Open only two days a week — bikers’ secret spot: New Taipei’s “container house” American diner

Text/Photos byA Man’s Daily Life
(Text by Man E, Photography by Man J)

Kick Cafe, open just six days a week (closed two days), is located in the outskirts of Xindian, New Taipei. Its exterior is decorated with shipping containers and corrugated metal, and inside, there are two or three dusty second-hand heavy motorcycles parked. Along the roadside, a large open area has been designated for outdoor seating, while the majority of the space is reserved for motorcycle and car parking. If you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, riding your beloved bike to Kick Cafe on the weekend makes it easy to find fellow riders. Today, however, we simply ordered a burger and a cola to enjoy the rare scenery of the outskirts.

Being somewhat far from the city center, most visitors to Kick Cafe arrive by motorcycle, with a few driving. Although it's considered deep in the mountains by urban standards, it’s still accessible by bus — take the Green 6 bus to Meizhi City Terminal, then walk about 10–15 minutes.

On a clear, cloudless Saturday, we walked along the road toward Kick Cafe, with the Xindian River and vast landscapes on one side. The cafe remains open even when it rains, and there are indoor seating options, though you’ll miss the sweeping mountain views.

Upon arriving at Kick Cafe, we first picked up the menu at the counter, then returned to our outdoor seats to decide before ordering at the counter. Aside from food service, everything else is self-service. The owner was out that day, so another female owner was bustling in the kitchen while kindly and calmly introducing things to us. There weren’t many customers, so our wait for food wasn’t long; but we noticed that with only the female owner as the chef, waits could be longer if the place gets busier.

Kick Cafe’s menu offers five types of burgers, priced between NT$190 and NT$360, as well as standalone fries and onion rings. Drinks include Italian coffee and a selection of cold and hot beverages such as cola and beer.

%妓ick Knight Beef Burger NT$190

The burger features grilled hand-patted beef and onions, topped with two thick kinds of cheese, tomato, and lettuce. It delivers rich meat and onion flavors. It’s a bit greasy and salty, but within acceptable limits. The fries served on the side are slightly salty, crispy, and delicious. Both of us felt that while the portion was modest, the overall taste was quite good. The restaurant also provides ketchup, mustard, and hot sauce for self-service.

%伎衫? NT$120 / Refillable, not shareable

Epilogue

Having moved here from Gongguan in October 2015, Kick Cafe is actually an old establishment that’s been around for over ten years. Originally a hybrid shop combining clothing, motorcycle parts, and American-style burgers, it decided to halt the clothing section two years ago and relocated to its current warehouse address, which was previously used for storing goods. Who would’ve thought that, nestled near mountains and a river in such a sparsely populated area, there’d be an American burger joint? Perhaps what draws people here isn’t just the burger, but the unique spirit of Taiwan’s biker culture.

Kick Cafe
Address: No. 1-1, Section 1, Xintan Road, Xindian District, New Taipei City
(Exit Xindian Station, take the Green 6 bus toward Meizhi City. Get off at the terminal and walk about 10–15 minutes to reach the cafe.)
Business Hours: Closed Mon–Fri / Sat–Sun: 12:00 – 21:00
Phone: 0939 105 249
FB : Kick Cafe / Website: Kick
No service charge / Cash only

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