In recent years, Kaohsiung has enjoyed something of a renaissance, with a huge boom in tourism and plenty of redevelopment throughout the city giving locals and tourists plenty of things to do here. So, it should come as no surprise that Taiwan‘s most prominent port city is now home to a wide variety of restaurants serving up a diverse range of cuisines. From traditional Sunday roasts to spicy Pakistani and Indian dishes, there’s something for everyone in Kaohsiung’s best restaurants.
The quintessential Sunday Roast | Courtesy of Conway's
If you like authentic English food, then Conway’s is one of the best places in the south of Taiwan to indulge in your culinary nostalgia. Steak and kidney pies, Yorkshire pudding, and the good old full English breakfast are all on the menu here and cooked to order. For many expats, it’s a trip down memory lane as they enjoy home-cooked meals just like mum used to make, while local customers are pleasantly surprised to find that British cuisine (at this place anyway) is seriously delicious. It’s a nice homely place with welcoming staff and owners that always seem to be smiling. A great spot for Sunday lunch.
It’s good ol’ American fare at Arkansas Diner where the owner (an Arkansas native) puts a lot of effort into his menu, focusing on offering authentic comfort food cooked to order. There’s a great atmosphere in this place, too, as the staff and some of the regular clientele are incredibly friendly and are particularly welcoming to out-of-towners. Pop in here for lunch and you could end up back again the very next day for more of the same. Best place in the city for that American staple, chicken and waffles.
Double Toulouse sausage with French-style sautéed potato cubes | Courtesy of Katiscafe
Mediterranean food is hard to come by in Taiwan, and good Mediterranean food is near impossible to find, so the people of Kaohsiung can count themselves lucky that they have a place like Katsicafe on their doorstep. There’s a fantastic menu with a little bit of everything on offer, including some classic European-style dishes and some great options for vegans. They also have some local craft beers on tap, making this an ideal spot not only for dinner but also a few drinks.
Beast Bar & Grill is another restaurant serving up classic American dishes, often with a little twist. Fancy some mac and cheese? Well, you can have mac and cheese rolls and even corn puppies. You’ll also struggle to find anywhere in the city that does a better burger or that offers more selections. The menu is more than extensive, it’s huge. So huge that you might have trouble nailing down your order.
Healthy eating at Yaletown Bistro | Courtesy of Yaletown Bistro
Canadian food doesn’t really have much of a reputation (good or bad) in Taiwan, so it’s good to see places like Yaletown Bistro doing their best to educate the hungry masses. Here you’ll find the best poutine in Kaohsiung and some intriguing items such as spicy maple syrup sauce and the house special coleslaw. But it’s not just the main course dishes that impress here, the desserts are pretty popular, too. Lava cake, banana bread, and even a berry cheesecake. Delectable stuff.
A trip to this Taiwanese restaurant is a memorable experience. The décor is truly stunning, and the entire restaurant has that classy five-star feel. Now, it’s not cheap, but it’s certainly worth paying a little extra to dine here. But the most fascinating thing about this place is the fact that there is no menu. You come in, sit down and eat whatever dishes the chefs have prepared for that day. It’s an interesting approach, and one that works very well especially with local customers.
The last restaurant on our list is certainly a place where lovers of all things spicy will want to visit at least once. Lahore Restaurant serves up some really good Pakistani and Indian food in a wonderfully warm atmosphere. Open for quite some time, this is one of the city’s culinary stalwarts and is as popular today as it was when it first opened its doors and still just as affordable. As many locals will attest, this is the number one spot for curry in Kaohsiung.
