Solid　oxide　fuel　cells　(SOFCs)　are　recognized　as　highly　efficient　energy-conversion　and　ecofriendliness　technologies.　However,　the　high-temperature　operation　of　conventional　SOFCs　at　800-1000　degrees　C　has　hindered　their　practical　applications　due　to　the　accelerated　materials　degradation　and　the　resulting　performance　failures.　Therefore,　developing　lower-temperature　SOFCs　(LT-SOFCs)　seems　necessary.　With　respect　to　LT-SOFCs,　developing　highly　active　cathode　materials　with　long-term　stability　has　been　identified　to　be　the　priority,　where　cathode　surface　engineering　has　surfaced　as　a　pivotal　technique　to　bolster　cathode　functionality.　This　review　delves　into　the　myriads　of　surface　modification　strategies,　including　solution　infiltration,　atomic　layer　deposition　(ALD),　one-pot　method,　exsolution,　pulsed　laser　deposition　(PLD),　and　electrospinning　(ES).　Each　method　is　scrutinized　for　its　potential　to　enhance　the　cathode　oxygen　reduction　reaction　(ORR),　a　critical　process　in　LT-SOFCs,　while　also　fortifying　the　structural　stability　of　cathode　materials.　This　paper　also　meticulously　evaluates　recent　breakthroughs　in　cathode　surface　engineering　with　highlighting　the　nuanced　interplay　between　microstructural　features　and　electrochemical　performance.　The　technical　challenges　that　persist　in　the　practical　application　of　LT-SOFCs　are　analyzed　in　this　work　and　the　possible　further　research　directions　are　also　suggested　for　overcoming　the　challenges　towards　significantly　improved　cathode　performance　including　activity　and　stability.