While I was on a deep dive searching online for food in Kaohsiung, the same dishes kept popping up in my search results. I realized a few typical Southern Taiwanese dishes are very popular in Kaohsiung. So, I spent more than a month eating around the city and compiled a list of all the famous food and the best restaurants in Kaohsiung.
If you are a foodie and want a comprehensive Kaohsiung food guide, look no further. Keep reading and learn all about the best foods to eat in Kaohsiung and where to find them.
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Kaohsiung Food Guide: what you need to know
Before trying all the best food in Kaohsiung, check out my post on all the best tips for travelling to Taiwan. I included information like how to get a Taiwan prepaid SIM card, transportation around the country, etc.
Plus, I have a solo travel guide on Kaohsiung for those who have never been to the city.
Here are a few additional tips for eating in Kaohsiung:
- Most Kaohsiung restaurants accept cash only, especially tiny mom-and-pop local restaurants and food stalls at the night market.
- Food portion is typically quite small compared to North American standards. But the good news is you can order several and try different food!
- Check the hours of operation when you eat in Kaohsiung. Some restaurants are open for a few hours for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; others are closed on certain days.
- Ordering food is easy. Most restaurants have the menu on a piece of paper. First, find a seat, select what you want to eat, pay, and then they will bring the food to you. Use Google Translate to translate the menu.
- Tipping is not required in Taiwan.
- Note: Some of these restaurants do not have English names. I described them as much as possible and included the Chinese name of the restaurant.
Best Kaohsiung Food: 7 Food to try in Kaohsiung
In this section, I have compiled a summary of the best food to try in Kaohsiung. This is a quick guide for finding what to eat in Kaohsiung. When you scroll down, I include a more detailed explanation of each Kaohsiung food and other Taiwanese foods.
Here is a quick summary of all the food you should try in Kaohsiung:
- Duck Rice 鴨肉飯 – duck meat (and minced pork) over rice
- Minced Pork Rice 肉燥飯 – Taiwanese braised pork over rice
- Beef Noodles 牛肉麵 – Taiwanese beef noodles with or without soup
- Milkfish 虱目鱼 – a silvery marine fish used for soup and porridge
- Swordfish Ball Soup 旗魚丸湯 and Swordfish Tempura 旗魚黑輪 – clear soup with swordfish balls and deep-fried swordfish paste
- Tube Rice Pudding 筒仔米糕 and Sticky Rice Dumpling 粽子 – glutinous rice mixture steamed in a bamboo tube and triangle-shaped dumpling made with glutinous rice
- Ginger Tomato 薑汁番茄 – heirloom tomato wedges and ginger dipping sauce
Kaohsiung Restaurants Map
I listed all the Kaohsiung restaurants and eateries under each food category. Scroll down to see the hours of operation and description of each place to eat. If you click on the hyperlink for each restaurant, it will bring you to the location on Google Maps.
Also, I have included an interactive map of all the restaurants mentioned below so you can easily find the location of each eatery.
7 Kaohsiung Food & 37 Kaohsiung Restaurants
1. Duck Rice 鴨肉飯
What is Duck Rice: slices of roast duck meat (usually including minced pork) served on top of steamed rice. Typically, duck restaurants also serve a plate of sliced duck, duck soup and other duck parts.
Where to eat Duck Rice in Kaohsiung:
- Duck Zhen 鴨肉珍 (10am-8:20pm; closed Tuesdays) – get a bowl of duck rice (which includes minced pork) at this popular (and always busy) Michelin restaurant. The queue at the newer Duck Zhen location (10am-8pm; closed Thursdays) is shorter.
- Cheng Tsung Duck Rice 正宗鴨肉飯 (11am-8:30pm; closed Fridays) – I really liked the duck leg rice (available in limited quantity each day) and veggies from this Michelin Bib Gourmand recommended restaurant. Lovely staff.
- Duck Rice and Noodles 鴨肉和 (10:30am-8pm; closed Mondays) – they serve duck rice, duck noodles and duck in ginseng herbal soup.
- Duck Rice 趕鴨子上桌 (11am-1:30pm & 5-8pm) – a modern duck restaurant that has boneless duck rice bowl on the menu. It comes with cucumber, bamboo shoot and egg.
