🍱 Kaohsiung Sanmin ▫️ Houyi Shopping District
🍱 A well-established bento shop that sells only 𝟰 items

Most Kaohsiung locals are probably familiar with Mei Family Village.
This well-known bento shop has been deeply rooted in Kaohsiung for many years,
expanding from the Lin Sen Road flagship store,
and now has a presence in Nanzih, Renwu, and Xiaogang.
There are about a dozen branches throughout the city. 👍🏻

Years ago, I had a meal from here when ordering for group events or meetings,
and the quality and variety of dishes have been quite stable.
The branches are also popular among local residents and office workers,
and during peak dining hours, you can often see long queues. 🔥

If it's your first time buying or you haven't had it in a long time,
you might feel a bit lost with the ordering process.
However, if you see a lot of people, there's no need to worry;
just follow the crowd. 👣
When there are fewer people, the staff will warmly greet and guide you.
I've consistently been surprised at how smoothly the lines move. 😳

🥬 Step 1 · Choosing Side Dishes
There are many options available on-site; you can choose 𝟯 side dishes for one bento.
If you opt out of rice, you can have a total of 𝟰 items.
This is a blessing for those who avoid carbs.
🍗 Step 2 · Choosing the Main Dish
The classic and always popular choice is the pork ribs, and the highly sought after is the braised pork.
However, because many people love chicken thighs, those often sell out quickly.
The fish fillet is relatively less popular.
I've had the fish before and found it to be drier and more ordinary.
💰 Step 3 · Check Out and Collect Your Meal
At this point, you'll need to line up again in a separate queue nearby.
Having eaten here for so many years, I've witnessed the rise in prices.
Bentos that used to cost under a hundred TWD can never return to that price. 🥹

——

Compared to health food restaurants, traditional bento shops are slightly more affordable,
but overall, they tend to be greasier. 🫠
Some dishes can be a bit dark, which is quite common.
That said, I still find it acceptable;
at least the counter is clean and bright, and the portions are generous.
It remains a good choice for lunch or dinner on workdays. 🧡

*Mei Family Village collaborates with delivery platforms,
but since they take around a 30% cut, this is reflected in the prices.
Unless there are no other options, I still recommend purchasing takeout directly at the store.

*A few days later, I went to the Mingcheng store for takeout and noticed each item was 𝟱 TWD cheaper.
However, compared to the flavors and offerings at this location, I personally preferred the original branch more.
So please evaluate for yourself if you plan to visit. ✨