasn’t because I was starving either. The only downside was that there wasn’t much soup. Maybe some might think it’s just sesame oil chicken noodles with a fancier plating and sold at a higher price, but I felt the dish showed the chef’s care and creativity. (At least no one else would think of this!) The homely taste brought back childhood memories and filled me with happiness. I was in a great mood for a long time thanks to this soup and noodles.

% I’d rate it as quite sweet.">

Made by myself, the freshest, the honey is sweet but not cloying.">

% Plus; dried tomatoes made by myself.">

% The salad wasn’t too sour either. The dressing was light, yet layered, and the addition of sesame oil gave it an extra kick. I must say, the dressing was excellent.">

% My rating for this.">

% The lemonade here is refreshing and suits those who prefer less sweetness.">

% It’s time to share an embarrassing joke...XDDD (We’re really a bunch of silly people)">

% When our group ordered the cake, we were all imagining how amazing it would taste. The more we talked about it, the more excited we got.">

Just as everyone was full of anticipation, imagining how the cake would taste, the boss suddenly said: “This cake isn’t for you guys!” It felt like falling from heaven to hell in an instant. The atmosphere turned ice cold... sob, it turned out the table next to us had a birthday guest, and they had informed the boss in advance about the special celebration, which is why they got the cake... (crying)">

% I really wanted to eat that cake... (Cake... come back to me...)">

So remember to have a reason when making a reservation if you want cake!! Boss, my birthday is in six months, can I celebrate early!!!! (Being spoiled)">

% I’m still dreaming about that cake...QQ">

% We didn’t get any cake, but we did get free dessert, which is this."><）

% The freebie was: peanut butter mousse.">

% The mousse was light, and I wonder if the peanut butter was homemade?">

% I’m not sure, but the mousse itself was very smooth, unlike the ones you usually get.">

% The boss and the staff were also very warm and friendly, chatting with us and giving us tips.">

% In the end, the boss even offered to drive us back. Really??">

My thoughts:

To be honest, 【Cat’s Private Kitchen on the Roof】 isn’t cheap. At first, I was skeptical, especially since getting a reservation annoyed me a bit (every day was fully booked no matter when I asked). Before coming, I thought, you’d better be worth the wait. But after actually eating here, everything—from the ingredients, cooking techniques, presentation, to the ambiance—made diners feel the care, passion, and their commitment to a beautiful lifestyle. At least for me personally, the overall experience was very pleasant. This day made me feel happy and joyful, and I’m already looking forward to coming back. That’s why I immediately booked another slot.

Opinions are always two-sided, and this article purely reflects my personal experience for reference. If you don’t like it, then don’t go. Please don’t leave harsh comments. But if you do like Cat’s Private Kitchen, remember to book ahead!! Currently, the old location will turn into a brunch spot after March—we’re looking forward to that too. Lunch and dinner will be at the new Yat-sen location. Cat’s Private Kitchen’s five people + five cats will always warmly welcome you. (PS: I didn’t actually see any cats???)">

◎ Official Website: Cat’s Private Kitchen
◎ Facebook Page:Cat’s Private Kitchen
◎ Address: No. 9, Lane 32, Yixian Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City (Closer to MRT City Hall Station, Shilin Official Residence Station is also okay)
◎ Phone: 0961-173-451
◎ Price: Lunch 1500 TWD, Dinner 1800 TWD (only 2 reservation groups per meal)
 

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