Kaohsiung’s popular late-night snack spot – affordable grilled pork rice and freshly baked toast for just pocket change

Information:Kaohsiung Food Map

Photography / Ah Xiong, Text / Xiao Gao

This all-in-one eatery, centered around “dinner to late-night snacks,” is roughly divided into grilled pork rice, Danish-style freshly baked toast, grilled fish cakes, handmade fried items, and Kaohsiung locals’ favorite – pot-cooked spaghetti. Despite the wide variety, each section has its signature dish, setting it apart from typical street food stalls. For example, the 35 NT “grilled pork rice” features a top layer of Taiwan Livestock’s three-layer smoked ham, with its tender blend of fat and lean meat mixed into the white rice. The portion is just right, making it their current star item.

The “handmade pot-cooked spaghetti,” simmered in broth for a long time, includes handpicked shrimp and specialty meatballs. For dessert, the “Danish-style freshly baked toast” comes with chunky peanut butter and chocolate chips, baked to be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with an aromatic sweetness that’s almost a must-order for girls.

Some customers are also drawn here for the atmosphere. As soon as you walk in, you can sense how unique this place is. Though it serves everyday snacks and late-night food, the dining tables, chairs, and surrounding decor are quite playful and distinctive. It embraces a very nostalgic and cute retro style – a large replica fire truck welcomes guests at the entrance, the walls display alarms and small items only found on battleships, and there are quirky personal creations by the owner along with prints by well-known artists. The shop’s bold and distinctly local vibe hits you the moment you step inside.

Shop Trivia:Nearby shops might know that this place was once renamed. Its former name was “Da Lan X,” but it was changed after someone called 1999 to complain. When recalling this, the owner chuckled for a while and explained – it wasn’t meant to stir up discussion with the name. Rather, he truly believes that “doing things requires guts!” – to have the drive like firefighters or sailors out at sea (hence the related decor inside the store). Especially when selling food, one must dare to invest, dare to use quality ingredients, and dare to uphold honesty – which is why he originally chose Da Lan X as the shop name. Unfortunately, they were still forced to take it down, and later renamed it Happy Little Praise, so diners can leave with happiness and return again. The difference between the old and new names is huge, but it’s also a little anecdote from the shop’s founding days.

Shop Contact: (07) 338-6689 | Address: No. 500, Guangxi Road, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung City / Sānmín Branch: No. 254, Ying’an Street

[35 NT Special Sauce Grilled Pork Rice]

This slice of Taiwan Livestock’s three-layer smoked ham, with its mix of fat and lean, adds a tender texture to the white rice, paired with dried fish flakes and pickled radish. While the portion isn’t huge, even so, the 35 NT pocket-change price and well-proportioned serving make it their current star item.

[100 NT Rich Satay Pot-Cooked Spaghetti (also available in miso and curry flavors)]

The dish mainly highlights the aroma of handmade spaghetti soaked in daily-brewed broth. The chef says no MSG or broth powder is added. The large pot of bone broth is made from bones, vegetables, and onions – it’s actually limited to one batch per day and sold until it runs out. The filling includes two shrimp, shiitake mushroom meatballs, squid meatballs, specialty dumplings, plenty of shredded meat, and vegetables, finished with a spoonful of rich satay sauce for extra flavor.

[50 NT Danish Toast / Peanut Chocolate Flavor]

Made with specially selected handmade Danish bread, featuring Hokkaido butter, 20% egg yolk, and black and soy beans. When torn open, black beans and soybean bits are visible. Topped with a thick layer of chunky peanut butter and chocolate chips, it’s baked to be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with an aromatic sweetness that’s almost a must-order for girls.

[Crispy Fried Penghu Squid Rings – 80 NT]Freshly imported from Penghu, first coated in egg yolk then a light batter, testing the chef’s frying skills. The texture is juicy and chewy.

[Handmade Fried Assorted Section]

All are handmade, specially selected items: handmade fish cake slices 15 NT, basil fish cake slices 20 NT, squid strips 40 NT, pure swordfish and burdock 40 NT, thick-cut scallop and squid 40 NT.

[Handmade Fried Assorted Platter – 120 NT]Recommended to enjoy plain – each handmade item has its own unique flavor. The dipping sauces are shop-made, so adjust the sweet-spicy taste to your preference.

[Freshly Grilled Wild Scallops – 80 NT]One portion includes four wild scallops, grilled to bring out their natural umami juices.

[Freshly Grilled Boneless Chicken Leg – 80 NT]Homemade marinated chicken leg, bursting with the distinct aroma of rosemary and grilled chicken. Pair it with the free hot barley tea from the shop to cut through the richness.

[50 NT Handmade Assorted Oden]A variety of hot pot items, with the broth being daily-brewed, original-flavor, bone-based stock – no MSG or broth powder added.

Happy Little Praise
Store phone: (07) 338-6689
Main store address: No. 500, Guangxi Road, Qianzheng District, Kaohsiung City / Sanmin Branch: No. 254, Ying’an Street
Business hours: 17:00–00:00
Card payment: Not accepted
Private room: Not available
Seating capacity: 80 seats
Day off: Monday
WIFI: Available
Service charge: Not applied
Parking: Street parking or public basement parking lot of the park across the street, 30 NTD/hour.
Average spending: 100 NTD

Kaohsiung Food Map

Author introduction: Kaohsiung Food Map is shared by Ah Xiong and Xiao Gao, featuring local southern delicacies and cultural flavors. They also frequently introduce tourist attractions from various places, tasting signature dishes and capturing beautiful scenery to share Taiwan’s cuisine and unique human touch with everyone.

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