Kaohsiung’s popular honey toast café reopens as a private kitchen-style coffee shop!

Text & Photos /Shadow

Proco Café, once famous for its honey toast, took a short break before reopening at the end of February 2017. The owner, who previously ran the restaurant with her husband, now operates it solo due to differing work philosophies. Concerned about staffing shortages, she has shifted the café’s model to fully by-appointment service.

Dining by reservation feels like the concept of a private kitchen, but to me, it’s more like being invited to a friend’s home for a meal. When our booking time arrived, the owner opened the door for us. The dining area is on the second floor, up the stairs at the end of the hallway to the right. We’ve encountered this kind of operation model before, though each owner has a slightly different approach. The owner insists on running the café so she can take care of her young child while doing what she loves—making money is secondary. This left a deep impression on us.

The second floor is decorated in a quirky, general store style, with many eclectic elements adding warmth to the space. It’s a cozy place to dine, and since it’s by reservation only, the number of diners isn’t as high as in regular cafés—in fact, we pretty much had the place to ourselves that day.

While waiting for your food, there are books to read, and a low cabinet nearby holds tableware.

The owner said the menu features dishes that have always been popular with customers—it’s hard to single out a favorite. As first-time visitors, we simply ordered based on our personal taste preferences.

From brunch to standard lunch and dinner options, plus desserts like pancakes and drinks, the cuisine mainly includes Western and Japanese-style set meals.

Since the entire café is run by the owner alone, you need to order your meal when making a reservation to avoid long waits during your visit.

For an additional 70 NT$, you can get a bread roll and salad. The bread roll was quite good, and the salad included fruits, a small amount of nuts, and lettuce, topped with yogurt dressing—refreshingly light.

Garlic butter shrimp – 230 NT$.

Customers who’ve dined here before really enjoy the owner’s risotto. Though the plating is somewhat simple, the flavor is well-balanced, with a subtle garlic note and not overly rich in creaminess. The rice grains still have texture—not as soft as traditional risotto—and the overall taste is refreshing without being bland.

Miso-glazed fish & miso Sanuki udon – 220 NT$.

The miso soup has a delicate salty flavor, paired with healthy vegetables like broccoli, mushrooms, and baby corn. It comes with Q-textured Sanuki udon noodles for a refreshing soup-noodle experience.

The miso-glazed fish is made with swordfish—the flesh is firm and flavorful, with a nice miso aroma that isn’t overly salty.

Crispy fried chicken curry rice – 190 NT$.

The crispy fried chicken is well-seasoned, though the only downside is that the meat wasn’t separated during frying, resulting in a clump of fried chicken that affected the presentation. The curry sauce is rich and slightly spicy, making it very appetizing.

Half sweet pancake series – grilled pork pancake – 200 NT$A rather unique combination that caught our eye. We thought the grilled pork would be inside the pancake, but it was served on the side. The salad is dressed with a homemade peanut sauce by the owner—a very distinctive flavor pairing with the greens.

The grilled pork is flavorful and well-marinated. The only drawback is the white salad dressing poured directly on top, which slightly detracts from the visual appeal. Serving it in a small dish might enhance the overall presentation.

The pancake looks a bit more charred than usual. The owner explained that previous customers loved this slightly burnt style. It’s served with maple syrup, and the sweet glaze complements the chewy pancake texture, making it quite filling.

Original latte – 70 NT$ (left), honey lemon – 70 NT$ (right)The latte has a slightly bitter coffee taste, lacking the usual balanced flavor of a classic latte—quite a pity. The honey lemon drink, however, gets the sweetness and acidity just right, making it smooth and pleasant to drink.

The owner had no prior experience in the food industry and gradually learned to cook after opening her own shop. Despite taking breaks due to pregnancy or family reasons, her determination to chase her dream and start anew shows her strong willpower. The homemade dishes have a comforting, home-cooked taste, but improving flavor complexity, side dish variety, and plating techniques are areas for future growth. I’d say, don’t think of this as a typical restaurant—treat it like having a meal at a friend’s house, chatting with the owner. Isn’t that another kind of charm? Just remember to make a reservation before you go!

Proco Cafe
Address: No. 24, Guangfu 2nd St., Qianjin District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 07-2727768
Business Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Note: Reservations required for dining. Paid parking available in front of the café.

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