Café Cinema — Restaurant in Hengchun

Photo dump with my review because I've been here too many times to count. My parents and I have come at least once a week whenever I've stayed with them in nearby Manzhou, and we've also brought visiting friends and family here because we love it so much.

The place used to be a DVD rental, but I guess the owner wanted to try new things as well as support the hole left by a decreasing market, and voila! Cafe Cinema was born. You can still rent DVDs here, and the whole place is filled and decorated with them.

Food and drink here are quality. It's a family-owned spot, and all the staff are kind and hospitable. Be ready for a wait for your food, though, as the chef makes every dish individually and almost from scratch. It's worth the wait, but if you're in a rush, perhaps come back some other time.

Food recs! If you're up for a spicy challenge, I love the two Indian devil pepper (direct translation...idk what 印度鬼椒 is in English haha) pasta dishes, especially the bacon one, as it has cheese and is seasoned with some fragrant Taiwanese celery. The cheesy baked rice dishes are also delicious. Salads are perfect if you want something lighter and less dense, though the portion will fill you up just as much, if not more, than the other dishes. Basically everything on the menu is worth enjoying!

Edit: Forgot to mention that upstairs seating is tatami! This area is open only for dinner and has a low ceiling, so you need to watch your head, but my mom love going up there to relax and unwind. You can lay down, sit, chill...

The ambience is not the vibe I got from photos, it’s that of a diner rather than a place you would expect to have a decent coffee at. The biggest downside is there’s nowhere to charge your phone, all plugs are covered up. Feels customer-hostile and empty inside probably for that reason. English...

It is a theme cafe which decorated with elements of film. There is only one chef in the kitchen so food will take time to serve after you place an order. I like its drink menu, all drinks are well decorated and taste good. Heard that the coffee is good but I didn’t...