Mai Yen Shun: Taiwanese Nostalgia in an Old Kaohsiung House

On the modern streets of Kaohsiung, walking into Mai Yen Shun (賣鹽順) is like traveling through a time tunnel back to a Taiwanese grandmother's house in the countryside in the 1970s. This newly selected Bib Gourmand restaurant in 2024 does not sell grand banquet dishes; instead, it sells a kind of "this is exactly the right flavor" Taiwanese home-style cooking.

Space Aesthetics: Grandma's Time Capsule

The decor of Mai Yen Shun is highly ingenious. Red brick walls, round wooden tables, an antique vinyl record player, and old calendars hanging on the wall—every corner is full of deep nostalgia. The atmosphere here is warm and relaxing, without the constraints of high-end restaurants, offering only the liveliness and intimacy of eating at home.

Culinary Philosophy: Recreating the Taste of Memories

The cuisine here features "traditional ancient flavors" (Guzaowei). The chef insists on using traditional cooking methods, not pursuing fancy plating, but only caring whether the taste is authentic.

For example, the Three-Cup Chicken here insists on stir-frying the old ginger until it is dry, flat, and curled up, allowing the aroma of the ginger to be completely released into the chicken fat. Pan-fried fish must have its surface fried until it is "chichi" (Taiwanese for charred and crispy) while still retaining the meat juices inside. These are all the older generation of Taiwanese people's insistence on deliciousness.

Real User Insights: A Gathering Place for "Rice Killers"

According to real feedback from Google Maps and major food review websites, it is impossible to walk out of Mai Yen Shun without ordering at least three bowls of white rice:

1. Must-Order Three-Cup Chicken Leg

• Must Eat: Three-Cup Chicken Leg with Old Ginger. This is a dish that appears on every table. The chicken leg meat is firm and bouncy, fully absorbing the aroma of sesame oil, soy sauce, and rice wine. The most essential part is those old ginger slices that have been stir-fried until dry. They taste crispy and slightly spicy like biscuits, and many gourmets even think the ginger slices are more delicious than the chicken!

2. Classic Farmhouse Dishes

• Signature: Stir-fried Lover's Tears with Egg. Lover's Tears, a type of algae with a soft and tender texture, is stir-fried quickly with eggs. The texture is smooth and refreshing, making it go very well with rice.
• Soup: Squid and Snail Meat with Garlic Soup (Youyu Luorou Suan). You can also drink this classic Taiwanese tavern-style soup here. The broth is sweet and savory, and the snail meat is chewy, making it the top choice for warming the stomach in winter.

Practical Information

• Address: No. 167, Qinghai Road, Gushan District, Kaohsiung City
• Hours: 11:00 - 14:00 / 17:00 - 21:00 (Closed on Mondays)
• Note: Business is extremely good on holidays, so it is recommended to make a reservation in advance.

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Explore More Southern Delicacies: Want an appetizer or bite-sized snack for a change of taste? Chun Lan Gua Bao with its perfectly balanced fatty and lean braised pork and special chili sauce, is waiting for you to feast on.