3. Minced Pork Rice 肉燥飯
What is Minced Pork Rice: pork belly braised in soy sauce, Shaoxing wine and sugar then served over steamed white rice. In Southern Taiwan, the dish is made with diced pork belly instead of a large piece of pork.
Where to eat Minced Pork Rice in Kaohsiung:
- Cianjin Braised Pork Rice 前金肉燥飯 (7:15am-5:30pm Monday to Friday; closed Saturdays & Sundays) – a popular and affordable Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant. Get minced pork rice with shredded pork, dried fish floss and fried duck egg. They also serve swordfish ball soup and milkfish soup.
- Hung Chi Rice Shop 弘記肉燥飯舖 (11:30am-3pm & 4:30-10pm) – a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant specializing in minced pork rice. Also, excellent soups and small side dishes.
- Bo Home 老店柏弘肉燥 (5pm-12:20am) – the Michelin resto is busy on the weekend. Try to go early on a weekday and try the delicious minced pork rice with braised pork hog and milkfish soup. Or go to the new Yancheng location (11am-3pm & 5-9pm; closed Tuesdays).
3. Beef Noodles 牛肉麵
What is Beef Noodles: a bowl of tender pieces of beef and bouncy noodles. Get a bowl with or without beef soup stock. This classic Taiwanese food can be found all over Taiwan but it is said to have originated in Kaohsiung.
Best restaurants for Beef Noodles in Kaohsiung:
- Gang Yuan Beef Noodle Restaurant 港園牛肉麵 (10:30am-8pm) – a popular beef noodle restaurant in Yancheng District. Get a bowl of beef noodles, pork noodles or pork knuckle noodles with or without soup.
- Ming Bang Gang Yuan Beef Noodle Restaurant 銘邦港園牛肉麵 (10:30am-9pm) – also in Yancheng District, get beef noodles, pork noodles or pork knuckle noodles with or without soup.
- Lung Fang Beef Noodles 龍舫牛肉麵疙瘩 (11am-2pm & 4-7:40pm; closed Sundays) – an excellent beef noodle restaurant in the Sanduo Shopping District.
4. Milkfish 虱目鱼
What is Milkfish: a silvery marine fish with a firm texture and a mild sweet taste. It is Taiwan’s national delicacy and a popular choice for breakfast. Try milkfish soup, milkfish porridge and fried milkfish paste.
Best places to eat Milkfish in Kaohsiung:
- Milkfish Rice Noodle Soup 大溝頂虱目魚米粉湯 (5:30am-1:30pm) – locals love this spot for breakfast and lunch. Try the milkfish paste noodles and fried milkfish paste. Lovely staff.
- Lao Chai Milkfish Porridge 老蔡虱目魚粥 (6am-1:30pm; closed Mondays) – they serve all types of porridge but definitely try one with milkfish. Also have different side dishes and soups.
- Bo Home 老店柏弘肉燥 (5pm-1am) – as mentioned, try their Michelin minced pork rice and milkfish soup.
5. Swordfish Ball Soup 旗魚丸湯 and Swordfish Tempura 旗魚黑輪
What is Swordfish Ball Soup: swordfish paste rolled into a ball shape and is boiled in clear soup broth.
What is Swordfish Tempura: deep-fried swordfish paste (by itself or with other ingredients like burdock, cheese, etc). A popular street food on Cijin Island and Kaohsiung.
Where to eat Swordfish in Kaohsiung:
- Rice Bowl Cake 小南碗粿 (8am-6:30pm; closed Tuesdays) – famous for their rice cake in a bowl (steamed bowl of rice paste with ingredients), swordfish ball soup and rice dumpling.
- Fish Ball Soup 王記魚丸旗魚丸 (9:30am-8pm) – known for their swordfish ball and fish ball soup. Also serve minced pork rice.
- Yama Ichi 山壹旗魚 (8am-12pm Tuesday to Thursday; 8am-12pm & 5-8pm Friday to Sunday) – has been around for more than 70 years, making and distributing fried swordfish paste. Super delicious!
