Taiwanese know that one of the best kept secrets around Kenting, is that the best food is in Hengchun 恆春. Since moving here in 2017, I’ve sampled quite a few eateries and I believe that I’ve got a solid list which you will appreciate. Here it is:
倆筷伴 Liǎng kuài bàn
Best cold noodle shop in Taiwan?
If you like Chinese / Taiwanese noodles, 倆筷伴 Liǎng kuài bàn must be at the top of your list while in Kenting or Hengchun. If you don’t like noodles, or are usually indifferent to that, well, eating here might be a revelation. It’s the only place my wife and I go to eat noodles in Hengchun.
It’s beyond good, cheap, fresh, filling, and the plates are presented with obvious pride. The restaurant is clean and modern. In fact, they relocated from their first spot to a newer, bigger place in September 2022.
They also have a great selection of delicious little dishes 小菜 (appetizers) that could easily do the job as a main meal if you ordered a few. My favorites are the tofu, ochra (lady fingers), and the spicy cucumbers. Just writing about it makes me salivate!
Address: 恆春鎮環城北路118號, 118 Huancheng North Road
Woo Triptown
Highly-recommended hidden gem!!
Woo Triptown serves very nice Taiwanese food. Prices here are above average for Kenting standard, but it’s a real culinary experience that you should not miss if you happen to be in Hengchun. It’s definitely a spot you’d want to have an event such as birthday or a big meal with lots of friends, so you could sample different dishes. Which brings me to my two favorite ones: the melt-in-the-mouth dongpo braised pork and the eggplant. I could eat these two every day, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
The very distinctive design of this place is super funky. It’s a retro, tiger-themed restaurant with tiger posters, tiger paintings, a huge tiger mural on the 2nd floor, articles of tigers from old magazines… Very welcoming atmosphere, friendly staff, and green chopsticks!
Chinese name: 虎炊稻 Hǔ chuī dào
Address: 恆春鎮恆公路970巷43號
43, Alley 970, Henggong Road, Hengchun
Map
山下人家 Shanxia Renjia
This Chinese / Taiwanese restaurant is the absolute BOMB! One of my favorite restaurants in all of Taiwan. Portions are big, so it’s better to go with a group and share. Try the eggplant, pork, tofu, and squid. Actually try everything. I’ve never had anything bad here.
Address: 82, Shanjiao Road, Hengchun Township
Phone: 0981 944 133
Heng Hao Vegetarian Restaurant
Heng Hao vegetarian restaurant doesn’t look like a restaurant from outside – it looks just like a residential house. Located in a quiet alley on the East side of the city, Heng Hao has excellent vegetarian dishes such as pasta, rice set meals, curry dishes, tea, and seriously proper and potent coffee. You can sit on the lawn at the front, and soak up sunshine while sipping your Americano. That’s what I love to do!
Chinese name: 恆好 Héng hǎo
Address: No. 11弄2號, Lane 2, Dongmen Road
Phone: 08 889 5626
Spoon in Pocket Cafe
Spoon in Pocket Cafe has one of the most comfortable interior to spend a whole afternoon on your laptop or reading a book while sipping a latte or Americano. Read about it here.
Breakfast / Brunch in Hengchun
One of the main complains visitors have about Kenting and Hengchun, is the sad lack of proper breakfast / brunch places. So you end up with lines of people at Starbucks, McDonalds, and 7-11 every Saturday morning. I agree that there is a serious shortage of bacon & eggs in the area, but there are still some options available. Here are my favorites:
Good Day 好日子
Good Day claims to serve authentic Australian breakies. And they do. Kind of. It’s in the old part of Hengchun, by the West Wall, and it’s clean and comfortable. The food is good, although a bit bland. Coffee is on the weak side, but tasty nevertheless. If they had any competition, I would most likely not go too often, but they don’t, so I still visit once or twice a week, when I’m in Hengchun.
Address: No. 13, Ximen Road
Phone: 08 888 1152
