This time at the new Carbon Zuo Ma Li location in Kaohsiung, to be honest, I was amazed as soon as I walked to the entrance. The exterior of the entire restaurant doesn’t look like a barbecue place at all; it resembles a stylish art gallery or museum, giving off an air of elegance and taste. The interior space is also very spacious and beautiful, and just the dining environment alone adds a lot of points.

Regarding the food, we ordered all set meals this time, and the portions were truly generous, especially the meat, which was served without being stingy. The quality of the meats was up to standard as always, with the basic options like beef brisket, pork belly, and chicken thigh fillet all very aromatic when grilled. I especially recommend adding a bit of the pepper provided by the restaurant; it’s really a perfect match.

Among them, my personal favorite is their garlic shrimp rice, which has become a must-order soul dish every time I visit. It’s savory and flavorful, with the rice having a bit of chewiness, making each bite incredibly satisfying. Additionally, Carbon Zuo Ma Li has ongoing credit card discount promotions, and the buy one get one free offer on pork belly is truly cost-effective. The best part is that this pork belly is also delicious, and when grilled, it’s super fragrant with a bit of fat!

However, the prices are indeed not cheap. I think Carbon Zuo Ma Li is on the higher end of mid-range barbecue restaurants, but considering the environment, the quality of the ingredients, and the service, the overall experience is still quite good. If you're looking for a place for a gathering with friends, a family reunion, or even a date celebration, it’s definitely an impressive choice. I suggest making a reservation in advance; otherwise, there really can be quite a crowd during popular hours.

Accidentally arrived at a super cool Charcoal Grill restaurant!
From the outside, you wouldn't guess it's a BBQ place.
The downside is that you have to walk a bit more for dining.
The interior is huge and beautifully decorated,
with dark-colored decor.
There’s space between the tables, so you don’t have to worry about being disturbed.

Ordering is done via QR code.
The menu seems to have more options than other places.
The set meal options are very flexible٩۹(๑•̀ω•́ ๑)۶.
You can choose your main meat platter
and then choose the combinations you want.

There’s a service bell at the table
with corresponding requests,
like changing the grill or adding chicken soup.
When you press it, the staff comes right away to handle it.
The staff is very quick to respond when needed.

This time, we ordered the special premium pork platter combo + a value duo combo.
The overall performance of the meal was excellent.
On the small card on the plate, besides the name of the meat,
the back also has recommended grilling methods.
However, the staff only mentioned it after serving the second platter of meat XD.

The serving speed was quick,
but since there were only two of us at a table for six,
we had plenty of space on the table.

For drinks, we chose the jasmine red oolong and gardenia flower oolong.
I’m not sure if the fragrance comes from the tea leaves themselves or was added separately,
but both tasted very special (✪ω✪).
And you can adjust the sweetness and ice level.

For dessert, we had vanilla pudding and a limited-time plum jelly.
The vanilla pudding was smooth and delicious,
while the plum jelly had a whole plum inside,
making it taste both sweet and sour.
The jelly was on the firmer side.

My first dining experience at Charcoal Grill was great ❤️.
If I come back to the south, I would visit again.