A Nostalgic Old-House Restaurant in Tainan: The Super Flavorful “Tomato and Pickled Melon Pork” That Tastes Like Grandma’s Cooking

Text & Photos /A Man’s Daily Life
(Text: Man E. Photography: Man J)

At Xiao Man Canteen, you’ll find fish and meat dishes that serve up the homely, traditional flavors of Tainan—exactly what you miss most when you’re away from home.

Xiao Man Canteen is located in the recently bustling Zhengxing Street. Behind an unassuming wooden door on a quiet corner, where two chubby Zhengxing cats are pasted on either side, the old city’s aged house retains its original charm. The utensils used to set the table at home when we were kids, the green Tatung rice cooker that only existed in our moms’ houses, and the wooden cabinets still seen in our grandmas’ hometowns—all evoke memories. The cement walls are mottled and even slightly moldy, but the deeper we walk into the house, the stronger the indescribable sense of belonging becomes.

Xiao Man Canteen doesn’t have many seats, but there are enough. When you come here, you can always find your favorite nook. Separated by a white wall by the window, there's also a large round table in the back area that’s perfect for a group of seven or eight.

Xiao Man Canteen operates on a semi-self-service basis—you pick up your own water cup and utensils. Posters about various happenings in Taiwan are also displayed on the tables and walls.

Xiao Man Canteen is a menu-less eatery that offers daily set meals with homestyle flavors. According to the staff, the menu changes roughly every one to two weeks. A signboard listing the day’s set meals is placed outside the canteen, and each set meal is fixed at NT$360.

Meat and Fish Set Meal – NT$360

Stir-Fried Dried Cauliflower
Cold Mixed Royal Greens
Braised Cuttlefish with Pickled Melon
Tomato and Pickled Melon Pork
Pork Tripe Four-Gods Soup
Seasonal Drink
Dessert

Upon being seated, Xiao Man Canteen serves you a refreshing drink. On the day of our visit, it was kumquat lemonade—tangy, sweet, and perfect for beating the heat.

Tomato and Pickled Melon Pork

The super flavorful tomato and pickled melon pork comes with a halved braised duck egg, its oily richness just right—it’s exactly the kind of grandma’s old-school flavor we miss the most.

Cold Mixed Royal Greens

This simply stir-fried green royal greens is also bursting with aroma. Back at home, mom and grandma would always cook vegetables of all colors, saying that eating a variety of colors ensures better nutrition.

Stir-Fried Dried Cauliflower

This more intricate dish of stir-fried dried cauliflower is relatively rare in restaurants and is considered a homestyle side dish from the older generation. Its savory taste not only pairs perfectly with rice but also goes well with congee.

Braised Cuttlefish with Pickled Melon

Two to three thick, tender slices of cuttlefish paired with pickled melon, simply steamed to bring out the natural sweetness of the fish.

Pork Tripe Four-Gods Soup

A refreshing four-gods soup, packed with yam, pork tripe, and Job’s tears.

Purple Perilla with Chia Seeds

The dessert after the meal at Xiaoman Restaurant was chia seeds, which had a pleasantly smooth texture very similar to mountain yam beads, along with some dried mango strips at the bottom. The mildly sweet flavor was absolutely delicious.

Postscript

Eating at Xiaoman Restaurant, with its meat-and-fish combo meals offering the fiber and nutrition of imperial cuisine, the protein from fish, the starch from satisfying portions of white rice, plus the refreshing Four-Gods Soup, and the cooling golden lemon and sweet soup — this kind of homey balance that my mom always told me to aim for, I unexpectedly experienced during my travels. I wonder what other homely delights I’ll encounter next time I come back.

“Super super cute Xiaoman Restaurant store dog — Wulong”

Xiaoman Restaurant
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Address: No. 47, Section 3, Guohua Street, Tainan City (Back Building, across from Tai Cheng Fruit Store at the entrance of Zhengxing Street Lane 61)
Phone: 06 220 1088
Business Hours: Closed on Wednesdays; Open Monday – Sunday: 11:00 - 15:00 / 16:00 - 21:00
Note: No service charge / Cash only / Reservations available

Two men from Taipei
One thinks with the left brain, the other with the right.
Man E is a rational free spirit, Man J is a stubbornly spontaneous one.
When life is not crazy, it is not life.
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