我在沒落的崛江商場來回走了幾趟，確定沒有搞頭之後，肚子也餓了，據說鹽埕區曾是高雄最繁華的商業中心，雖然沒落已久，但是有不少在地美食，但是，我也懶得按照美食地圖去一一探店，因為，那不是我喜歡的城市散步方式，我比較喜歡到處亂逛的探險尋寶方式，對於食物方面，我也一向都是跟著感覺走，隨遇而安。
走了沒多久，看到一間看起來不怎麼樣的小吃店，店內也沒有甚麼客人，但是，店內有開空調，且乾淨明亮，於是，我就進去點餐，點了一份我好久沒吃的豬肉燴麵，我學生時代，倒是常吃某家小吃店的沙茶豬肉燴麵，那濃郁的沙茶香，混合著豬肉特有的氣味是我忘不掉的好味道，所以，一看到店家有賣豬肉燴麵，我就毫不猶豫點了它，再點一個魚肉湯，北部倒是很少看到有店家賣魚肉湯，有賣的話，一碗要價也不便宜，高雄不虧是海港，海鮮品項就是比較多，且價錢便宜。
豬肉燴麵真的不錯，一吃下去，沙茶的濃香與蒜酥的香氣在嘴中綻放，微微的辣感帶出層次感，卻不嗆喉，沙茶的味道完美包裹著肉片，咀嚼時整個口腔都是香氣與肉汁交融的幸福感，真的是好吃，而鮮甜的魚肉湯，剛好中和豬肉燴麵的濃烈口感，並讓我有著滿滿的飽足感，還好室內有開空調，要不然，我應該會吃得一身汗。
這家小吃店，外觀低調，沒有排隊人潮、也沒打卡牆，更沒有浮誇的裝潢，但那幾張隨意擺放的桌椅，卻有一種說不出的親切感。價格不高，味道實在，空氣中彌漫著食物剛煮好的熱氣與老闆娘輕聲招呼的溫柔，比起那些華而不實的網紅餐廳，我更愛這些躲在巷弄街角、沒什麼宣傳的小店，在店內靜靜地品嘗生活中的煙火味。
I wandered back and forth a few times in the fading Ruifeng shopping area, and after confirming that there was nothing interesting going on, I started to get hungry. I’d heard that Yancheng District used to be the most bustling commercial center in Kaohsiung. Although it's long past its prime, there are still a lot of local food spots around. But honestly, I didn’t feel like following some food map and hitting each famous place one by one. That’s just not my kind of city walk. I much prefer exploring aimlessly, like a little treasure hunt. When it comes to food, I usually just go with my gut and see where I end up.
Not long after, I came across a little eatery that didn’t look like much. There weren’t many customers inside either. But hey—they had air conditioning and the place looked clean and bright, so I walked in and ordered a meal. I went for something I hadn’t had in ages: pork sha-cha (沙茶) braised noodles. Back in my student days, I used to eat a sha-cha pork noodle from a certain shop all the time. That rich aroma of sha-cha mixed with the distinct flavor of pork is a taste I’ll never forget. So when I saw it on the menu here, I didn’t even hesitate—I just ordered it. I also got a bowl of fish soup. In the north, it’s rare to see shops selling actual fish soup, and when they do, it's usually pricey. Kaohsiung really lives up to its harbor city reputation. There's more seafood and it's cheaper too.
The pork sha-cha noodles turned out to be really good. From the first bite, the rich sha-cha and the crispy fried garlic flavor just exploded in my mouth. There was a gentle spiciness that added depth but didn’t burn. The sauce coated the pork slices perfectly, and with every chew, the blend of meaty juice and spice filled my mouth with joy. It was honestly delicious. The fresh and sweet fish soup balanced out the bold flavor of the noodles nicely and left me feeling full and satisfied. Thankfully the AC was on, or I probably would've been sweating buckets while eating.
This little shop is super low-key—no lines, no Instagram-worthy decor, no flashy signs. Just a few casually placed tables and chairs, but somehow it had this unexplainable warmth. The prices were fair, the food was solid, and the air carried that comforting smell of just-cooked dishes, with the soft voice of the lady boss calling out orders. Compared to those over-the-top influencer cafes, I really prefer these humble, hidden neighborhood gems. Sitting inside and quietly enjoying a hot meal like this. It’s exactly what “the taste of daily life” means to me.
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