Image for inspiration only. Does not depict Formosa Alley
Adelaide is about to get a little taste of Taiwan’s everyday comfort food, and it’s coming straight from the alleys of Tainan city. Formosa Alley is the new eatery set to open this month, founded by Sandy Hsu, a Tainan-born foodie who has called Adelaide home for over ten years.
“I’ve always missed the flavours of home,” Sandy says. “Adelaide has wonderful food diversity, but authentic Taiwanese options are still quite limited. My vision for Formosa Alley is to introduce genuine Taiwanese everyday comfort food to the local community in a warm, approachable, and high-value format.”
The menu is a love letter to Taiwanese daily food culture. Think Taiwanese egg pancakes (dan bing) for brunch, paired with a coffee. Afternoon snacks bring iconic street food to the table, including Taiwanese fried chicken with signature pepper salt, black pudding, and taro fritters, alongside their signature bubble tea. Dinner showcases hearty bento boxes, beef noodle soup, and a limited daily special such as the traditional “sausage wrapped in sticky rice sausage” (da chang bao xiao chang).
Formosa Alley’s interior mirrors the vibe of a nostalgic Taiwanese alleyway. Sandy explains, “We have styled the space with a nostalgic red-brick interior inspired by traditional Taiwanese architecture. The concept is to evoke the feeling of walking into an old Taiwanese alleyway, which is exactly where the name Formosa Alley comes from.” The shop is intentionally small and cozy, with around 12 seats available. The primary focus is takeaway and delivery, although limited dine-in space is available.
Formosa Alley, Sandy tells us, is also very much a “mum-powered” business. Sandy is currently seven and a half months pregnant. “During my maternity period, my close mum friends will help operate the shop alongside me. This business represents both my passion for food and the resilience of mums supporting each other,” she says.
The journey to Formosa Alley began with Sandy’s first food cart, Yummy Wheel Cake, operating in North Terrace and Rundle Mall from 2019 to 2021. She paused the business in 2022 when she had her first child, but the passion never left. Sandy says, “Late last year, the opportunity came up to secure this small shop, and it felt like the right time to finally bring my vision of Taiwanese everyday food to life.”
The name Formosa also carries historical meaning. Sandy adds, “When Portuguese sailors first sighted Taiwan in the 16th century, they reportedly called it ‘Ilha Formosa,’ meaning ‘beautiful island.’”
Formosa Alley’s soft opening is on 13 and 14 March, followed by a “warm opening” on 21 March and finally the full-capacity grand opening on 22 March. The restaurant will open Wednesday to Sunday for dinner and for brunch from Friday to Sunday.
With Taiwanese streets now arriving in Adelaide, Formosa Alley promises a daily comfort food fix that locals have been waiting for — fried chicken, bubble tea, and all.
Formosa Alley
Where: 137 Findon Road, Findon
When: Grand opening expected 22 March
For more info, click here.
