Supreme Chicken Pot Tin Shui Wai 至尊雲吞麵雞煲 天水圍 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★☆☆☆

I wasn’t sure what sparked Jelloman’s idea to visit the Hong Kong Wetland Park (香港濕地公園) in Tin Shui Wai this afternoon. We had a late start and didn't get there until 1pm. By the time we finished hitting all our spots, it was already 3:30pm and we still haven't had our lunch yet. There were only a few dining options near the edge of the park and we picked Supreme Chicken Pot (至尊雲吞麵雞煲) for no particular reason other than the fact that it was the first restaurant we saw coming out of the park.

Iced milk tea (凍奶茶) – The tea was often the make-or-break for me and it was a pretty underwhelming one to say the least. It wasn't nearly fragrant enough and I thought the balance between the milk and tea was off.

Yangzhou fried rice (楊州炒飯) – Not nearly enough "wok hei" but I thought pretty decent.

Stir-fried beef noodles (乾炒牛河) – The best dish of the afternoon by a country mile. Not surprisingly, everyone was quietly fighting for a few more strips of noodles.

Deep-fried chicken thigh with fries (炸雞髀薯條) – One of the very few times that the fries actually tasted better than the deep-fried chicken thigh (But good thing that the chicken thigh wasn't over-seasoned like most cafes in town tend to do).

We had a nice time walking around the Wetland Park. Jelloman reminded me that it was our first time here. We missed bringing little nugget over in 2022 cuz we both caught COVID on our way back to Hong Kong from Australia.

To the contrary,, this guy has been here a few times already. A couple of times with his schoolmates and his grandparents brought him in 2022 while we were recovering from COVID.

Food Rating: 4.3/10

Price: $$$

Address: 1 Wetland Park Road, Tin Shui Wai, NT, Hong Kong

Closest Light Rail Station: Wetland Park

Tel: +852 3622-2500

Opening Hours: 7:00am - 11:00pm daily

Two Soon Cafe (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★☆☆☆

It’s been two weeks since I last checked in on mom so I decided to give her a ping on Friday to see what she’s been up to during my time in Taiwan. Not surprisingly, she’s been busy with her favorite soap opera from China. To get her out of the house, I thought I should date her for lunch on Saturday.

I was looking for a place near her and the striving restaurant scene there certainly didn’t disappoint. Two Soon Cafe was the first restaurant I spotted on my research thanks to its elegant exterior.

It’s apparently a cafe and restaurant in the afternoon and bar at night.

The dessert menu was certainly an interesting one but I would leave it for another day.

Vodka rigatoni with crab meat ($138) – It took more than 30 minutes to arrive (I wonder why as we were one of the only three tables there). I thought this would remind me of the spicy vodka rigatoni I had at Carbone a while ago but it didn't close. The rigatoni here was noticeably overcooked and to make matters worse, the tomato-based sauce mixed with vodka had nearly dried up.

Food Rating: 4.2/10

Price: $$$

Address: G/F, 324 Sai Yeung Choi Street North, Prince Edward, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Prince Edward

Tel: +852 6591-6201

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 10:00pm (Tue - Sun)

BL.T33 Lobby Lounge at InterContinental Kaohsiung (Kaohsiung, TAIWAN) ★★★☆☆

My first-ever trip to Kaohsiung is about to draw to a close. I had originally planned to wrap it up with a last-minute supper at Hawker Singaporean Restaurant located on the second floor of InterContinental Kaohsiung. Yeah, I didn't want any more Chinese food and Singaporean food has always had a special place in my heart. 

I did my homework too, the night before. As Hawker opens at 5:30pm, I figured it would give me sufficient time for a quick bite before leaving for the airport which was about a 30-minute ride just ahead of my 7:35pm flight. 

But as they always said "the best laid plans of mice and men......."

As it turned out, the restaurant didn't open at 5:30pm after all. I quickly checked with the reception and was told that it opens at 6pm (despite their website stating 5:30pm) but worse yet, a further clarification with someone from their F&B team revealed that they don't actually open until 6:30pm on Sundays. Let's just say it was a little messy, and not the kind of experience I expected from the InterContinental group. Enough said.

That led me to BL.T33 Lobby Lounge, the only venue in the hotel that was open at this hour.

