Eating and Drinking in Kaohsiung: Icing on the Cake

There’s not much convincing or pushing needed here: simply know that eating and drinking in Kaohsiung is quite a treat. When in the city, make sure to try out the many upscale restaurants and food joints within public markets and enjoy savoring fresh seafood dishes for only about NT$ 100-200 per plate or much less.

peanut-rice ball, delicious food, taiwan, kaohsiung — Delectable Peanut-Rice Ball

The most popular restaurants are in Cijin District, which is a tiny island off the coast of Kaohsiung. A few of the restaurants in the district that you might want to check out first are Flavor of the Sea Seafood Restaurant on Miao-chien Road, Wen-Chin Seafood Restaurant also on Miao-chien Road, Man-San Seafood Restaurant on Jhongjhou 2nd Road, and Riverside Seafood Restaurant on Chong-chou Road.

Those craving international dishes should check out other popular food places elsewhere in the city, such as The Spice Shop, an Indian restaurant serving ala carte on Mincheng 2nd Road; General Panchos, a Mexican restaurant in Zuoying, serving chili taquitos, tacos and burritos; The Pantheon for traditional Greek and Mediterranean foods, the most popular of which is their Gyro lunch; Smokey Joes, for European cuisine but a bit pricey; and an Italian restaurant, Mama Mia’s.

Meanwhile, two picturesque restaurants are the Bull Fighter Restaurant that offers a soothing view of the Love River from WuFu 3rd Road, and Escape 41, with a stunning coastline and sunset view from on top of a hill.

These are very good places to eat and drink – cheap drinks, inexpensive food, delicious entrées, clean surroundings, upscale ambiance, respective crew, and a relaxed atmosphere. However, if tourists and vacationers want to eat and drink as locals do and get an authentic cultural experience of day-to-day Kaohsiung, the place to be is at the local market. The most happening outdoor market is Liuhe Night Market. It is an evening bazaar that does not only sell hundreds of clothing and fashion accessories but also food, snacks and all sorts of native delicacies.

Have you tasted a peanut-rice ball before? Or did you even know that such a food exists? Have you ever eaten eel spaghetti? They are all available in the Liuhe Night Market, and much more. Other interesting snacks here are the salty seafood dumplings, shaved ice, steamed shrimps, and papaya milk. Liuhe Night market is often very busy and overcrowded, but unlike any other markets around Asia, Liuhe is outstandingly clean. Located near the train station on ZhongShan Road, Liuhe Street is a normal, quiet little street during the day.

Another night market is Pintung Minzu Night Market on Minzu Road. Like Liuhe, Pintung Minzu is often crowded and offers tasty snacks such as dumplings and sweet taro cake.

Dining in Kaohsiung is just one of the many reasons to visit this wealthy tourist city. Some of its popular tourist attractions are the lovely Love River, blissful Sizih Bay, Fisherman’s Wharf, trendy Urban Spotlight Arcade, Lotus Lake, amazing temples and pagodas, and tons of century-old structures such as the ChiHuo Lighthouse, ChiHou Fort and old British Consulate. The most sought after activities are shopping, cycling and hiking. Eating and drinking in Kaohsiung is just the delicious icing on the cake after you have enjoyed visiting the many city attractions.