The Verdict
GEN, which trades as GEN by Matt Chen, opened in Kaohsiung's Cianjhen District from the team behind Liberte, the two-Michelin-starred restaurant that closed in December 2023. It won its first Michelin star in the 2024 Michelin Guide Taiwan and held the star in 2025. The building announces itself with a facade of more than a thousand perforated metal panels designed to ripple like flame.
A kitchen brigade drawn from Macau and Hong Kong cooks three set menus that lean on dried seafood such as bird's nest and abalone and update 1980s Cantonese cooking. The signature is braised whole abalone with thirty-year aged radish and Chinese mushroom in a supreme abalone sauce; the chargrilled scallop with kombu is another fixture. The set menus are Gen Roots at NT$2,680, Gen Legacy at NT$5,280 and Gen Realm at NT$8,880, with a concise French wine list and a long tea menu.
The Kitchen
GEN's kitchen brigade comes from Macau and Hong Kong and builds three set menus around classic Cantonese technique and gourmet dried seafood. The signature is braised whole abalone with thirty-year aged radish and Chinese mushroom in supreme abalone sauce, where the abalone holds its shape and takes on the broth; the chargrilled scallop with kombu, peas and parsley sauce is the other plate to watch for. The menus update 1980s Cantonese favourites with a lighter, modern hand. Pricing is fixed: Gen Roots is NT$2,680, Gen Legacy NT$5,280 and Gen Realm NT$8,880, paired from a short French wine list or an unusually varied tea selection.
The Room
GEN sits behind one of Kaohsiung's most distinctive facades, more than a thousand perforated metal panels that ripple like flame and nod to the city's industrial past. Inside, the room is calm: camel and neutral tones set against gunmetal grey, an arc-shaped counter for watching the pass, round tables for groups and private rooms for closed-door dinners. It is built for a considered, multi-course meal rather than a quick one, and the service is paced to the set menus. The counter is the seat to request.
Best for Impressing Clients
Book GEN to impress clients or close a deal over a long Cantonese dinner. The private rooms suit a closed-door business meal, the set-menu format takes the ordering decisions off the table, and a Michelin star plus dried-seafood courses such as abalone and bird's nest signal that the evening matters. It also works for a milestone dinner that wants ceremony without a Western tasting room.
Not For
Not for a casual or budget night out. GEN is a fixed set-menu room where the cheapest menu starts at NT$2,680 a head and the cooking centres on luxury dried seafood, so it is a deliberate, expensive evening rather than a drop-in. Skip it if you want a la carte freedom, a fast meal, or regional Taiwanese street cooking.
Reservations
GEN takes reservations through its booking system and fills quickly for weekend dinners, so reserve well ahead and note your preference for the counter or a private room. The restaurant is at 8 Fusing 4th Road in the Cianjhen District of Kaohsiung; reach it on +886 7 338 4885. Choose between the Gen Roots, Gen Legacy and Gen Realm set menus when you book, and confirm any dietary needs in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does GEN in Kaohsiung have a Michelin star?
Yes. GEN won its first Michelin star in the 2024 Michelin Guide Taiwan and retained it in 2025. The restaurant, which trades as GEN by Matt Chen, comes from the team behind Liberte, the Kaohsiung restaurant that held two Michelin stars when it closed in December 2023, so the kitchen carries a serious pedigree into its Cantonese cooking.
What should I order at GEN?
GEN serves three fixed set menus, so the question is which tier rather than which dish. The signature across them is braised whole abalone with thirty-year aged radish and Chinese mushroom in a supreme abalone sauce, and the chargrilled scallop with kombu is another standout. The menus lean on dried seafood such as bird's nest and abalone and update 1980s Cantonese cooking.
How much does GEN cost?
GEN is priced by set menu: Gen Roots is NT$2,680 a person, Gen Legacy is NT$5,280 and Gen Realm is NT$8,880, before drinks. Wine comes from a concise French list and there is a broad tea menu. Because the format is fixed, the menu tier you choose sets the bill, with the dried-seafood courses driving the higher prices.
Where is GEN in Kaohsiung?
GEN is at 8 Fusing 4th Road in the Cianjhen District of Kaohsiung, behind a striking facade of more than a thousand perforated metal panels. The dining room has an arc-shaped counter and private rooms, and you can reach the restaurant on +886 7 338 4885. It is the Cantonese venture from the team that ran the two-starred Liberte.
Also in Kaohsiung
Explore the full Kaohsiung dining guide, or compare it with Liberte and Thomas Chien. See our Chinese and fine-dining guides, and the best tables to impress clients.