There wasn't much available on the menu so I went with a simple club sandwich with scramble egg, bacon, tomato and lettuce. It was nice to find that it was complemented by a side of homemade fries and a small salad.

It was getting a little late so I hopped onto my ride and took off for the airport. Thankfully, the traffic wasn't bad at all and it was a comfortable ride that didn't take longer than it should. The check-in was smooth and it didn't take long before I got through the customs into the waiting area. This certainly brought back memories.

I almost forgot about this but thanks to typhoon Pakhar, I actually made a brief visit to Kaohsiung in 2017. More specifically, to Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH). At the time, our flight to Hong Kong from Zurich was turned back a few times by the guys at the Hong Kong airport traffic control citing poor weather conditions under typhoon 8 signal. We ended up making a temporary stop in Kaohsiung and were stranded there for more than 5 hours. Little nugget was only 1.5 years old back then. He's 9 already. Time flies.

Price: $$$

Address: Lobby Floor InterContinental Kaohsiung, 33 Singuang Road, Cianjhen District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Closest Metro Station: Sanduo Shopping District

Tel: +886 7 339-0303

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 12:00am daily

Shi Jin Tang Far Eastern 食‧金湯經典麵食館 大遠百店 (Kaohsiung, TAIWAN) ★★★☆☆

Ever since enjoying my breakfast dessert at Y ing R. (隱弄) 2.5 hours ago, I set off on a leisurely walking tour through Sanduo District (三多商圈) until I stumbled upon the Kaohsiung Branch of FE21’ Mega Far Eastern Department Store (高雄大遠百) in the heart of the city. It was at that very moment that I realized I still hadn't crossed off one essential item from my to-do list for this trip: Taiwanese beef noodle soup. Just when I pulled out my phone and started searching for a noodle place nearby, there was one right here at the food hall of the department store!

I am referring to Shi Jin Tang Far Eastern (食‧金湯經典麵食館 大遠百店), a popular local noodle joint on the 11th floor of the department store.

Aside from their signature beef noodle soup, the classic wonton noodle (懷舊餛飩湯麵) and assorted dumplings (綜合水餃) are also local favorites. In fact, I have noticed that a few of my fellow diners were having these instead of the beef noodles.

Like most traditional noodle shops in Taiwan, we also get to choose all these goodies at the kitchen counter including the tripe, blood etc.

I was handed a plastic menu sheet listing all the dishes and their prices, where I could jot down the dishes I wanted for lunch.

Classic beef noodle (牛肉拉麵) (NT$210) – An old-school Taiwanese beef noodle soup just the way I wanted it.

The thick-cut beef brisket looked a little rough but it was tender and full of flavors.

The radish was soft and well-cooked. It was soft enough to melt in the mouth.

I wasn't a fan of knife-cut noodles but I thought they did a nice job clogging up the broth. The broth did come piling hot so I was sweating the whole time while slurping up the chewy noodles. Despite the dark color of the broth, the flavors were light (but deep) and quite easy on the palate. 

It's nice to get this one off the way at last. After all, I have less than 5 hours to go before my plane departs for Hong Kong.

Food Rating: 5.7/10

Price: $$

Address: 11/F, 21 Sanduo 4th Road, Lingya District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Closest Metro Station: Sanduo Shopping District

Tel: +886 7 536-3261

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 10:00pm daily

Y ing R. 隱弄 (Kaohsiung, TAIWAN) ★★★★☆

I didn’t have much planned for my last day in Kaohsiung other than a breakfast booking at Y ing R. 隱弄. 

As planned, I arrived sharply at 11am. To my surprise, the café was located in what felt more like a residential neighborhood than a trendy district known for café hopping.

There was very little information about Y ing R. 隱弄 on the social media but once I arrived here, I realized that it offers a little bit of everything, from a dessert bar, café, to cake shop and breakfast spot. 

A shot of the dine-in area taken from the corner (My apologies for the poor lighting). In case you're wondering, yes this venue is also available for private events.

But I am here for one reason only......their French desserts. While making my online booking last week, I have also included a pre-order for this pear dessert.

Poached pear, maple syrup, walnut (NT$320) – They have multiple desserts on their make-to-order menu but this one immediately caught my eyes. 

