Xiao Li Kitchen | Returning Home to Cook for Friends in Her Own Kitchen
Xiao Li grew up in Ningpu Village, Changbin Township, Taitung.
The year she left her hometown, she was still very young, feeling that the outside world was larger and more exciting. Later, she lived in Taichung for thirty years working as an image consultant. Life was fast-paced, with one job after another, and she rarely stopped to think: “What will the rest of my life look like?”
Until her husband retired. He said only one thing: “I want to find a quiet place with mountains and water to live out our days.”
Those words were ordinary, yet they suddenly brought peace to her heart.
She knew—that place was her hometown.
After actually returning to Taitung, she realized that life wasn’t as romantic as imagined.
There weren’t many young people, resources were limited, and many things had no ready-made answers. After buying the land, even finding workers to build the house became a problem, so they had to learn by doing. Although they didn’t lay the cement themselves, from the blueprints and decoration to the furniture and details, almost everything was completed slowly by the family.
That period was exhausting, but also very fulfilling. Every day there were problems to solve, and every day was a new lesson in how to live.
As the house was slowly completed, friends began to visit.
When people came, she naturally cooked for them. There was no special menu; she just cooked what she would normally eat. Beef, sweetfish, shrimp, paired with two seasonal vegetables—not complicated, but always fresh and served hot.
After eating, friends often said: “Eating like this feels very comfortable.”
She would just smile but quietly took it to heart.
It turned out that such a meal had been missing from many people’s lives for a long time.
Later, friends introduced other friends.
Before coming, someone would ask: “What are you cooking today?”
She always replied: “We’ll see what’s available then.”
There is no menu and no fixed content. Every morning she goes to the market to see the ingredients and then decides how to cook. The beef isn’t always prepared the same way, and the fish and shrimp change with the seasons. The vegetables are always the best ones found that day.
She says: “I only cook what I dare to eat and what I want to eat.”
Slowly, the name “Xiao Li Kitchen” began to spread.
But she never treats this place as a restaurant. It’s more like being in her own home, cooking for friends willing to sit down. She doesn’t take many tables and never rushes guests, because once things start to feel rushed, the original feeling is lost.
The service is not fast; she adjusts the pace based on the atmosphere at the table. If people are chatting, she serves slowly; if they are quiet, she leaves some space.
She often says: “It would be a pity if the meal ended too quickly.”
Xiao Li Kitchen requires a reservation.
It’s not to create distance, but because she doesn’t cook every day and doesn’t want cooking to become a pressure. Knowing someone is coming, she prepares, and she prepares with heart.
To her, this is not a business model, but a lifestyle choice.
After returning home, she slowly realized that at a certain stage of life, you don’t necessarily have to keep rushing forward. Sometimes, living well and taking care of those you should take care of is enough.
Xiao Li Kitchen exists because of this state of mind.
📍 Xiao Li Kitchen | No. 46-5, 10th Neighborhood, Changbin Township, Taitung County 962
📌 Omakase Private Dining • Reservation Required
🔵 Official: FaceBook
It’s not for the hustle and bustle, but for those willing to sit down,
leaving a meal that has been cooked with care.
There are many private kitchens in Changbin on the East Coast. It’s worth stopping by to savor them slowly. The East Coast is all about slowing down!