Ancient-style barbecue in an old courtyard   Simple flavors with minimal sauce to highlight the natural taste of the food

▲ This “American beef” costs just 80 NT per portion — super delicious. Probably because the meat itself is high quality, and whether you eat it with the lettuce or without the sauce, it’s great. One bite and you get the aroma of the beef, but the lettuce also keeps it from being too heavy, making it refreshing and addictive — one bite after another.

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  Because I write on forums, I’ve met friends from all over, and the best part is getting direct recommendations from everyone on the board. Every time I see such enthusiastic responses, where people share spots they haven’t even been to themselves or didn’t know about, I’m deeply moved. Sometimes I realize I’m just a small player in these travel landscapes — many fans have been to more places than I imagined, with more detailed knowledge, and their hidden gems and secret spots far surpass my own.

Just because I enjoy sharing this content, I’m really thankful to everyone. Even though you know so much, you still take the time to visit my little world, and I’m even happier that you’re always generous in sharing with me. This place, “Old House 1933,” was recommended to me from a local’s list in Tainan. After searching online and seeing photos of the old courtyard and red lanterns, I immediately decided I had to come here.

Located on Beimen Road, “Old House 1933” is tucked away in an alley, but if you walk around a bit you’ll find the parking lot. Then just follow the glow of the red lanterns and you’re in the right place. Also, remember to make a reservation if possible — we only realized when leaving that there was a whole line of people waiting outside, which was really surprising.  

  Aside from the old courtyard’s traditional charm, what’s also amazing is the price!! It’s about on par with street-side barbecue stalls, yet it doesn’t fall short of professional barbecue joints at all.


  Order whatever you want, eat to your heart’s content — it’s almost impossible to break the bank XD. Everyone ordered a bunch, with zero worries, freely adding items and confirming orders. The owners even kindly reminded us to order everything we wanted in one go, because if we wanted to add later, due to the crowd, we’d have to wait quite a while.

  After ordering, I immediately grabbed my camera and wandered through the old house. This kind of old courtyard preserves the original structure of the old building, so each seating spot is tucked into different rooms.


  Of course, since some people were already sitting inside, I chose not to take photos of them specifically, so most shots avoided people and instead captured the atmosphere of the rooms — something I personally preferred.


  Hanging above are lanterns and old lights. The wooden doors of each room weren’t removed; instead, they became part of the story, giving each room its own unique vibe.




  At the very back of the house, there’s an outdoor seating area. I also noticed quite a few foreigners hanging out there — either coming specially, already familiar with the place, or foodies who knew it even better than I did. It made me excited to see what this restaurant had to offer. The backyard patio is definitely one of my favorite spots.

  The indoor and outdoor seating feels like having a front yard, backyard, living room, and various rooms — every little corner is full of charm for someone like me who loves taking photos. Coming earlier when it’s less crowded would probably let me capture more of the house’s stories.


  Of course, besides the ambiance, you also need to fill your stomach. First came the cold dishes: pickled bamboo shoots and onions. The bamboo shoots were naturally sweet with absolutely no bitterness, and super fresh — not pre-cut and just plated when served.


  The amount of dried bonito flakes given with the onions was extremely generous!! Look at that big pile on top XD. It’s my favorite side dish with barbecue — cuts through greasiness and adds freshness. We four adults polished it off in no time.

  The chicken skewers and pork skewers were both delicious. They use a simple grilling method with minimal sauce, and just looking at the color, you can tell they focus on bringing out the natural flavor of the ingredients.

 
  The simply grilled green peppers were my personal favorite — just lightly salted, with not even a hint of char on the surface. The rich aroma of the green peppers was amazing, and I loved them.


  Overnight-dried fish (yīyè gān)! Even my friend who loves fishing thought this fish was great. It had a tender, bouncy texture, wasn’t overly salty, and with a squeeze of fresh lemon, it was just the pure taste of the food.

  There was also this “dogfish crispy strip” — it actually tasted a bit like Japanese kamaboko (fish cake)! This was ordered by my friend, who’s also a foodie.






  The grilled chicken wings and grilled grass shrimp were basically served with their natural flavors. That’s my favorite style — I don’t like ending up with my mouth full of sauce flavor. Over the years, I’ve learned that grilling a good chicken wing is like making fried rice — basic, but not easy. It’s all about control over color and doneness. The grass shrimp were even bigger than we expected — this old house really delivers on quality. The value for money is incredible.




  We ordered so many items, and now as I write this with all the photos in front of me, I really want to go back and eat again. The food in Tainan is truly amazing — always leaving a lasting impression.


  The grilled clams were simply prepared with just a few slices of ginger, and the briny freshness of the freshly shucked shells!! XD


  And then there’s this: mother mackerel (mǔ xiāng yú), probably the most expensive item we ordered that day at 150 NT!! But it was absolutely worth it, because the moment it was served, the aroma had everyone reaching for their chopsticks.

  That’s right!! With chopsticks, they opened its belly for us to see!! XD Inside was packed with fish roe. The roe was perfectly grilled — once dried, it released this intense roe aroma, wafting through the white smoke and into our noses. It was the first time I’d had such plump mackerel. Just this one fish would bring me back again. That’s how much I’m recommending it!!


  A whole evening, dining and chatting with old friends in this old house, felt like gently and warmly etching the bond of friendship stroke by stroke. Some friends are meant for traveling, some for sharing, and some for doing anything together for life without even asking — because they always make you feel it’ll all work out.


  As we grow older, every step changes — responsibilities, love, children, life... the story moves forward, but it never takes away those who truly understand you. That’s what’s most precious. That day, we captured the atmosphere and food of this place as memories of this night in Tainan.

  Do you love Tainan like I do? I don’t know how many times I’ll come to Tainan this year or which places I’ll revisit, but I’ve already noted down several spots I want to check out next time!! XD I’m surprised at how quickly I’m planning again — barely left, and already thinking ahead. I guess Tainan has this magic that makes me want to come back again and again.


Author of this article:[Enjoy life without boredom. - Xiao Sun]

[Old House 1933]

Address:No. 27, Lane 51, Section 1, Beimen Road, West Central District, Tainan City
Contact Number:06 222 1466