All Reviews
This place has become a landmark in Kaohsiung for so many reasons. Already well into it's second decade of existence, a nice location mere steps from the waterfront harbour, this is the place where many foreigners have met their future Taiwanese wives, where businessmen and women come to parler and where foreign management appears to be the rule. Some foreigners insist on the comfort of this place so much that they make it a point to live not more than a stones' throw away! Two floors make it a pub, restaurant and disco all at the same time with all the comforts of home for many barflies. In a way, they make their own rules here. But that doesn't mean to say that things are renegade. Quite the contrary, so go and discover the food, drink and atmosphere for yourself and you may be the next owner of a VIP discount card for regulars.
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This place could very well be one of the funkiest places to eat or drink without too much pretension. Recent renovations and changes to the interior only prove once again that whoever is designing the interior is an expert at art decor. The menu lists a variety of western food, the price is alright and even the steak is pretty decent from my experience. Not sure about the comparative cost of drinking here, but unusual is the ability to chuff on a hookah while you sip whatever it is your drinking. So obvious is the range and richness of wines, particularly red. This place has so much internationalism in mind that it would be suited just fine in cities like Singapore or Shanghai. Not bad and not necessarily an expensive place to enjoy eating, drinking and friends.
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Look for this place across the corner from a fairly new Starbuck's coffee shop...that would be ChengGong and CingNian Rd. Opened by a former professional (engineer) and made for professionals, this place is a brand new and fresh alternative from places like the Pig and Whistle for example. Don't expect to save any money by drinking here, you'll pay more for everything from on tap beers, specialty beers and even local beers, etc. The food is clean and tight, but not particularly interesting or cheap - made to accompany a drinking palate. Interesting to see if this place becomes a landmark like some of the nearby pubs and restaurants that have.
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There are two places in Kaoshiung from which to experience the very large and well known franchise that is Friday's. This place is the elder of the two, and stands at an awkward intersection near the heart of the city in an attached three story building. This is probably a home away from home for some people. The prices here are higher, one person can easily spend more than NT$700 for an appetizer, one of the cheaper main courses and a draft beer. While the servings may be reported to be bigger, that is questionable. The menu isn't large, there are certainly more glossy colour photos of the food here than are text. But that is clearly done in the name of convenience for fat-cat customers and so on. There isn't much in the way of pasta to eat here, but everything else you would expect is there including steaks, loud background music and an amplified central air-conditioning unit!
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The story of Amy's restaurants and Smokey Joe's in particular is an incredible rags-to-riches one. With humble beginnings near the Yenchen waterfront several decades ago, the groups namesake and her family began serving customers from all around. Their enthusiasm and charm especially hit well with foreign clients. Today, this restaurant and its partners remind me of the eateries that accompanied the malls of the suburbs of back home. Everything inside and out is a near duplicate of the proliferation of restaurants found mostly in the new malls in the 1980's. The mish-mash of influences here, like any of the Western-style restaurants that appeared all over the North American countryside way back when, are surely of the old west. But is it Mexican, Tex-Mex, perhaps California-Mexican, Californian Tex-Mex or Louisiana-Cali-Tex-Mex with a little Buffalo Jump thrown in for good measure? Well, who knows and probably more so, who cares? Right, this place is very popular with locals and their families. The menu is clearly the largest menu in Kaoshiung, and it continues to grow, to be written and rewritten again and again for the sake of convenience. You are going to pay more for the food and drink you buy here easily, but the food is fine. The freshness and quality is usually there, and all of the familiarity is there too. However, the restaurants themselves have become a label. And with any label, the creators and their cohorts don't give a hoot about the ethics, history, accuracy and ultimately the origins of this Western manifestation.
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This is the second incarnation of what began in the north end of this city. Some inconsistencies in price are a little baffling. For example, I've seen free refills on the soda fountain in one location but not the other. Or free helpings of what is a very delicious homemade condiment that is Mexican pickled onions and carrots, but again a few dollars extra at the other location. Not sure what the plan is, but I still like the burritos and enchiladas for their relative simplicity and price. The seating at this location (again two floors) and the set up seems to work better, not sure why.
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It may be fair to say,this is fair Indian cuisine to try out. On average, one person can enjoy a meal of at least two items and a side of nan bread without a drink for about NT$180-$220. The nan bread is delicious, no doubt. As far as spice goes, there is stronger tasting and more savory authentic tasting curry to be had at other East Indian restaurants in town. But it's still not bad. The service is quick certainly. But be weary for it seems that in dishes with chick peas and other beans, these typical ingredients seem undercooked.
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The decoration is cool except for the Heineken flag hanging on the wall.
I went there for Jazz night, it's really nice to have live music with my meal.
I ordered the fried chicken spagetti.
