Kaohsiung’s Japanese-style handmade meals: golden omelet rice & stovetop-brewed milk tea!

Text & photos byKaohsiung Food Map

(Photography: A-Xiong, Ryan / Text: Xiao Gao / Partial text provided by the owner of Hiraeth)

It turns out there's a hidden gem on the second floor—climb the stairs, and homesick souls arrive at 【Hiraeth Cafe】.

When missing someone, why not order a cup of copper coffee or stovetop hot milk tea? For those craving a hearty meal, try Japanese omelet rice or hand-patted hamburger steak. When friends reunite, go for the classic three-tier English afternoon tea!

The official name is 【Hiraeth】, not 【Haoju Suo】. From Marx’s perspective, he didn’t want “hao” (good) to be an adjective. “Haoju” (good gathering) is an ideology, while “suo” (place) refers to the venue we provide.

If the first-floor 【Snail House Coffee】 represents a kind of self-reflection and introspection, 【Hiraeth】 aims to convey the connections and gatherings between people. The English name “Hiraeth,” chosen by Marx, originally means nostalgia, mixed with longing, yearning, and the sorrow of things that can never be returned to. Just as life has both sunshine and darkness, Hiraeth corresponds to good gatherings, offering a place where fate brings people together. Whether the parting is good or not—that’s up to you.

*Hiraeth Cafe 100% Handmade Main Dishes*

【Authentic Japanese Omelet Rice】

Made with organic, toxin-free eggs, the fluffy omelet is freshly made. Guests cut it open themselves, letting it cascade like a blanket over the rice. The fried rice is stir-fried to order, with each grain separated by high heat, using premium Taiwan No. 9 rice. After cutting the omelet, a freshly made red wine sauce is poured over.

A single cut reveals the tender, half-cooked egg sliding down like a blanket, followed by a tangy, appetizing red wine mushroom sauce.

【Hand-Patted Japanese Hamburger Steak】

Hand-ground meat patties made purely from pork, with chef-selected, inspected pork sourced daily from the market. Paired with a freshly brewed red wine Japanese-style sauce. The rice is premium Taiwan No. 9.

【Handmade Hometown-Style Japanese-Western Set Meal】

The chef selects chicken daily from the market, paired with bell peppers and a special sauce, sautéed with garlic and spices to lock in the chicken’s tenderness. Combining Japanese techniques with Western essence, it’s full of hometown flavor. Unlike regular set meals, all side dishes are made fresh, with no cold plates. It also comes with premium Taiwan No. 9 rice.

【Japanese Matcha Strawberry Tea Towel Mousse】

【Three-Tier English Afternoon Tea】

First tier: Creative savory items (changes with the seasons).
Second tier: 1. Hand-baked pudding 2. Three cake options (Tiramisu / Plain cheesecake / Daily surprise).
Third tier: Three flavors of mini muffins.
**Afternoon tea includes a choice of two drinks.**

The fully handmade English afternoon tea’s third-tier mini muffins are adapted from the popular muffins at Snail House Coffee, redesigned into bite-sized versions with various flavors: blueberry cream, maple cream, and freshly baked caramel honey apple. Savory options include smoked salmon toast with yogurt, Provencal stew with toast, and bacon cheese sandwiches. All bread is from Yamazaki.

Copper coffee is the elegant, hipster-style café ware currently popular in Europe, America, Japan, and Korea.

【Copper Pot Stovetop-Brewed Milk Tea】

Two major tea lines, both available as stovetop-brewed milk tea.
A. Authentic Taiwanese teas: Alishan tea, Sun Moon Lake Ruby, Japanese Gyokuro, Oriental Beauty.
B. Twining British royal teas: Ceylon, Earl Grey, Darjeeling.

Café Ambience

Goodbye. The hiraeth cafe
Address: 2F, No. 1035, Yucheng Rd., Gushan District, Kaohsiung City (2F, Wojyu)  
Phone: (07)555-2530
Hours: Wed–Thu: 11:00–21:00 / Fri–Sat: 11:00–22:00 / Sun: 11:00–21:00 (Closed Mon & Tue)
Seating: 12 seats
Average spend: NT$350
Card payment: No
Private room: No
Service charge: No
Parking: No
Wi-Fi: Yes

Kaohsiung Food Map
Author introduction: Kaohsiung Food Map is run by Ah Hsiung and Xiao Gao, who share local southern Taiwanese cuisine and cultural flavors, as well as occasional travel spot introductions from around the region. They’ve tasted all kinds of signature dishes and captured beautiful scenery from various places to share Taiwan’s food and unique human warmth with everyone.
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