📍Shilin District, Taipei City (Shilin MRT Station)
A delightful sauerkraut fish dish for one person🐟
Whenever I take the MRT, I am always drawn to this bright sign.
This place specializes in meals for one, and you don't even need to communicate with the staff. You can use the self-order machine to place your order and make your payment. Rice and drinks are self-serve, eat as much as you like!
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Menu items:
🍋 Lemon and Green Pepper Fish (Value Size) ($248):
Here, the sauerkraut fish comes in three sizes: mini, value, and large. When you're really hungry, I recommend going for the value size; it's just right.
This is the first time I've tasted a lemon-based broth, and the acidity of the lemon is quite strong—if you can't handle sour flavors, this isn't for you.
The broth contains a variety of ingredients; the fish pieces are smaller but very tender. It also includes slices of pork, baby bok choy, Korean rice cakes, and glass noodles.
🤩 Golden Broth Sauerkraut Fish (Value Size) ($258):
This version is a more commonly found sauerkraut fish flavor. It's quite similar to the traditional taste but less sour and with slightly higher spiciness.
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Would I visit again? Yes!
The flavors exceeded my expectations, and it’s really suitable for eating alone.
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Notes:
🔸 You can pay with LinePay or by card.
Location: Xindian, New Taipei
With the slightly cold and rainy weather, I thought of having a small spicy hotpot. Ah-Er Spicy Hotpot is a chain restaurant that has many locations. The Xindian branch is also pretty standard, without any significant surprises.
🌟 Fatty Intestine and Soft Tofu Pot + Handmade Ramen (Mild Spicy)
I chose mild spicy. The broth doesn't leave a strong impression. Compared to many well-known spicy hotpot broths, both the spiciness and numbness are quite mild and approachable. The walls inside the restaurant introduce that the base broth is from Sichuan, but it tastes very gentle. Those afraid of spiciness won't have a problem at all. There are two pieces of duck blood and four pieces of tofu, which seems less than the last time I visited. 🤣🤣
New Handmade Ramen (Thin)
The texture of the new ramen is very chewy, which I personally really like. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy chewy noodles.
🌟 Fatty Intestine and Stinky Tofu Pot
This was ordered by a friend who came with me, and it is basically similar to my taste, with the only difference being the stinky tofu. Their stinky tofu isn't particularly characteristic nor very smelly, only slightly so.
The whole place is a chain restaurant, so there aren't any major surprises, but it's a decent option to consider when craving an affordable spicy hotpot.
There are very few Sichuan restaurants in Hualien, but this one is particularly delicious. I first recommend their braised noodles; the broth is incredibly fresh, sweet, and rich. You won't feel thirsty after drinking it, as it's made from natural ingredients. I'm really curious about how they make it, because every time I eat here, I finish the entire bowl of soup.
Next, the spicy noodles, which are an essential part of Sichuan cuisine, are seasoned to a level of spiciness that Taiwanese people can accept. So, what you taste is mostly the numbing flavor, and it’s not too spicy at all. However, I wish they could adjust the flavor to be a bit more authentic to Sichuan, as it feels somewhat unsatisfactory—sort of like scratching an itch that can’t be reached.
As for the side dishes, the braised duck blood is very flavorful, with a texture as soft and tender as tofu, making it perfect for rice. If you have a larger group, you can also try their other side dishes or hot pot items, which are all of high quality. Friends who enjoy Sichuan flavors should definitely check this place out if they have the chance to visit Hualien.
🚩From Chengdu, Sichuan with a deep broth
Yun Ding A Er Spicy Restaurant is located on Zhongzheng Road in Xindian, close to the Beixin intersection, between Qizhang and Xindian District Office Station. Originally, this location was a Yangcheng Italian restaurant, then it changed to Mita Stone Hot Pot, and three years ago it became Yun Ding A Er. The restaurant has two floors, with vintage inn-style decor. There is a substantial amount of wood used in the entire space: wooden tables and chairs, wooden floors, wooden wall panels, and even wooden lattice decorations on the ceiling and large windows. The seating is quite spacious, and the overall space is clean and tidy, with good lighting and adequate air conditioning, creating a very comfortable dining environment.
