A popular Japanese-style old house cafeteria in Taichung – Super savory crispy karaage chicken!

Text and photos by /Feitianxuan

Taichung West District Food: Xiaoye Cafeteria

I remember when I dined at “P+ House” with friends last year, the owner mentioned that the “Xiaoye Cafeteria” across from their restaurant was having its first trial run that day...

As it turned out, it took me more than half a year to finally come... Indeed, many things require a burst of motivation, and the older I get, the lazier I become. I’m really hesitant to go to restaurants that are packed on opening day—usually, I’ll wait until I see some good reviews before finding time to visit...

The exterior of “Xiaoye Cafeteria” is a renovated old house. Taichung has been all about giving old houses new life these past two years, but calling this an old house... well, it’s not really that old either. This Japanese-style decor feels fresh and comfortable...

What’s a bit special is... the main entrance of “Xiaoye Cafeteria” isn’t at the front but at the back, so you have to walk around the corridor to find the actual door!

Inside, there are many vintage collectibles. This record player reminded me of one my second uncle had when I was very little...

When I was a kid, we lived in a traditional three-section compound. After school, a bunch of kids would gather in the yard to play, and in the evening, you could hear the busy sounds of pots and pans cooking from every household. Back then, it didn’t feel special, but now I really miss those times...

With simple little decorations, the shelves are arranged into a cozy space. I love the collectibles displayed on the shelves—they’re so adorable!

Looking at the photos, I realized I forgot to order a drink. Otherwise, I really would’ve loved to try that watermelon soda!

The first floor has terrazzo flooring paired with wooden tables and chairs, giving off a simple and rustic retro vibe... Strangely enough, most customers in places like this tend to be female—I rarely see guys hanging out in such restaurants to eat... Most of my male friends are pretty straightforward about meals—their top priority is always: to be full. (Tsk tsk tsk... being full isn’t hard—you can get there with just two rice balls and stay full till evening!)

I remember that day I wasn’t in the best mood. I had to go out for something unavoidable, and after dealing with it, I just wanted to find a place to sit and relax. And... I really wanted to have a heartwarming meal. Yes, a meal... I usually prefer bread and noodles, and rarely eat rice, but it seems that when I’m feeling especially empty inside, I crave rice!

Help yourself to drinks... I also like this teacup—it has a strong Japanese vibe...

There’s also a dining area on the second floor. But since it was a weekday that day and there weren’t many diners, the second floor wasn’t open...

Menu... when you’re hungry, everything looks good, but unfortunately, I was alone, so my appetite was limited...

Karaage Chicken Set Meal - NT$300Served on a wooden plate, it has a bit of a Muji aesthetic, paired with rice, side dishes, and soup. At first glance, it looked clean and high-quality...

The karaage chicken was fragrant, with a crispy coating that wasn’t too greasy, and the chicken was tender and flavorful. I personally thought it was delicious!

The salad came with a simple vinaigrette, not a huge portion, but just enough to whet the appetite...

Sprinkle a bit more pepper and salt before eating...

The kelp miso soup had a refreshing taste, with a bit of rice bran added. I like miso soup, but I’m not a fan of kelp!

Simple side dishes—okra with sesame sauce, very refreshing...

I think this rice was amazing. I rarely finish a whole bowl of plain rice, but that day I actually polished it off. Afterwards, I felt a bit guilty about it...

Cute little kitty...

The atmosphere at “Xiaoye Cafeteria” is really nice—small, Japanese-style, and fresh. The portion sizes are a bit small, but the flavors are all great. At least I enjoyed my meal a lot!

Xiaoye Cafeteria
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Address: No. 17, Jingcheng 5th St., West District, Taichung City
Phone: (04)2327-0810
Business hours: 11:30–15:00; 17:30–21:00

Feitianxuan
I record my daily life—food, fun, joy, and sorrow—in a light-hearted style"锛br /> Blog、FB