Simmer House

Review

Simmer House is on Guangxi Road in Qianzhen District, a small stew-soup eatery inside the Guangxi Guilin settlement, a cluster of converted former Taipower staff dormitories. The interior is bright and minimal with Japanese-style wood. The MICHELIN Guide gives it a Bib Gourmand, and on the 2026 list it is still the only Qianzhen entry; Mirror Media has also featured it on an arty Kaohsiung walking route.

The menu centres on five Chinese stewed soups, each served with a staple and side dishes. The signature peeled chili and clam chicken soup is simmered from deboned free-range chicken leg, Gangshan peeled chilies, Yunlin clams and vegetables, giving a sweet broth with a gentle kick. The clear beef soup from the early days is seasoned only with sea salt, and the angelica duck drumstick soup is recommended as a winter tonic. The rice blends Japanese Koshihikari with Tainan No. 16, and you can add egg yolk rice or camellia oil noodles; the guide suggests a lime iced tea alongside.

Praise focuses on layered broths, plenty of light vegetables and prices that match the quality; one overseas visitor said every later meal paled in comparison. Others note the self-service setup and a comfortable, clean room. Complaints are few: limited seating means a possible wait at mealtimes, and with the meal built around soup, staples are modest, so big eaters may want extras.

Open Tuesday to Sunday 12:00 to 14:30 and 17:00 to 20:00, closed Mondays. The guide lists it as cash only, and bookings are handled directly by the restaurant. Mirror Media reported in 2024 that the clear beef soup and angelica duck soup were NT$190 each with rice and sides, egg yolk rice NT$40 and camellia oil noodles NT$50, so prices may have changed. One person can usually eat for two to three hundred dollars.

Ideal for a light, warming, non-greasy lunch or dinner, or for anyone who likes old buildings and creative spaces. First-timers should try the peeled chili and clam chicken soup, swap the staple for camellia oil noodles and add an iced tea; on cold days, go for the angelica duck. Two people ordering different soups to share is the best way to taste the contrast.