Old New Taiwanese Cuisine (Jiuru 2nd Road)

The Verdict

If you are comparing Old New Taiwanese Cuisine on Jiuru 2nd Road to a more conventional banquet restaurant in Kaohsiung, the decision is direct: this Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognised kitchen delivers traditional Taiwanese banquet cooking at a $$ price point that most comparable omakase-style experiences in the city cannot match. The format — a structured 7- to 8-course menu — gives you the pacing and intention of a fine dining meal without the $$$$ price tag. For a special occasion dinner in Kaohsiung that does not require a significant financial commitment, this is the address to book.

The Experience

Old New Taiwanese Cuisine has been operating since 2008, which makes it one of the more established kitchens working this particular format in Kaohsiung. The kitchen team has not changed since opening, which matters: you are eating food produced by cooks who have spent years refining the same techniques and dishes together. That kind of continuity is rare, it shows in the consistency of the output. The restaurant moved to its current Sanmin District address in 2011 and received a redesign that plays on retro east-meets-west aesthetics, an interior that signals intent without being showy about it.

The omakase structure here is rooted in traditional Taiwanese banquet cooking, the kind of food that would historically appear at weddings, milestone celebrations, family gatherings, but updated with a level of technical care that justifies the Michelin recognition. These are not simplified versions of classic dishes. The kitchen applies finesse to a culinary tradition that is often executed without it, which is precisely what the Bib Gourmand designation is designed to reward: quality cooking at an accessible price.

One practical note worth flagging before you arrive: the seasoning at Old New Taiwanese Cuisine skews toward the preferences of local diners, which tends to mean heavier salt and soy than international visitors might expect. If you prefer a lighter hand, tell the chef directly at the start of the meal. This is not an unusual request at this kind of restaurant, the kitchen accommodates it.

Counter Experience and Occasion Framing

The omakase format places the kitchen's choices at the centre of the meal, which makes this a strong option for a date or celebration dinner where you want the experience to feel considered and curated rather than assembled from a menu. The multi-course progression gives the meal a rhythm that a la carte dining does not provide. For a special occasion in Kaohsiung, this structure works well, it removes the decision fatigue of ordering and lets the kitchen make the case for itself across eight courses.

The different price point options within the omakase format also give the meal some flexibility. If two diners at the same table have different budget tolerances, ask about the available menu tiers at the time of booking. This is a detail worth clarifying in advance rather than at the table.

For solo diners, the omakase format is arguably the strongest possible context in which to eat alone. The counter or chef-proximate seating keeps the meal engaging, a structured menu removes any social awkwardness around ordering.

Timing and Booking

Booking difficulty at Old New Taiwanese Cuisine is rated Easy, which is a meaningful advantage over higher-demand Kaohsiung restaurants. You do not need to plan weeks ahead to secure a table, though for a specific date tied to a celebration, booking in advance is still the sensible approach. There is no published booking method or phone number in our current data, so approach the restaurant directly through whatever contact is available at the address. The Sanmin District location is accessible by standard transport within Kaohsiung.

On timing: a weekend evening suits the banquet heritage of this kind of food. The multi-course format is designed for a leisurely pace, arriving without time pressure is the right call. If you are eating here as part of a broader Kaohsiung trip, pair it with a later evening elsewhere, the meal is structured to be its own event, not a precursor.

Know Before You Go

Explore More in Kaohsiung and Beyond

If Old New Taiwanese Cuisine is your first stop in Kaohsiung's dining scene, it is worth knowing the wider context. For Taiwanese cooking across different formats and price points in the city, Beef Chief (Zihciang 2nd Road) operates at the same $$ tier with a different focus. A Fung's Harmony Cuisine, Bo Home, Chang Sheng 29, and Chao Ming round out Kaohsiung's broader dining options at various price points.

For Taiwanese fine dining with a more contemporary approach elsewhere on the island, Fujin Tree Taiwanese Cuisine & Champagne (Songshan) in Taipei and Golden Formosa, also in Taipei, take the tradition in different directions. JL Studio in Taichung and logy in Taipei represent the higher end of Taiwan's current restaurant scene if you want a point of comparison at the top of the market. For something more casual on your Taiwan travels, A Cun Beef Soup (Baoan Road) in Tainan, A Gan Yi Taro Balls in New Taipei, and Ang Gu in Hsinchu County each deliver regional specialities worth planning around. If you are also planning accommodation or other activities in the city, see our full Kaohsiung hotels guide, bars guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide, or browse our full Kaohsiung restaurants guide to see how this kitchen fits into the city's dining picture. For a resort experience outside Kaohsiung, Volando Urai Spring Spa & Resort in Wulai District is worth bookmarking for a future trip.