Mottainai Plant-based Whole Food Café — Restaurant in Kaohsiung

I don't give marks like this lightly, but on my first visit I was just so deeply impressed with this unassuming little bistro, tucked away within Sizihwan's salt-lashed alleyways, that I had to come back again the next day just to see if my first experience was a fluke. Today, a third day, a third experience, I justified to myself by insisting internally that my purpose was to assess their dessert menu and their late-night ambience, but let us be candid here: the truth is that I was hungry for more, and it was less than an intellectual motivation which brought me back to their table.

This is the best 100%-vegan restaurant I've ever eaten at in all of Asia. I know, I know -- superlative, superlative. But I do not flatter.

Day one: a veggie burger and a smoothie. It was no prodigiously demanding request, but they really excelled: the knowledgeable and friendly waiter informed me that they use only whole-grain buns, that they source their produce from regional farmers, that the potatoes aren't fried but baked for health reasons. I was advised to remain attentive to the lemon leaf tang that hovered atop the flavour profile of the green smoothie I'd ordered. It was all really outstanding, and I left full, content, impressed -- and fully intent upon returning the next day.

Day two: I ordered a more technical dish. Their standard-issue kimbap comes without the "homemade kimchi" -- I opted into this unique offering, naturally, for the 25 kuai extra they charged. Good heavens, was that a good decision. Crunchy cucumber chunks and carrot shreds that taste and feel as if they'd been in the ground that morning awaited me; the "gim" was chewy, richly flavoured with brine and sun, just incredibly fresh; the rice was faintly seasoned, perfectly cooked, bearing the slight hint of vinegar. Radish, cabbage, perilla, and gherkin rounded it out; in an aesthetic little bowl, a quantity of veganaise was commingled with just enough ground mustard to keep the palate craving more. I ordered their rooibos tea, tastefully presented in a wee white cup. Everything is presentation, plating, and attentive arrangement with this place. Very well; as the kids say today, "I see you."

Tonight I returned to the same genuine warmth and politeness, and to a somewhat less crowded dining space, but opted once again to sit outside (the mosquitoes were out and had begun to sample what within my flesh had remained from the day before of the aforementioned kimbap, but the cheerful server very considerately brought an organic, homespun bug repellent out, which smoked away next to me as I began to nosh.) As I'd dined on Indian already earlier in the evening, I opted to have a go at their dessert menu and, in fact, was quite curious as to whether or not the sky-high standards for elegance and quality would be sustained there. I ordered the lemon scone (everything is vegan here! I can even get baked goods! hurrah!) and, again, that lovely rooibos tea. They brought me a diminutive, attractive, dense, filling little treat on a tiny cutting board next to a ramekin of what I have since learnt was their in-house mulberry jam. It was scrumptious. I serenely sipped my rooibos infusion, merrily paid, and thanked them for their hospitality, and came home to write this review.

Among the predictable disappointments of this postmodern condition which surrounds us at present, is the reality that not every establishment which advertises itself as offering high-quality, affordable, unpretentious, health-giving, 100% vegan cuisine is going to do so. Even so, however much this wayward and hasty world may, in the interest of maintaining the efficiencies and quantities which have apparently become the overwhelming imperatives of that world, insist upon trimming this or that corner, upon skimping on this or that detail, or upon withholding what (taken alone) may prove to be some insignificant flourish, it is no slight comfort to this well-fed little creature, now safe and happy back at home in her flat, that there still exist exceptions to such...

Mottainai has remained our favorite restaurant in both the city of Kaohsiung and country of Taiwan for many years. The delicious food is always made fresh to order with only the highest quality ingredients and literally everything is housemade; additionally, dishes are creative, full of flavor & always beautifully presented. We also absolutely love their craft coffees and their desserts are to die for! Another tip: be sure to try the house smoothie!

Service is consistently polite, friendly and professional. As true hospitality professionals, the team obviously takes great pride and care in crafting an enjoyable, memorable experience for each and every guest. For example, as orders are delivered, the always smiling staff even takes the time to introduce and explain each item.

Housed in a traditional Taiwanese townhome, the interior has real character and charm. The owners have created a comfortable, welcoming environment~so much so that we often find ourselves ordering an additional drink or two, so we can extend our stay a bit longer.

We often are asked for restaurant recommendations by visiting friends & acquaintances and Mottainai is the one restaurant we tell them they have to put on their ‘must visit’ list. In turn, those who visit alway report back to us about how much they thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Any visit to Kaohsiung is just not complete without a meal or two...

Not only was this one of the best meals I've had in Taiwan, I would say I had the best burger of my life here! So many amazing flavours and fresh organic ingredients, some of which we learned are sourced from interesting social initiatives and locally grown. Every element of my meal was made and presented with so much love and care for the food. From the incredible sourdough turmeric bun to the pink salad dressing to the tangy bbq mushrooms, this was a beautiful meal. Luckily we had room for some cookies and a matcha after our meal and oh my were they good! The decor of the restaurant is also really stunning in a natural, understated way with lovely exposed cement walls, an array of dried flowers and all kinds of wonderful little trinkets to look at. Probably the most special part about visiting this place is the warmth and kindness of the onwers who are obviously running this place for all the right reasons. They clearly really care about the dishes they create and serve and they certainly really care about you, their customer. For the quantity and quality of the food we found the price to be very reasonable as well. This is a must visit for all foodies visiting Kaohsiung, vegans and...