Chen Momomomo
Xiaolong soup dumplings, floating fish soup, roast duck, stinky tofu, pan-fried buns, radish cake, spicy... A variety of flavors are offered here. One customer praised, "It's great, the flavors are very unique." The dishes here highlight the distinctive characteristics of Kaohsiung, combining the freshness of local ingredients with traditional cooking methods. Whether you're sipping on soup or enjoying a skewer, every bite brings an authentic taste of the city.
Address: No. 292, Fuguo Road, Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 07-550-8265
Business Hours: 11:00–21:00
Closed: None
Chinju Waffle is the first in all of Kaohsiung to offer customized services, creating personalized waffles for each customer. Since 2016, the owner has been dedicated to decorating waffle platters with fruit jams. Starting with fixed designs, she gradually moved into full customization, spending three whole years honing her craft. Now, she even collaborates with the well-known H2O Hotel, making fruit jam art a trending sensation.
Chai Chai Milk Bubble
Oz’s Green Crystal Magic Wand
The service training at the shop is very thorough, and there are 6,800 five-star reviews on Facebook. Being friendly, kind, and empathetic is the owner’s service philosophy. She treats every customer as a friend, and over the years, has built up a loyal customer base. The owner’s warm smile and approachable attitude leave a deep impression. Just seeing the owner at Chinju Waffle can instantly lift your mood.
Bird Forest
Customized Plating
The store sells authentic Belgian waffles that vary with the seasons. Each season also introduces limited-time seasonal specials, such as the marshmallow series, matcha series, winter strawberry series, summer mango series, and year-round banana series, paired with handcrafted shaped marshmallows and malted milk candies.
Farm-Fresh Strawberry Pizza
Visiting Chinju Waffle is truly a fantastic four-sensory experience—taste, sight, surprise, and service. The food quality is well-maintained, and the belief that customer support is the greatest reward shines through. Whenever Chinju Waffle is mentioned, it always brings a smile to people’s faces.
Address: No. 80, Zhongzheng 4th Road, Qianjin District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 07-288-5252
Business Hours: 11:30–14:30, 17:30–21:30
Closed: Mondays
The shop name Gien Jia sounds similar to the Taiwanese phrase for "picky eater." It is a gastropub offering international cuisine and creative cocktails. Since its opening, it has gained a strong online reputation, often seen being checked in and shared by many, hence the classic line: “Come to Gien Jia, and you won’t be picky anymore.”
The building is formed by connecting two old traditional houses, retaining some of the original layout while integrating industrial-style artistic décor. The dining environment is uniquely designed, with distinctive spaces on both the first and second floors, making it a great spot for photos. The menu includes choices such as cold appetizers, hot appetizers, side dishes, pasta, risotto, main courses, soups
21-day dry-aged ribeye steak
Grilled vegetables
A must-try dessert is the 8-music cake roll. The chef crafts this unique local guava-flavored cake using the richly aromatic and distinctive guava, resulting in a smooth-textured, intensely fragrant specialty that has become the shop’s most iconic and popular signature item.
Recommended reading:
Daily soup of the day
Address: No. 132, South Second Road of Fine Arts, Gushan District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: (07) 5532100
Business hours: 11:30–15:00, 17:30–21:00
Closed: None
Head chef Master Ye Weizhi started as an apprentice and worked his way up to become a Western pastry chef. He has served as the dim sum head chef at Grand Hyatt Taipei and the dim sum supervisor at one-Michelin-starred Lei Garden in Singapore. He eventually opened “Di Tang Zi Chinese Dim Sum Specialist” in Kaohsiung, showcasing years of expertise and culinary artistry to the fullest.
Each dish is labor-intensive and time-consuming. From kneading the dough to preparing the fillings, Chef Ye personally handles every step of making even the tiniest Hong Kong-style dim sum, resulting in perfectly crafted “18-fold soup dumplings” and crispy, delicious “shredded radish puff pastry.”
Soup Dumplings
1 Fried Taro Strips with Pumpkin
In addition, there are artworks like the “Heavenly Net Pan-Fried Soup Dumplings” and the transparent-skinned “Crystal Mushroom and Chinese Cabbage Dumplings,” as well as the “Southern Star Heavenly Emperor Crystal Dumplings” dyed with butterfly pea flowers—each dish is truly praiseworthy.
Heavenly Net Pan-Fried Soup Dumplings
Crystal Mushroom and Chinese Cabbage Dumplings
Di Tang Zi’s menu is mainly divided into three categories: steamed, pan-fried, and deep-fried. Popular sweet treats include the Ice Fire Pineapple Bun and the Singapore Sourdough Toast. Chef Ye’s passion for cooking has earned high praise from diners, and the affordable prices make this the perfect spot for satisfying your dim sum cravings.
Recommended reading:
Braised BBQ Pork Buns
Address: No. 58, Nanhua Road, Xinxing District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: None
Business hours: 11:00–21:00
Closed: None
The Aiyu (fern seed) jelly stand at Nanhua Market has been a Kaohsiung fixture for over 50 years. The large blocks of aiyu placed in front of the small stall every day are very eye-catching. At just NT$20 per bowl, the cool and refreshing sensation clears away the summer heat, and the sweet-and-sour flavor leaves a lasting impression on many.
In the summer, you’ll see the owner continuously scooping out aiyu. Whether for dine-in or takeout, this affordable and delicious dessert is endlessly enjoyable. On a hot summer day, treat yourself to a bowl of aiyu jelly, and don’t forget to explore the Nanhua Sightseeing Shopping Street—you might just find some hidden treasures there too.
Address: No. 681, Mingcheng 3rd Road, Gushan District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 0952-122236
Business hours: 13:00–19:00
Closed: Mondays
Ah Hui’s Thick Scallion Pancake is a recently viral queue-worthy snack. Not calling ahead for a reservation might mean waiting from morning till night—and the long wait is absolutely justified. Making these thick scallion pancakes, from hand-kneading the dough to slow-frying them, is extremely time-consuming.
Although not easy to get, everyone who’s tried them sings their praises, saying the wait is well worth it. Especially for scallion lovers, Ah Hui’s Thick Scallion Pancakes are guaranteed to be satisfying. With the rich cheese inside, the diverse textures create a truly delicious experience. Priced at just NT$50, it’s an unbeatable value for money.
[Authorized reprint from Japan’s Kadokawa Corporation. Original article from “123 Must-Try Foods in Kaohsiung: IG Influencer Spots × Visual Restaurants × Classic Time-Honored Eateries – The Ultimate Guide to Tasty Check-ins!”]