After being seated, you fill out a paper menu and pay at the counter. Both cash and two forms of electronic payment are accepted. An invoice can be issued, and there is no service charge.
The food arrived quickly after ordering. Today I ordered the following:
Hutong A Er Thick Cut Lamb Hot Pot: It arrived steaming hot, and I crazily blew away the steam to take a photo 🤣. I ordered it with a little spiciness; the broth seems to be made by simmering multiple base ingredients, resulting in a layered spiciness and numbing flavor. Personally, I think it's quite good, but the amount of broth is not much. The portion of ingredients was acceptable, and it tasted okay.
Traditional Braised Pork Rice: The rice is fluffy, and the braised pork has a beautiful color and fragrant sauce. The individual order is $55, but it's $45 when paired with the lamb hot pot.
Pork Bone White Soup Fresh Fish Pot: This also arrived bubbling hot. The broth is a thick white color and has a mild flavor. The fish is cut into soft small pieces, and while the amount provided was okay, it doesn’t have much presence. Besides the vegetables, the other ingredients were not abundant. It comes with handmade pulled noodles, which are relatively wide and thick, and quite good.
Soft Boiled Egg: No additional seasoning, just ordinary.
They offer lemon water and two types of smoothies, which are not too sweet.
The prices of the dishes are slightly on the higher side, and the portions are a bit small, but the quality is good, making it satisfying for those with smaller appetites.
Pingtung has a new international restaurant - Chuan Yu Noodle House. This is an authentic Sichuan-style noodle restaurant, and the owner is from Sichuan. The small shop might not look impressive from the outside, but the flavors are incredible and truly authentic Sichuan. It reminds me a lot of the noodles I had when I visited mainland China.
Inside, there is air conditioning, and there are only five tables. They also have a delivery platform and offer refreshing lemonade.
Fatty intestine noodles 💰120 - They handle it very well with no unpleasant smell. The texture is soft and chewy without being tough to bite. The highlight is definitely their soup; it’s absolutely delicious! There’s a fresh flavor to it. I ordered it with a bit of spiciness, which is acceptable for someone like me who doesn’t usually eat spicy food, and it has a slight numbing sensation that’s truly enjoyable.
Three delicacies rice noodles 💰120 - It mainly consists of slices of pork and mushrooms. Some of the meat slices are tender while others are a bit tough. The rice noodles have a texture similar to rice vermicelli, absorbing the broth well, making it very flavorful. This soup is a bit different, with a sweet taste from the vegetables. After finishing the whole bowl, I felt about 70% full.
The side dishes are also impressive, especially their sauces, which are mildly spicy and appetizing. The pig ears are soft and very tasty; they are a must-try!
🎖️ Jinxiyuan 🎖️
Located next to the Wuhou Shrine on a commercial street in Chengdu, Sichuan.
28 RMB per person, which includes tea and three performances (long-spout teapot tea art/ Sichuan opera/ face-changing).
If you want to have a meal or snack on sunflower seeds, that will cost extra~
But if you're just there to watch the performances, 28 yuan is quite a deal. After going upstairs, you first brew a bowl of tea, and you can choose the tea leaves. While sipping tea, you can enjoy three major performances of Sichuan.
The tea doesn't taste too strong, but the main point isn't really about drinking tea XD
Although each of the three performances isn't very long, totaling about 20 minutes, they are vibrant and colorful, with elements of both mountains and water. The teapot man will personally come down to refill your cup, and the girl from the Sichuan opera is beautiful, with long whiskers that almost touch the air conditioning unit on the ceiling.
The face-changing act is truly amazing; I've seen it many times and still can't figure it out. I suspect it’s done by pulling it off with a string, but even after revealing his true face, he can quickly put the mask back on, and I just can't wrap my head around it...
Lastly, I checked online, and there are quite a few of these types of places around the Wuhou Shrine or Kuan Zhai Alley. Friends who come can experience it; it’s really cool.
