A family-run eatery tucked away in Tainan’s Fuzhong Street — it tastes just like home.

Text and photos byKui Xiao Sun

Before every trip to Tainan, I’d always ask my friends there for recommendations — or which places to avoid. XD I usually scout for tasty spots from these locals' hidden gems lists, whether they’re famous or lesser-known.

This habit comes from wanting to connect more deeply with Tainan and get closer to its flavors. Last March was my first visit there — and trust me, in just over a year, I’ve already been to Tainan six times now. I even suspect I know Tainan’s geography better than Taichung’s XD

Maybe it’s because of those grid-like vertical and horizontal streets that make it easy for this directionally-challenged person to find patterns. Or maybe I’ve unconsciously memorized the map of central and western Tainan all the way to Annan District in my head. ^~^

【Confucius Temple Fuzhong Street】 was a place we instantly loved on our first visit to Tainan, though that time was broad daylight at noon. I still remember that when we went, Baoge’s Stir-Fried Instant Noodles wasn’t open yet. This time it was open, but we didn’t plan to eat there XD The night lights cast over Fuzhong Street, where only a handful of people were around, actually made us love the street even more — it felt like the perfect place for a relaxing post-meal stroll.

This time, I came specifically to find 【Cube 立方体】, a spot that instantly caught my eye when a local friend posted about it on Facebook. But over time, I forgot its name. Luckily, they visited again recently, so I could quickly lock it in and go XD

Located in an alley next to the almond tea shop on Fuzhong Street, 【Cube 立方体】 is situated in a ground-floor residence. They creatively used the air vent opening and designed the shop sign with wooden boxes, perfectly embodying the 'cube' concept — low-key but exuding a really cute charm.

It wasn’t until we arrived that day that we noticed although the place had many seats indoors, more than half were taken up by two groups of young kids. It made me think — in central or northern Taiwan, young people usually pick lively spots for gatherings, like restaurants or cafes. But apparently, Tainan’s youth genuinely love their local culture, their family-style cooking, and cozy little shops filled with vintage decor.

Inside the house, some rooms have been turned into small private booths — blue, red — perfect for a fun group hangout. The ground-floor residence is cleverly decorated, with intentionally exposed red bricks, door frames, and Japanese-style room elements. The space feels expanded with a modern touch, yet still retains a nostalgic atmosphere. Animal horns hanging on the walls also add a hint of mystery. Interestingly, many diners seemed to be families from the neighborhood, showing this is truly a local favorite.

Since every corner was occupied — whether in the rooms or the Japanese-style area — I felt a bit shy about taking more detailed photos inside. But even this brief impression makes you want to sit here yourself, enjoying the cool air and good conversation ^~^

There were so many people that evening, we even had to wait outside for a while before getting a table. So a heads-up: if you plan to come, make a phone reservation. And if it’s busy, see if you can book a room seat directly.

While waiting for the group in the blue room to leave, I slipped in just before the owner had a chance to clean up. The comfy chairs in the room were set in front of the bed — just moments ago, a few youngsters had been sitting by the window, sipping tea and chatting.

There were also vintage collectibles around the room — a little wooden horse from childhood, a color-muted but charming old fan. The yellow lights overhead filtered through the air, casting a warm glow over the uniquely precious chairs as if they were sharing stories.

When the spot by the entrance that I really liked finally freed up, the two of us settled in. With green, white, and red chairs facing the window, it was the kind of view that could easily make you zone out into a daze.

I imagined spending an afternoon just sitting here, watching people come and go down the alley — it would surely clear your mind and bring you closer to your own heart. As I thought about it, I found myself envying such simple encounters. One day, I’ll come back again when the breeze is just right ~

With my back to the calligraphy written by the owner on the window and the cube illustration, I silently gave a mental thumbs-up. I love this hand-drawn vibe — it always feels a little more personal.

Looking at the simple menu, we chose the ‘remaining’ dishes of the night. Yep, quite a few popular items had sold out thanks to the earlier crowds XD In the end, we went with 【Rosemary Roast Chicken Leg】 and 【Homestyle Braised Pork with Potatoes】, both served with soup, side dishes, and a drink.

The moment this plate of side dishes was served, it immediately caught our eye — everything was fresh. The egg dish and green beans were hot, and the shredded chicken salad beside it looked glossy and fresh too. Just this one side dish had me sold. Especially that egg with ham and scallions — it was both pretty and delicious.

Next up was my order of 【Homestyle Braised Pork with Potatoes】 — this dish is definitely a dad’s favorite. I’d even say you could easily go through two bowls of rice with it.

The pork was braised ‘to the bone,’ tender but not mushy. The potatoes were smooth and flavorful, with some legumes and apple chunks added in. The broth had an incredibly inviting aroma.

It’s the kind of dish that makes you want to eat several bowls of rice — totally satisfying. XD

The soup that came with the meal — the owner mentioned it was made with chicken bones?! XD

There was no greasy feel from the meat, and with tomatoes and black pepper, it was a refreshing bowl of soup. It felt like the kind of thing that’d energize you first thing in the morning.

Then there was the 【Rosemary Roast Chicken Leg】 — I picked this after passing on the 【Rosemary Pork Tenderloin】. But the moment it arrived, the aroma of the chicken leg had us drooling. The little side salad (kiwi, cherry tomatoes) was super fresh and appetizing. The veggies included okra, baby corn, and cucumber — the meal didn’t feel overly meat-heavy at all. On the contrary, there were colorful fruits and veggies to balance it out XD

At this point, I vividly remember seeing a mom in the kitchen, probably in her fifties or sixties, wearing a cute headscarf, scurrying to the doorway to snip some mint. It instantly brightened my mood. This was truly the taste of ‘mom’s home cooking’ — absolutely enchanting.

We ordered black tea after the meal, and those two cups got me completely hooked. I couldn’t stop sipping, trying to figure out what made the tea so sweet — black sugar? Longan? Some magical secret ingredient? Each sip was pure bliss. Now I finally understand why my friend loves coming here for ‘tea’ XD

As we sipped our tea and chatted, the owner came over with 【Taro Skewers】 — since the place was so crowded that night and everyone had waited a bit, each table got this dessert treat.

The 【Taro Skewers】, still steaming with a hint of white vapor as they were served — no exaggeration, I’m not usually a fan of taro, but these had me going back for bite after bite. Even though they were still hot, we couldn’t stop eating because we discovered ‘longan’ inside, which masked the taro flavor so well we barely noticed it at all!! XD

We were so full from the main course that we truly thought we couldn’t eat dessert, yet our hearts felt so incredibly satisfied — it was like that warm feeling of being home, when your mom prepares a table full of delicious food, melting away inside us.

Our stomachs were stuffed, but our hearts were so incredibly fulfilled. It’s easy to find a good restaurant, but encountering a place that offers such selfless, motherly care? That’s rare.

Perhaps it’s because Tainan has this kind of magic, making it easy for people to give to one another; perhaps it’s because a friend recommended such a wonderful place, allowing us to feel that same happiness; or maybe there’s just always a group of people who love their land, love their friends, and cherish everyone around them.

【Cube 立方体】：
Address: 2F-2, No. 20, Lane 56, Alley 122, Kai Shan Rd., West Central District, Tainan City
Phone: 06-221-4059

About the author:［Enjoying life without boredom. By Xiao Sun］