U.S. Sea-Salt Beef Fillet

Baked Chicken in Coconut Milk,
or 'Galinha a moda de Macau' in
Portuguese (NT$350), has a
mild curry flavor with juicy,
tender chicken.

Stir-fried vegetables with
Bacahau Broccoli (NT$200) is a
tasty choice at Portuguese
Cuisine.

Portuguese Cuisine

Words & photos by Monica Lin, translated by Ann Lee

3, Lane 38, LinQuan St, LingYa District
(07) 713-8613
10 am-2 pm, 5-10 pm

Originally called Give Me Five, this Portuguese-style eatery got a name change and a new attitude after the owner, A-Xiang, went to Macau to learn all about Portuguese dining. After getting spiced up for its Kaohsiung customer base, the new Portuguese Cuisine serves a selection of light meals and hot pots.

A-Xiang has adjusted sometimes heavily-seasoned traditional Portuguese dishes so that they are milder, and more suited to the Taiwanese palate. A common ingredient in this style of cooking is Bacahau, which is cod that's been marinated in salt; this tangy flavored fish can be found, in some form or another, in a variety Portuguese cuisine. In their Stir-fried Vegetables with Bacahau Broccoli (NT$200), the fresh vegetables bring out the naturally sweet flavor of the cod. For a very authentic dish, try the Baked Chicken in Coconut Milk, or Galinha a mada de Macau (NT$350). This tender poultry dish is made with more than 10 types of vanilla leaves and tulip spices and goes well with a bowl of rice. The Roasted Fillet of Veal Vitela Assada (NT$400) is a quality meat dish that has received praise from many customers.

The walls at Portuguese Cuisine are decorated with abstract and impressionist pieces, as well as simple sketches from a variety of artists. The owners welcome all artists to display work here--as long as they approve it, of course. If you've never tasted Porttuguese delicacies, then perhaps you should give this restaurant a try.