"The Chef" Is All the Rage: Explore Tainan Through Movie Locations

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The movie "The Chef" continues to be a hit, not only sparking a craze for traditional banquet cuisine but also turning its filming locations into must-visit spots for fans. In fact, many scenes were shot in Tainan City, including the "Jiang Family Ancestral House" in Nansi District where the male lead cooks with Chef Ghost Head, the "Aifeng Snack Shop" in Central-West District where actress Lin Mei-xiu performs a sultry dance, and the large tree where the couple falls in love, located in the Tainan Canal Diamond District.

▲ In the movie "The Chef," the scene where the male lead cooks with Chef Ghost Head was filmed at the "Jiang Family Ancestral House" in Nansi District, Tainan. (Photo / Provided by Monkey King Integrated Marketing, please do not reproduce)

In recent years, the Tainan City Government has established a film and television resource center, offering subsidies for outstanding film and television production projects. After "The Chef" was released, its box office success also helped promote the southern "hand-cooked dishes" banquet culture and Tainan’s attractions, such as the location where Chef Fly cooks at Ren Shou Temple in Guiren District, the scene where the female lead’s motorcycle breaks down on the expressway in Liuying District, and the old banyan tree in the Tainan Canal Diamond District, a popular spot for the couple’s romantic moments.

▲ The "Aifeng Snack Shop" in the movie (left image) and its real-life counterpart (right image), located on Zhongxiao Street in Central-West District, Tainan. (Photo / (Left) Provided by Monkey King Integrated Marketing, please do not reproduce; (Right) fromthe Aifeng Snack Shop Facebook fan page)

The soul of the drama, "Puffing Sister," who "flirts shamelessly" at the Aifeng Snack Shop near the temple, is set in front of a Mazu temple on Zhongxiao Street in Central-West District, Tainan. The snack shop itself is a nearby residential house that had been vacant for years. After the movie aired, fans flocked to visit, and the 81-year-old homeowner, Grandma Lin, decided to open the first floor for public tours, showing great enthusiasm.

▲ The tree where the male and female leads share romantic moments is located near the Tainan Canal Diamond District. (Photo / Provided by Monkey King Integrated Marketing, please do not reproduce)

The city’s Tourism Bureau also plans to combine nearby attractions and local cuisine around the filming locations to launch a "Find the Scene" event, hoping to leverage the "The Chef" craze to promote local tourism.