The Verdict
Marc L³ is chef Marc Liao’s restaurant in a glass-fronted townhouse on Renyi Street in Kaohsiung’s Qianjin District. Taipei-born, Liao spent more than a decade cooking abroad, then a spell at the two-star Liberte in Kaohsiung, before opening his own room in 2021. The three Ls stand for Live, Liberal and Limitless.
The format is a single nine-course tasting menu at 3,600 Taiwan dollars, contemporary European cooking built on local seasonal produce, with the witty plate descriptions that have become a signature. It carries a Michelin Guide Taiwan listing and a place at 50 Best Discovery, and the ground-floor counter faces the open kitchen.
The Kitchen
Chef Marc Liao cooks one menu at Marc L³: a nine-course tasting at 3,600 Taiwan dollars that changes with the season. The style is contemporary European laid over Taiwanese produce, layered and precise, and the dishes carry the witty written descriptions Liao is known for. He trained for over a decade abroad and worked at the two-Michelin-star Liberte in Kaohsiung before opening here in 2021, and that fine-dining grounding shows in the technique even in a relaxed setting. The ground-floor communal counter puts diners up close to the kitchen; the menu is set, so the kitchen leads and the room follows.
The Room
Marc L³ occupies a two-storey shophouse on Renyi Street in Qianjin District, its traditional frontage replaced entirely with glass so the space reads light and open from the street. The ground floor is a communal dining counter facing the kitchen, the best seats for watching the cooking; the second floor holds regular tables suited to larger groups. The mood is contemporary and unstuffy for a tasting-menu room, the fine-dining precision delivered without ceremony. It is a compact, modern space rather than a grand dining hall.
Best for a Food-First Dinner
Book Marc L³ for a food-first dinner in Kaohsiung, when the cooking is the point. The nine-course menu at 3,600 dollars is strong value for the technique, and the counter seats turn the meal into a show of the kitchen. It suits couples and solo diners who want a serious tasting menu, and small groups happy to eat the same set courses together upstairs.
Not For
Not for anyone who wants to order a la carte or graze lightly. Marc L³ serves one set nine-course menu, so there is no picking and no quick option, and a counter dinner runs a couple of hours. Skip it if you have dietary needs the kitchen cannot pre-arrange, or want a casual, choose-your-own meal.
Reservations
Marc L³ takes reservations online and books out ahead, especially for the ground-floor counter, so reserve early and flag dietary needs in advance for the set menu. The single nine-course tasting runs 3,600 Taiwan dollars before drinks. It sits at No. 231 Renyi Street in Qianjin District, walkable from the Central Park metro; dress is smart-casual and the meal runs about two hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marc L³ worth it?
Marc L³ is worth it for a contemporary tasting menu in Kaohsiung at strong value. Chef Marc Liao, who trained abroad and at two-star Liberte, serves nine courses at 3,600 Taiwan dollars, and the restaurant holds a Michelin Guide Taiwan listing and a 50 Best Discovery place. The counter seats face the kitchen, making it a food-first night rather than a casual one.
What should I order at Marc L³?
There is nothing to order a la carte: Marc L³ serves a single nine-course tasting menu at 3,600 Taiwan dollars that changes with the season. The cooking is contemporary European on local Taiwanese produce, with the witty plate descriptions chef Marc Liao is known for. Flag any dietary needs when booking, since the menu is set in advance.
Where is Marc L³ in Kaohsiung?
Marc L³ is at No. 231 Renyi Street in Qianjin District, Kaohsiung, in a two-storey shophouse with a glass frontage. The ground floor is a communal counter facing the kitchen; the second floor has regular tables for groups. It is walkable from the Central Park metro station in the city centre, and booking ahead is advised.
Does Marc L³ have a Michelin star?
Marc L³ does not hold a Michelin star, but it is listed in the Michelin Guide Taiwan and recognised at 50 Best Discovery. Chef Marc Liao opened it in 2021 after cooking at the two-Michelin-star Liberte in Kaohsiung, and serves a nine-course contemporary tasting menu at 3,600 Taiwan dollars built on local seasonal produce.
Also in Kaohsiung
Explore the full Kaohsiung dining guide, or compare it with Liberte and Thomas Chien. See our tasting menu and modern European guides, and the best restaurants for solo dining.