Here we have sliced of poached pear beautifully decorated on a layer of maple syrup cream (I thought it was vanilla) with crushed walnuts resting atop a meringue-like shell. It was incredibly delicate and just perfect for someone with a sweet tooth like me. The preparation time was much longer than I expected but trust me, it was well worth the wait.

Cinnamon milk tea (NT$160) – Made with fresh milk, cinnamon and no sugar. 

As I said earlier, this was a hidden gem in a residential neighborhood that could easily be overlooked.

When I came up to the cashier to settle my bill, my server curiously asked me how I discovered them in the first place. Honestly, I had completely forgotten where I found this hidden gem during my research, but one thing for sure: it was a meal worth waking up early for.

Food Rating: 6.8/10

Price: $$$

Address: G/F, 60 Wuzhou Street, Cianjhen District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Closest Metro Station: Sanduo Shopping District

Website: https://yingr.dingup.cc/

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 5:00pm (Wed - Mon)

革• KAWA (Kaohsiung, TAIWAN) ★★★★☆

One of the highlights of my visit to Yancheng district (鹽埕區) was supposed to be a trip to a hidden café called 革• KAWA. Lost in the labyrinth of narrow streets on the residential side of Yancheng, it is not the easiest place to find even with the help of GPS but I managed to track it down just before the clock struck 3pm.



Just as I thought I was finally ready to indulge in my highly anticipated afternoon tea, the hostess gave me some disappointing news, that they were already at full capacity and politely asked me to return in an hour. And I did.

革• KAWA looks like it's operating out of someone's house.

Since its opening in 2021, this cozy, home-style café has attracted a group of devoted following of young patrons thanks in large part to its exquisite desserts and wallet-friendly prices.

Basque cheesecake with taro purée (芋泥巴斯克) (NT$160) – One of their most popular dessert is their Basque cheesecake. This normally comes in different flavors including my favorite Earl Grey (伯爵巴斯克).

But today, there's only one flavor of Basque cheesecake available, which came with a thin layer of taro purée on the bottom. This presentation sets it apart from other Basque cheesecakes on the market, where flavors are often infused directly into the cream cheese.

This was really delicious. The layer of taro purée meshed beautifully with the cheesecake, enhancing its creamy flavors without overpowering its cheesiness.

Milk tea (NT$140) – Classic royal milk tea style. Surprisingly, not too sweet.

革• KAWA has a no-reservation policy and like most cafés in Kaohsiung, guests must order at least one dessert and one drink.

Food Rating: 7/10

Price: $$

Address: No.13, Dacheng Street Lane 37, Yancheng District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Closest Metro Station: Yanchengpu

Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/%E9%9D%A9KAWA-Cafe-100066744621446/

Opening Hours: 12:30pm - 6:30pm (Fri - Tue) (check FB for their random off-days)

JustIn 入吧 (Kaohsiung, TAIWAN) ★★★☆☆

After the early lunch at Michelin starred Haili, I began my exploration of Kaoshiung (高雄), a city I have never had the pleasure of setting foot on in the past.

I started off my journey at Love River Bay (愛河灣) working my way past the pier into Yancheng district (鹽埕區), an area scattered with small cafés and street food vendors.

I decided to make my first stop here at JustIn (入吧), a French patisserie that also doubles as a bar.

Was that the entrance to the bar on the right? I guess I would never find out myself...

They have a small selection of simple pastries available including tiramisu, cheesecake, fraisier and chocolate brownie.

It was a warm spring day in Kaoshiung with temperature hovering around 30 degrees so I figured I deserved a frosty drink and then some following the long walk from Haili.

Tiramisu (NT$190) – Not the usual foamy type I was accustomed to back in Hong Kong.

The flavors are pretty rich with the marsala leading the charge.

Black tea with milk (NT$180) – The black tea on the other hand was very very light.

Food Rating: 5.3/10

Price: $$$

Address: 84 Wufu 4th Road, Yancheng District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Closest Metro Station: Yanchengpu

Tel: +886 916-015-903

Website: https://www.instagram.com/justinzoobar/?hl=zh-tw

Opening Hours: 2:00pm - 2:00am (Fri - Tue), 5:00pm - 2:00am (Wed)

Haili (Kaohsiung, TAIWAN) ★★★★☆

The test of Kaoshiung as a culinary destination officially at noon today with my highly anticipated lunch at Michelin starred Haili. Chef William Kang who spent 16 years refining his craft in some of Taipei’s most acclaimed kitchens including now-defunct Stay by Yannick Alléno and RAW as well as Logy, has recently brought his talent to southern Taiwan.

