No reservations, only walk-ins — wait up to an hour for this soufflé

Text and photos byGui Xiaosun

I only found out about this dessert because a family member of mine can make it. The first time I had this hot-out-of-the-oven treat, it was such a novelty and a delightful surprise. Of course, I’m not someone who cooks, so I really don’t know how long certain dishes take to prepare. It seems I only know how to eat and how to look for good food. After trying the one my family made, I noticed that “soufflés” actually exist in stores. Then I tried one at Xiao Geng, and this time, seeing that there’s a shop that’s made it their signature dish, I was eager to give it a try. Last time I was pressed for time, but this time I came with my girls to see how it goes. Of course, let’s talk about “patience” first — if you don’t have at least one to two hours to spare, don’t bother coming, because reservations aren’t accepted, and you’ll have to wait on-site. If they call your number and you’re not there, the chance is gone. On weekends, the wait on-site is about 20–30 minutes at minimum, and even after you’re seated, you won’t get your soufflé right away. Each soufflé takes about 20–30 minutes to prepare. When it’s busy, it takes even longer, so the suggested dining time of 1.5 hours is really accurate — you do have to wait. So I’m sharing these “rules of the game” with everyone. Go only if you have the time to enjoy it slowly.

When you have to wait this long with kids, it’s really hard to explain. Especially since they wouldn’t let me leave a phone number to confirm we were still around at Xiaoximen — it felt like they really wanted us to stay right there. If I didn’t really want to try it, I probably wouldn’t have bothered at that moment, XD. But of course, who can resist good food? So I decided to give it another shot and see how it goes. Actually, Xiao Tongguo has four branches in Tainan, but this one just happened to be at Xiaoximen, and since we were planning to do some shopping, it caught my eye right away.

The little copper pot hanging at the bar is very pretty and eye-catching, serving as a simple symbol of the shop. They also sell macarons here, including mini ones about the size of a ten-yuan coin. The first floor of Xiaoximen is all food — it’s the complete opposite of a typical department store layout. There’s Starbucks and desserts here, though it’s not exactly a restaurant.

Almost everyone in the shop was female, which is something I’ve noticed without realizing when — whether it’s restaurants, brunch spots, afternoon tea, or dessert places, as long as the prices are a bit higher, it’s a women’s world. Once again proving: no women, no economy. XD The counter and flooring are quite beautiful, showcasing a European style generously. And the fresh fruits and veggies completely made me think — maybe displaying produce is more appealing than flowers right now.

As it turned out, my intergenerational friend wasn’t interested in the soufflé at all. It’s not that she hadn’t heard of it, but after trying it, she still wasn’t into it. So she ordered this “very rich” chocolate pie, and she said it was really rich, XD. And then her whole mouth and teeth turned chocolate-colored.

And this juice — apple and pineapple? Freshly squeezed. The little girl said it was really good. Its round shape caught my eye right away, and I noticed that the drink cups at Xiao Tongguo are all so cute. I even sneak peeks at other tables’ cups — it seems each one has its own purpose. Like the one from another table that I ended up ordering — it’s specially designed for milk tea. There are also different ones for smoothies.

Hot cappuccino, with a stick of cinnamon next to it. The first time I saw cinnamon given as an actual stick. Of course, the prices at Xiao Tongguo aren’t exactly cheap, but this cappuccino really won me over. On the other hand, the Little Prince Milk Tea I ordered had a strange flavor — not really my thing.

Then, the main event arrived!! We waited about 40–50 minutes for this — roughly another 20–30 minutes after being seated, XD. Actually, most readers probably know that I’m not usually the type to go to a place just for a “dessert.” I’d say I’m quite picky, and maybe I prefer savory over sweet in some ways, so desserts haven’t really been my thing. But after trying the one my family made, I fell in love with it.

The staff will tell you how to eat it once it’s served. Eating it plain or with the accompanying sauces or ice cream is all great. Of course, the aroma totally captivated us again as soon as it was placed on the table — that’s definitely the scent of a “soufflé,” no mistake about it.

From any angle, it looks like it’s overflowing from the walls of the little copper pot, as if it might deflate if you don’t eat it quickly. And indeed, soufflés must be eaten right away, while hot, to enjoy their full deliciousness. If I had to describe it, it has layers like a “steamed egg” — very soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture. It may look like a simple steamed cake, but having tried soufflés three or four times now, I’ve found each one has its own unique charm.

The overflowing soufflé — the handle of the little copper pot gets really hot, so they put a “sleeve” on it. The cutest one I’ve seen so far is probably the one at Xiao Geng in Taichung. The one at Xiao Tongguo in Tainan is a bit more understated, looking more like it’s wrapped in non-woven fabric. Actually, the hole you see now was made by me — it didn’t have one originally. Why? Because the server told us to dig all the way to the bottom with a spoon and scoop it up — that way, you get the multi-layered texture.

Last time I came, I was pressed for time. This time, with the kids, she didn’t really get the appeal of this delicacy, XD. So the two adults very guiltily each had a serving. It was definitely worth the wait, but I have to say my family’s version is still better, XD. What’s their secret recipe? I have no idea.　

If you have about two hours to spare, you can sit back slowly, whether you’re a woman or a girl, and spend an afternoon with your favorite food. I think that’s the simplest kind of happiness.


Author of this article:[Enjoy life, don’t be bored. Gui Xiaosun]

【Xiao Tongguo】

Address: No. 658-1, Section 1, Ximen Rd., West Central District, Tainan City

Phone: 06 215 3989