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Nong Lai Small Dining Table on Wufeng North Road. Outside the entrance is a painted wall depicting Chiayi landmarks. The owners, a married couple, are not locals; they simply fell in love with the city at the foot of Alishan and moved here. The interior brims with retro-Taiwanese elements—weathered by time, it’s a nostalgic trip for the middle-aged and a hip vintage vibe for the young. Nong Lai focuses on home-style set meals. The owner hits the market daily for fresh ingredients; nearly all signature sauces—soy, chili oil, pickled fruit & veg—are house-made. Top sellers: “Thai-style lemon fish,” built on fresh catch and a Taiwanese twist on Thai sauce; the “private-recipe beef stew,” gone in seconds whenever it’s simmered; and “private-recipe plum-braised chicken,” cooked with pickled plums cured each year at home. Though tucked inside a commercial building, the space flaunts Taiwanese street flair. Since opening in 2020, young diners who loved it brought their families back, fulfilling the original goal: a family restaurant that passes on Taiwanese flavors and bridges generations. No. 53, Wufeng North Rd., East Dist., Chiayi City 05 227 5888 11:00–14:00, 17:00–21:00 Closed Mondays https://reurl.cc/2bbEem