Pon Pon Woo

Opened in 2020, this is the first outpost of Tokyo's famed restaurant Den outside of Japan. Exploring the vast repertoire of Taiwanese produce with traditional Japanese techniques, Sho serves a single menu including two signature dishes lifted from Den: a green salad made with 10+ local vegetables that have been fried, steamed, ground or pickled, and two versions of kamameshi, which may include local yam, Brussels sprouts and sakura shrimp.

The shop may have little ambiance to speak of, but it’s brightly lit and always spotless. Since its founding over 60 years ago, it has focused on two items only – peanut zongzi and kelp miso soup. The kitchen team at the back is always busy wrapping the signature sticky rice dumplings in bamboo leaves, to be steamed and topped with sauces and ground peanuts before served. Consider taking home some frozen zongzi, especially around Dragon Boat Festival.

Having honed his skills in some famous kitchens in Taiwan, Chef Kang, a Taipei native, chose to start his first venture in Kaohsiung. With an open kitchen and counter seats, the earth-toned room exudes warmth and understated elegance. The single set menu that is served features local and Japanese produce astutely prepared in Japanese-French style. The menu changes every season but always includes one course inspired by Kaohsiung culture.

Previously known as Pad Thai, this simple shop has generated a lot of buzz on social media since it opened in 2020. In the 2nd floor dining room, diners adore the exotic street vibe and the photogenic blue wall. Despite the name change, the mildly spicy and tangy fried noodle dish is still the must-try, which is truly perfect when paired with som tum, green papaya salad. The Thai coffee is also worth trying. Check its social media page for days off.

Beef Chief rose from humble beginnings in 1996 as a street stall selling beef soup. Now it serves shabu-shabu hotpot using freshly slaughtered beef shipped from Tainan daily. The amber soup base is made with beef bones, veggies and fruits, boasting subtle sweetness. Apart from being served in hotpot, beef cuts and offal are available as stir-fries – try stir-fried beef tendon. Excellent value and friendly service also explain its popularity.

This third-generation family business dates back to 1959 and its signature braised pork rice has been the favourite breakfast for generations of Kaohsiungese. Only the back cut is used, with pork skin and a layer of fat that give the dish a complex depth. Feel free to order shredded pork, dried fish floss, marinated tofu, or even a soft-boiled duck egg to go with the rice. It’s always busy and may close early when all food has sold out.

Now helmed by the second generation of the family, this well-known landmark of Taiwanese home-style cooking has been in business for over 60 years. Masterful control of heat and a dexterous use of sauces depict the food, most of which comes in three portion sizes. Hallmark dishes include stir-fried pork belly with garlic sprouts and stir-fried clams with mung bean sprouts. Wild-caught marine fish, braised or pan-fried, is also popular.