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An 8-year-old Chiayi all-day brunch spot that has never lost its popularity. In Taipei there’s a Japanese restaurant called “Hide from Dad,” while Chiayi has its own “Hide from Mom” brunch place—though its real name is “Warm Belly.” The owner, trained in the culinary arts, loved both cooking and eating and dreamed of opening her own restaurant, but her family thought starting a business too risky and refused to support her. The stubborn girl went ahead anyway and, in 2014, secretly opened “Warm Belly Coffee,” one of the earliest all-day brunch cafés in Chiayi City. She never chased any particular design trend—clean and natural was enough—and set no target audience. “I just want to make what I love to eat,” she says. “If guests happen to love it too, that’s perfect.” Her toast costs four or five times the commercial standard, and she was the first local spot to use hydroponic lettuce from Dalin for her seasonal vegetables. Focusing on food that satisfies guests has replaced flashy marketing; after eight years, Warm Belly’s reputation remains solid, and quality-focused locals recommend it as the top brunch spot in Chiayi. Open Google Reviews and you’ll see the “Maple Fried-Chicken French Toast” is the longtime favorite, usually sold out before noon—come early if you want it. Image source: Chiayi City Government Tourism and News Department | Photography: Marg