Fried chicken cutlet & crispy egg waffles—your ultimate pocket guide to must-try eats in Kaohsiung’s Xinxingjiang area

Text & photos byGui Xiaosun

Where can you go in Kaohsiung at night?! This Dragon Boat Festival, my intergenerational friend and I planned a little two-day trip～ Although the weather wasn’t on our side with almost daily rain, it was still so heartwarming to see the child happy just going out and escaping the pressure of schoolwork！XD That evening, we wandered through the ‘Xinxingjiang Commercial Area.’ Though we didn’t end up visiting the Italian restaurant ‘No. 4 Shop’ we’d had in mind, strolling and snacking around the area was still a lot of fun～ I wonder what everyone usually eats here? This time, I’d noted down a couple of spots from Instagram, and the one I was most eager to check out was ‘Moodo topokki spicy stir-fried rice cakes’！ I still remember that night with the three of us under two umbrellas, the sky going from dry to pouring rain, our feet soaked. There’s something I really love about being close friends with someone much younger—free from grown-up rules, letting her experience the world joyfully！^~^

As we wandered and paused in the ‘Xinxingjiang Commercial Area,’ the first place that caught our eye was this ‘Fried Chicken Cutlet,’ and we immediately joined the queue！XD And just as we were lining up, the rain started pouring down！ Everyone took shelter under the big umbrellas provided by the shop, and there was this sudden feeling of strangers becoming familiar～

This ‘Fried Chicken Cutlet’ shop was probably the busiest among the nearby ones. While waiting in line, I even noticed someone calling in an order！ When it was finally our turn after about ten minutes or so, seeing those steaming hot pieces of chicken cutlet in front of us made our mouths water uncontrollably～ XD Just look at how huge and thick these cutlets are！ The three of us shared one piece so we could save room for the other foods later！Haha！

One bite in, and it was seriously juicy！ Thick but not tough, and we had to keep an eye out for dripping chicken juice～ The crispy crust wasn’t too thick, so even if you don’t want to eat it, it peels off easily！ But personally, I love that crunchy texture—every bite is the delicious taste of classic Taiwanese chicken cutlets！Absolutely amazing！^~^

While we were in line, the ‘Hot Air Balloon Crispy Egg Waffles’ shop next door offered free samples！ As soon as we tried them, both my friend and my intergenerational buddy absolutely loved them, and they immediately asked my young friend to buy a serving to share～

Each egg waffle had a unique shape, with a crispy exterior and soft, tender inside！ The freshness of the eggs and milk made the waffles warm and incredibly tasty～ If you’re ever in the ‘Xinxingjiang Commercial Area’ and love egg waffles, don’t miss this spot！ It’s especially great for kids～XD

And finally, the one on my personal must-visit list: ‘Moodo topokki spicy stir-fried rice cakes’！ This place popped up when I searched Instagram for #Xinxingjiang. I was drawn in by the look of the shop from the outside, and since it’s right in the Xinxingjiang Commercial Area, I had to check it out！XD When we got there, it was pouring rain outside！ Luckily, it’s an indoor spot, so we could sit down and take our time enjoying the food～ It wasn’t until we were ordering that I realized this ‘Moodo topokki spicy stir-fried rice cakes’ is actually run by real Koreans！ The young staff had super obvious Korean accents！ Be sure to check the menu on the table—the very bottom says: “Shop opened by Kiki from Busan！” Getting to taste authentic Korean-style cooking was such a joy～ ^______^ /

The seating inside isn’t a lot, maybe around ten spots. The space is simple, comfy, and homey～ That cozy vibe made it feel like we were in a little neighborhood shop back home. We chatted leisurely and enjoyed the delicious food here！

That day, we ordered ‘Spicy Stir-Fried Rice Cakes + Fist Rice’ x1, Sweetened Condensed Milk Rice Cake Skewers x2, Banana Grain Milk, and Fruit Vinegar Soda～ As soon as the spicy stir-fried rice cakes + fist rice arrived, it immediately caught our attention！ To be honest, I hadn’t really thought about the ‘stir-fried’ part at first！ But after taking that first bite, I was blown away！ Turns out these rice cakes are pan-fried until they have a slight golden crust on the outside, then stir-fried with Korean chili sauce and other seasonings.

Each bite of the rice cake had a slightly crispy outer layer that was amazing！ The inside was soft, chewy, and had this rich flavor that got more delicious the more you chewed～ On the side, there were three scoops of fist rice that tasted just like home-cooked meals, plus a boiled egg. The fist rice was packed with seaweed flavor—perfect for breakfast！Definitely makes you feel happy！^~^

The fruit vinegar soda was refreshing and satisfying with every sip～ My intergenerational friend loves banana juice, and she finished her glass in no time！ I think banana + grain milk would make a great breakfast！XD

And then there were the sweetened condensed milk rice cake skewers. Each rice cake was also pan-fried before serving！ Topped with a generous drizzle of condensed milk and a little hot dog in the middle XD With that sweet condensed milk flavor, it’s perfect for kids！ Also great for anyone who doesn’t eat spicy food but still wants to try rice cakes. Once you’ve tried these ‘pan-fried rice cakes,’ you’ll definitely get hooked！ My friend still talks about how much she misses the amazing taste of that evening at ‘Moodo topokki spicy stir-fried rice cakes’！ ^____________^ /

Moodo topokki Spicy Stir-Fried Rice Cakes
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Address: No. 48, Lane 127, Wenhe 2nd Rd., Xinxing District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 0988 785 479
Business Hours: 15:00–22:30

Fried Chicken Cutlet
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Address: No. 168, Xintian Rd., Xinxing District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 0989 216 010
Business Hours: 14:00–00:00

Hot Air Balloon Crispy Egg Waffles
Address: Right next to the Fried Chicken Cutlet shop～

[Enjoy life, never boring. By Gui Xiaosun]、FB