Lin Shu Ju Sichuan Noodle House Xinyi Branch is located on the north side of Yongji Road, nestled between the bustling Wufenpu and the Xinyi Planning District, in a relatively relaxed area. Lin Shu Ju is located here.
Today, I enjoyed: chicken soup noodles, shrimp and cabbage tossed noodles, spicy and sour cold noodles from Sichuan, and vinegar stir-fried Sichuan ear fungus, totaling 410 TWD.
Chicken Soup Noodles:
A rich chicken soup base carefully simmered, paired with tender chicken thighs and wings, it's a perfect dish that warms both the heart and the stomach. The delicate noodles do not compromise the thickness of the soup, creating a harmonious and delicious combination.
Shrimp and Cabbage Tossed Noodles:
Dried shrimp combined with fresh and sweet large cabbage, the texture is tender with a hint of salty sweetness. The cabbage almost melts in the bowl, and the noodles used are very thick and broad. Honestly, the texture is something I’m not quite used to, but I can't deny that aside from this, it’s a good dish.
Sichuan Spicy and Sour Cold Noodles:
Is there only one bowl? Yes. The cold noodles made from pea starch have a chewy texture, paired with a fragrant, spicy, and sweet sauce that stimulates the appetite.
Vinegar Stir-Fried Sichuan Ear Fungus:
Prepared using a delicious vinegar stir-fry method, the portion is generous, and the small dish at 50 TWD is worth it.
Overall, it’s a tasty Sichuan noodle place. I often revisit mainly for their chicken soup, but the other dishes are also excellent.
Highly recommended to everyone!
"I'm hungry, I'm hungry! I heard a colleague say they wanted to eat sauerkraut fish, which reminded me of all the sauerkraut fish I saw on my phone earlier, so I decided to give it a try."
<About the meal🥣>
I ordered a spicy sauerkraut fish. The soup was very salty, but the spiciness wasn’t painful; instead, it gave a numbing sensation to my tongue as soon as I swallowed the soup. The fish was very tender, making me want to order another serving of fish to continue enjoying it. If you can’t or don’t dare to eat spicy food, I personally recommend the tomato-flavored sauerkraut fish.
<About the staff👨🍳>
The staff on site were very busy; I could even see their dishwashing area... but it was relatively clean.
<About the environment🐾>
The dining area was quite cramped, but it’s a paradise for food lovers. The white rice and drinks available were all delicious and enough to fill you up. The lighting and decor were very nice, making the dining experience very enjoyable. However, it’s a self-service ordering and payment restaurant, so if you come to eat, do pay attention to their ordering process.
On Friday evening, come to draw a number after work. I personally think on average you wait about three minutes for a group—there were actually quite a few number skips in between.
This was my first time trying the "Diao Min" sour fish with pickled vegetables. I can’t eat spicy, but I can eat sour, and this time both soup bases had a bit, but mainly I had the tomato base.
Personally, I highly recommend the shrimp paste, their meatballs, and the fish skin! Especially the fish skin—make sure to eat it right when it comes to the table while the soup base is still hot; it’s really delicious!
As for the tomato soup, I think it’s pretty standard—not too special, but not disappointing either.
What surprised me the most was the fish skin paired with the tomato soup base. The fish skin has a part that’s tender and a part that’s slightly crispy, which I really liked!
Also, their duck blood is actually quite good, but you really have to eat it while it's hot—once it cools down, the texture decreases quite a bit.
This time, my total spent was about 450 per person, which was significantly lower than expected. I originally thought it would be close to a thousand, but in reality, I wasn’t too full. Compared to other spicy hot pot places, it’s relatively budget-friendly.
Overall, I would still consider returning, as long as there aren’t too many people waiting for too long, I am willing to accept.
The sauerkraut fish with a little spiciness is quite spicy and very fragrant, but it is a bit salty, so it needs to be paired with white rice. The dining environment in the restaurant is spacious, and the drinks are pretty good. However, during dinner service on a weekday like today, there are fewer staff, so I'm not sure if my order was placed after I ordered. I could only confirm it when the food was delivered. It’s great that you can use the group discount vouchers, and takeout is very considerate, so if you can’t finish your meal, you can take it home. The clams are just okay.