When i saw my food i was really disappointed. the chicken was over fried and amazingly bland. I was thinking to have desert then i double check the price of the creme brulee (which is as expensive as Ruth's Chris steak house's). Then i asked the waiter to make sure the price he said to me "The price is high because of the feeling and atmosphere at our restaurant..." anyway i still ordered it. When I got it, it looked nothing like the picture in the menu, more like a bowl of pudding. My friend had the chicken burger, and it had no taste. His french fries were soggy, cold and disgusting. The food at this restaurant is very bad. The music was excellent. If you go there to see a show, eat somewhere else, then go and spend the minimum 250NT per person charge on drinks.
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There's a starbucks located at one end of this one. It has free wireless and plug sockets available to keep you going. You don't even need to buy a coffee...
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The spectacular view makes this place one of the best to enjoy a coffee or a light snack. Owned by a South American and his Taiwanese wife, it's located past Jhong-Shan university, it's a bit of a drive, but definately worth it. Just be willing to expect a fair number of people on the weekends. Reasonably priced and there's an English menu.
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A huge place with great seating and a very open feel. It's designed to be a place for locals to interact with foreigners.
Hook up some sessions and get paid for just having conversations with customers.
The hours here seem to be a little hay-wire due to some scheduling issues they seem to be having. There is wireless available, with spots to power up.
Definately worth checking out and chatting with the owner if your looking for something different in Kaohsiung
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Tucked away in an alley off wunhung, it's a good change from the average Taiwan pub. It has an open air rustic feel. The service is good, and there's also a lot of great finger food available at low prices.
Enlish speaking owner and menu.
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A vibrant Southeast Asian feel to the place makes you feel like this was what you were looking for when you came to Asia.
The food is pretty standard Thai fare. A little pricey due to the decor, but worth it if you want to start the night out right with a group of people or on that special date.
Carlsberg on draft, Satellite TV, and an English menu to add.
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If you need a burger in the daytime and can't stand eating another McD's, then this is the best alternative in Kaohsiung
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A no frills Thai restaurant that's got all your essential Thai dishes.
Fast, pleasent and even on the verge of being cheap, this place difinately is what it calls itself.
English menu available.
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Good Mexican food? Yeah sure, in Kaohsiung, probably the best.
The overloaded menu may seem overwhelming when you have to make your decision and take it to the counter.
I question the logic behind making this place a self-serve restaurant.
The "Please put your dishes away" sign, and the self-serve posters that are plastered all over, in the name of keeping the prices low and the service fast, detract from the dining experience. Ironically, the prices are not low and one would think that they are on par with a full service restaurant in terms of food quality.
The bucket of Mexican slosh, where people are supposed to scrape their plates into, stands in clear eyesight of patrons eating. What an unpleasent sight!
It's a wonder why the workers can't deliver your food, when you're only sitting two feet away from the counter and the place is empty. Not to mention the loud speaker that blares your number. Even at McD's they are more than happy to climb some steps for you at a fraction of the cost.
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With a wonderful atmosphere and great pasta at probably the most reasonable price in Kaohsiung, there's no wonder this place often has a long line up down the street.
Generous servings, with a variety of sauces, and good service make this a potential staple restaurant in this city.
It's tucked away on a smaller street, but it's definately worth searching out.
Their dining hours are limited, so make sure to get there with time to spare, as you may find that their kitchen is closed. 11:30-2:00 pm and 5:30-9:00 pm
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I heard from a friend that this place had great curry. At night, you can choose from a variety of menu items.
Lunchtime, however, is another story. I went there and discovered that they only have a set meal- choice between beef, lamb/mutton, and chicken.
The meal comes on a platter with a chapati style bread, a vegetable dish, a salad, along with some juice.
What surprised me was that my mutton curry had the same curry as the chicken curry which my friend had ordered. Even more so, the vegetable side was also served in the same curry as mentioned above. I left the restaurant feeling like I got a pretty bland meal and not worth the 150-180 NT$ per person.
If there was one highlight, it definately was the bread, which leads me to believe it may have more potential in the evenings.
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The food here is excellent. They have a large variety of delicious dishes. The bartenders are very friendly and experienced. This place has a large foreigner client base with pretty girls dwelling there primarily on Wednesday and Saturday nights.
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Perhaps in an attempt to shed the invariable comparisons to fellow countrymen Belle & Sebastian, Scottish band Camera Obscura ditched the ultra-clean, ultra-folksy sound of their previous recordings and ended up with one of the better albums the world has seen in recent years. The reverb-drenched sound of their latest effort, "Let's Get Out Of This Country" should forever silence any alleged similarities with the aforementioned B&S (it seems most of those who liberally name-drop this group have never heard of Speed The Plough or Velocity Girl, two bands that have way, way more in common with Camera Obscura). With throwbacks to '60s pop and even '70s disco in their music, Camera Obscura's sound continues to evolve. They will make a stop in Kaohsiung Sunday, October 26th at ATT, on Jian Guo 3rd Road, and it will likely be this city's only chance to witness this great, great pop band. Check out their Myspace page to hear both old and new tunes, and judge for yourself.
www.myspace.com/cameraobscuraband
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