His first solo venture, Haili, offers a single tasting menu served throughout the day, a testament to the chef’s deep respect for both local and Japanese ingredients.

Grape shrimps, caviar, gooseberry – My meal started off brilliantly with lightly cooked grape shrimp (葡萄蝦), elegantly crowned by Kaluga queen caviar from Taiwan’s Thousand-Island Lake (千島湖). A vibrant sauce made with gooseberry and bell pepper lent a touch of acidity to the shrimp, enhancing its natural sweetness beautifully. Wonderful start!

Red Sea bream, tamarind, hazelnut – Charcoal-grilled red sea bream (真鯛) was layered with slices of yam (山药), and topped with roasted hazelnuts. The dish was finished with a heartwarming broth made with tamarind (羅望子) and brown sugar, delivering a sweet and tangy finish.

While I waited for my "pasta" dish to arrive, a slice of homemade bread was served up with French butter covered with kombu ashes.

Nabeyaki egg noodles, Hollandaise, chawanmushi – A dish inspired by nabeyaki egg noodles (鍋燒意麵), a nostalgic breakfast dish in southern Taiwan.

A silky layer of steamed eggs was topped with two types of dumplings. The first was an Italian ravioli filled with Kaohsiung swordfish and fresh clams, while the second featured a Southern Taiwanese-style wonton made with shrimp. Instead of egg noodles, fried rice noodles were served with a Hollandaise sauce made with black vinegar and sha cha sauce, the heart and soul of a nabeyaki egg noodles dish hidden at the bottom of the bowl.

I thought the texture of the fried rice noodles felt a little funny after absorbing the broth but all in all, not bad.

Cod milt, squid ink, fermented chilies – Shirako was deep-fried tempura-style and paired with sautéed cabbage, fermented chilies, and croutons, all drizzled with a creamy cabbage sauce (奶油醬汁) and dabs of squid ink.

The dish was presented (and tasting) almost like a soup, highlighted by a slightly peppery sauce that was at times a little overpowering for the delicate flavor of the custardy shirako.

Grouper, Noilly Prat, onion – Perfectly cooked grouper fillet was matched with a tower of mushroom tartare and onion, nicely complemented by a flavorful sauce made with Noilly Prat (苦艾酒) which I thought came with some earthy and grassy notes.

Canard, smokey mulberry, 18-year whisky angelica – Some nice smokiness presumably coming from the hay.

The crispy skin was absolutely perfect, while the smoked mulberry purée and the sauce made with 18-year whiskey angelica (威士忌當歸醬) offered two distinctly different condiments to enhance the indulgence of the duck.

Strawberry, lavender, wax apple – Local apple sorbet with Japanese strawberries was served alongside a sauce made from the same strawberries and lavender, with small dice of root vegetables (celery 芹菜?) adding a savory-sweet twist to the dessert.

Kumquat, vanilla, kaffir lime – The chef’s take on lemon pie with lime curd made with kaffir lime, kumquat compote and a scoop of vanilla ice-cream all atop of a crispy yet slightly chewy crust. 

There was a real nice balance of sweetness and acidity here with a gorgeous presentation.

Herb tea with some minty notes.

The mignardises included a small piece of cake with fig and a black sesame candy coated with oolong tea powder. The amazing culinary journey finally came to an end.

While last night's meal was anything but impressive, today's lunch experience more than made up for that disappointment and my doubts about Kaohsiung as a new culinary destination. I was fortunate to witness a few amazing dishes with fascinating results. I thought the Service team was well trained and displayed great attention to detail throughout the meal. For me, a well-deserved star.

Food Rating: 7.4/10

Price: $$$

Address: 2F, 264-1 Chenggong 1st Road, Qianjin District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Closest Metro Station: Central Park / Glory Pier

Tel: +886 7 215-0559

Website: https://hai-li.tw/

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 10:00pm (Fri - Sat), 5:30pm - 10:00pm (Tue - Thu)