"Sea Overlord Hotpot" with directly delivered harbor seafood — an ultra-luxurious pot featuring two big crabs!

Text and photos byShadow

If you ask me what my first impression of this shop was, I’d answer without hesitation: the boss. The boss has a very straightforward personality, looks like a little boy on the outside but is actually a girl through and through. She looks quite young but has a wealth of experience — before this, she ran a street stall. This shop opened in early October, and during that time, they faced the challenge of not being able to hire servers. On the day we dined, the boss was juggling both server and chef duties, super busy.

Don’t let the boss’s bold personality fool you — you can tell there’s a little girl living inside her heart. The main color scheme is ocean blue, with a touch of fairy-tale elements. There aren’t many seats inside the restaurant, with most seating located in the arcade space.

Because there are no servers, you choose your seat freely. The blue walls paired with white tables and chairs give off a fresh vibe; I think it would be even better if the lighting were a bit brighter.

Due to the staff shortage, many dishes have been taken off the menu, but hot pot and stir-fried dishes remain. Rice, as well as drinks and other items, are available. Main meal prices are approximately between 238 yuan and 388 yuan.

Some of the ingredients for the stir-fried dishes come from the boss’s own farm, which raises poultry and grows pesticide-free vegetables. The seafood is freshly delivered straight from the A-Zhao-Liao Fishing Port.

For those who enjoy a drink, there’s also a drink menu at the back for your reference.

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.

The blackboard handwritten menu on the wall seems to be the same as the stir-fried dishes menu.

Sea Harbor Direct Delivery Sea Overlord Hotpot – NT$388 (choose one: white rice or glass noodles)

Understanding that the boss is the only one managing everything — greeting customers, cooking, and serving food — and that each dish is made to order and takes some time, diners need to be patient. The boss, aware that guests might have to wait, generously gives out little extras. Perhaps due to mutual understanding, no one complains; instead, they’re touched by the boss’s kind gestures.

The Sea Harbor Direct Delivery Sea Overlord Hotpot comes with two crabs, looking super luxurious. The seafood is freshly delivered from A-Zhao-Liao Fishing Port, undoubtedly fresh, and also includes several shrimp.

In addition to the seafood in the pot, it also comes with a plate of vegetables, a portion of meatballs, clams, one squid, plus a bowl of white rice. The portion is very generous, and all of this costs less than NT$400. The dish plate is actually a ceramic flowerpot — the shop is so creative, using a flower pot as a serving container.

Once you put the dish plate into the pot, it’s already packed to the brim. The various vegetables are all grown on the boss’s own farm, and the handmade meatballs have a bouncy texture, not inferior to those from big restaurants. The broth is rich in flavor, tasting like it has some satay sauce added, and gets saltier the longer it simmers.

Japanese-style Chicken and Egg Cutlet 258 yuan

The rice comes with side dishes and a bowl of miso soup, and is especially served on a thick wooden large round plate. The side dishes are simple, such as okra with sesame sauce, dried bonito tofu, and sautéed mushrooms. The flavors are not outstanding, but they are not bad either; the miso soup contains tofu and clams, and the broth can be a bit too salty.

At first glance, it looks similar to the authentic Chicken and Egg Cutlet rice, but there are some slight differences. There are not many pieces of chicken, but the meat is tender, and with the sauce, the flavor is sweet yet surprisingly delicious. Strictly speaking, the sauce and egg mixture on the rice is a bit sparse, not covering some parts of the white rice, which is the only minor drawback. But after the first bite, the sauce is well-balanced, rich and savory, greatly enhancing the overall rice dish.

Miso Pork – NT$180 (à la carte)

Suggestion for the shop: choose pork cuts with a bit of marbling, so it won’t be so dry.

Signature Baked Egg – NT$150 (à la carte)

The baked egg is fried to a fragrant crisp, and the sauce on top seems to be a mix of Thai sauce and doubanjiang, offering a sweet, salty, and slightly spicy flavor — a creative take.

Pineapple Ice Drill – NT$100, Lemon Plum – NT$95 (orders come with a drink under NT$90; pay the difference if over)

The pineapple in the Pineapple Ice Drill might be overly fermented, making its flavor clash a bit with the rest of the drink, which is a bit of a pity; the Lemon Plum tastes much better.

Finally, the shop’s homemade dessert may be just average in taste, but what’s touching is the boss’s thoughtfulness in making and serving their own dessert despite being so busy.

By the time this article is published, I wonder if the boss has found any help? Overall, the food isn’t bad and has its own character. Some ingredients come from the farm, ensuring safety and peace of mind for consumers. This small shop, with its friendly and sincere service, bridges the gap between staff and guests, making it feel like visiting a friend’s home. Even with limited staff, the boss works tirelessly, facing challenges but still striving to do their best — young people should have this kind of drive. A unique little shop like this welcomes everyone to be friends with the boss.

Little Elsa’s Dining Table
Address: No. 68, Minglun Road, Gushan District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 07-5522071
Business hours: 11:00~00:00
Day off: Tuesday

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