- Swordfish Tempura 旗津昌記旗魚黑輪 (11am-6pm Saturdays & Sundays) – try the deep-fried swordfish paste with or without cheese.
6. Tube Rice Pudding 筒仔米糕 and Sticky Rice Dumpling 粽子
What is Tube Rice Pudding: seasoned stir-fried glutinous rice (sticky rice) mixture steamed in a bamboo tube (or stainless steel tube). Then the rice is popped out of the tube which results in the cylindrical shape.
What is Sticky Rice Dumpling: or Zongzi, is a triangle-shaped dumpling made with glutinous rice and different fillings. All the ingredients are wrapped in bamboo leaves and then steamed to perfection. It is commonly served during the Dragon Boat Festival.
Best places to eat Tube Rice and Sticky Rice Dumpling in Kaohsiung:
- Bei Gang Tsai Rice Tube 北港蔡三代筒仔米糕 (12-8pm; closed Wednesdays) – the Michelin Bib Gourmand tube rice is a must-try. Also, try the steamed egg soup.
- Mi Yuan Tzu Steamed Glutinous Rice 米院子油飯 – (10:45am-5pm; closed Mondays & Sundays) – only glutinous rice and several soups are on the menu at this Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant. Go early – they close when food is sold out.
- Rice Bowl Cake 小南碗粿 (8:30am-6:30pm; closed Tuesdays) – famous for its rice bowl cake, swordfish ball soup and rice dumplings.
- Caizong Li 菜粽李粽店 (6:30am-6:30pm) – they only sell rice dumplings at this Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant. Friendliest and nicest staff.
7. Ginger Tomato 薑汁番茄
What is Ginger Tomato: a popular southern Taiwanese street food that consists of heirloom tomato wedges and a bowl of dipping sauce made with grated ginger, soy sauce and sugar. Sounds odd, but the flavour of the tomato and sauce goes really well together.
Where to eat Ginger Tomato in Kaohsiung:
- Po Po Ice 高雄婆婆冰 (10am-11:30pm; closed Tuesdays) – the shop primarily sells Taiwanese shaved ice desserts, but they also have tomato and ginger dipping sauce.
- Tomato Shop 傳統古早味番茄切盤商店 (9:30am-6pm Monday to Friday; 11am-6:30pm Saturday to Sunday) – they serve tomato slices, tomato juice and other fruit juices.
- Dessert shops on Cijin Old Street on Cijin Island
Other must-eat food in Kaohsiung & Places to Eat
Besides all the unique food Kaohsiung is known for, there are other typical Taiwanese foods in Kaohsiung City that you should check out.
1. Taiwanese Breakfast
- Xing Long Ju 興隆居 (4:30-11:30am Wednesday to Sunday) – there’s a long queue every morning for this popular breakfast joint. Steamed pork bun, sesame flatbread sandwiches, and soy milk are all delicious.
- Guo Mao Lai Lai Soy Milk Shop 果貿來來豆漿 (4-11am; closed Tuesdays) – lots of baked and steamed breakfast buns to choose from. All very affordable.
- Lao Chiang 老江紅茶牛奶 (24 hours) – get a breakfast sandwich or egg roll any time of the day. Lao Chiang has several locations in Kaohsiung.
- Taiwanese Breakfast 林記豆漿店 (5pm-1am; closed Sundays) – restaurant serving Taiwanese breakfast food that is only open at night. Try egg rolls, sesame flatbread sandwiches, dumplings and soy milk.
2. Local Favourite Restaurants in Kaohsiung
- Shanghai Sheng Jian Bun 上海生煎湯包 (11:30am-2:30pm & 3:30-8pm; closed Mondays & Sundays) – locals love the pan-fried stuffed buns and green been noodles with beancurd puff and pork rolls.
- Nuzi Jiao Zi 女子餃子 (11am-6:30pm; closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays) – I really like the cheese pan-fried dumplings with special Osaka toppings.
- Three Generations Spring Roll 60年三代春捲 (9:15am-6pm) – try the chicken popiah (Taiwanese spring roll), rice dumpling, bowl cake and soup.
- Hou De Fu Soup Dumplings and Noodles 厚得福湯包麵食專賣店 (11am-8:30pm) – popular restaurant with free flow tea and soy milk. I tried the pan-fried beef pie and shrimp and pork dumplings with vinegar and chili oil.
- Wontons 汾陽餛飩 (9am-8pm; closed Tuesdays) – try their wontons and mochi pork ball in soup and chilli oil hand-cut noodles.
- Tianbula 口福黑輪 (11am-1am) – delicious Tianbula or Taiwanese oden (Japanese one-pot dish cooking ingredients with light soy-flavoured broth). Also, try the barbecue sausage and fish cake.
3. Taiwanese Desserts in Kaohsiung
- Yancheng Wang’s Handmade Tofu Pudding 王家手工豆花 (11:30am-8:30pm) – famous for their tofu dessert. Try one with tapioca or kumquat.
- Po Po Ice 高雄婆婆冰 (10-12am; closed Tuesdays) – besides trying the tomato and ginger sauce, they have many types of shaved ice desserts.
- Cakes 不二緻果 (9am-9pm) – Jiasian District (north of Kaohsiung City) is the home of taro. This cake shop sells many types of taro desserts. I tried the taro bomb (puff pastry with taro) and it was delish!
- Sunny Hills 微熱山丘 (10am-6pm) – tourists can try their pineapple cake and tea for free.
4. Drinks in Kaohsiung
- Shuang Fei Milk Tea 双妃奶茶 (9am-9pm) – my favourite bubble tea shop on Milk Tea Street (Sinle Street) in Yancheng District. Tapioca is free with purchase. English menu available.
- Hwa Da Milk 樺達奶茶 (9am-10pm) – this is the original location for this bubble tea shop, and it’s right on Milk Tea Street. But there are other locations in Kaohsiung and in Taipei as well.
- Almond Tea 五十年杏仁茶 (6pm-3:30am; closed Mondays & Sundays) – good place for a late night almond drink and snacks.
Which Kaohsiung restaurants are you most excited to try?
If you are staying in Kaohsiung for a few days, you can easily try many of these local specialties since portion size in Taiwan is generally quite small.
And, when you use this food guide, you can quickly look at which Kaohsiung food you want to try and select the places you want to try the local specialty.
So the big question is – which of these Kaohsiung restaurants are you going to? Let me know in the comments.
Ready to plan your trip to Kaohsiung? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner
* Book accommodation: find the best Kaohsiung accommodations on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance, collect it upon arrival, and set up your mobile phone before arriving at your destination. Or find out how and where to get a SIM Card in Taiwan.
* Join tours: check Klook or Get Your Guide for the best tours in Kaohsiung.
Thank you for reading my Kaohsiung Food Guide
I have many posts on Taiwan, and you might also like these other posts on solo travel in Taiwan. Plus, you might enjoy other food guides I created.
Introduction to Taiwan
- Things to know before visiting Taiwan
- How and where to buy a Taiwan prepaid SIM card
- How to spend 3 weeks in Taiwan
- 22 must-eat food in Taiwan
- Top 10 must-try Taiwan 7-11 Food
Southern Taiwan posts
- Best things to do in Chiayi Taiwan
- How to travel from Chiayi to Alishan
- Alishan 2-day solo itinerary
- Things to do in Tainan as a solo traveller
- Where to stay in Tainan: Best Areas & Hotel Reviews
- Tainan Food Guide: What & Where to Eat
- 6 Best night markets in Tainan
- Top Things to do alone in Kaohsiung
- Where to stay in Kaohsiung: Best Areas & Hotel Reviews
- 5 Best night markets in Kaohsiung
- Qishan Old Street in Kaohsiung City
- Kenting Travel Guide: things to do
Food around the world
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- Budapest food guide: 26 Best Budapest Food
- 25 Bucharest Food: What to eat in Bucharest
- Where and what to eat in Sofia: 21 must-try food
- Best Porto food: what and where to eat in Porto
- 21 must-eat food in Singapore
- Where to eat Michelin star street food in Singapore
- Traditional Hong Kong food
- Okinawa food guide: best food to try
- Tokyo Food Guide: 42 best places to eat in Tokyo
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Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!
