All reviews of category "Soup Specialty"

Chun Yin Restaurant is located on Lane 132, Hulin Street, in the Xinyi District, right behind the bustling Section 5 of Zhongxiao East Road. It is about a five-minute walk from Yongchun MRT Station.

Today, I enjoyed Mao Zedong's pork rib rice, pepper chicken with pork belly soup, Japanese-style fried oysters, and Keelung-style tempura, totaling 580 NT dollars.

Mao Zedong's Pork Rib Rice:
This dish has a powerful name, apparently inspired by Mao's red-braised pork, but improved by the restaurant. The ribs are braised and then coated in a strong mix of spices, topped generously with fried garlic and crispy shallots, creating an impressive presentation.

The pork ribs are tender yet slightly chewy, seemingly from the rib section, with the sauce seeping into the meat, providing a salty and slightly sweet flavor. The spiciness is not overwhelming, making it quite palatable. The melt-in-your-mouth texture of the rib meat and the gelatinous feel of the connective tissue is very satisfying. The rice is distinct and, when drizzled with sauce, is even better, complemented by an egg and blanched greens, creating a well-balanced dish.

Pepper Chicken with Pork Belly Soup:
The milky-white broth is paired with thinly sliced pink meat. The soup base is rich and robust, with a hint of pepperiness that is not overpowering. The warm chicken broth exudes a rich gelatinous texture, making it smooth and warming on the stomach. The pork belly is cleaned very well, with a soft and chewy texture and no fishy taste. The accompanying vegetables are perfectly stewed, melting in your mouth and soaking up the essence of the broth, adding layers to the overall soup.

I've returned to this place multiple times, but the cabbage on that day seemed to have some issues, particularly a strong earthy taste at the root. I believe this was an isolated incident and does not affect my overall rating.

The soup is enhanced with thick “phantom” noodles, which are a firm type of Japanese ramen.

Japanese-style Fried Oysters:
They are golden and crispy, perfectly fried, and you can hear a light crunch when biting into them. The oysters inside remain moist, deliciously rich, and not overcooked. When paired with yellow mustard sauce, the slight spiciness enhances the fresh sweetness of the oysters.

Keelung-style Tempura:
The outer layer is crispy with a slight bounce, not overly hard, providing just the right texture. The fish paste releases a natural sea flavor upon chewing.

Overall, this restaurant combines features of Taiwanese and Japanese styles in a distinctive soup dining experience. The decor and atmosphere are quite unique, brimming with subcultural vibes, from the "Attack on Titan" Survey Corps flags on the wall to various nostalgic toys, figurines, and humorous slogans written in calligraphy. It feels like this place is not just a restaurant for eating, but more like a hidden anime haven.

I hope the quality of the cabbage is better next time; I will definitely return with confidence once again.

Highly recommended to everyone!

I had previously eaten at another branch and thought it was good, so I came to this branch for dinner. Since it was cold, I was in the mood for soup, and this place's soup is very rich; those who like soup should enjoy it.

The dining environment is comfortable, but unfortunately, when I came to eat on a Sunday evening around 6 PM, there was no rice left, only noodle soup. Some soups were also unavailable, which shows that the business is doing well.

I ordered the Mushroom Chicken Soup, which came with a soft-boiled egg and sesame oil noodle soup. The noodle portion was generous, and I felt very full. The soft-boiled egg was perfectly done with a runny yolk. The chicken soup was equally delicious, rich, and not overly salty; there was a good amount of chicken in it, along with three types of vegetables: carrots, enoki mushrooms, and cabbage. It was quite hearty, but at $250 for a set, it was a bit pricey.

I also ordered the Skinless Chili Chicken Soup, which was a bit spicy but not too much. The chicken soup tasted different from the Mushroom Chicken Soup; you could taste the flavor of the skinless chili, which was also very good. If you enjoy spicy food, you can order this.

On the side, there were fresh chili peppers, which were extremely spicy. Fortunately, I didn't take too many, but they were quite enjoyable. There was also a water dispenser available for self-service water.

Walking Su Herbal Oil Chicken is located on Dongping Road in the Eastern District of Tainan. It is a specialty store for herbal oil chicken that is particularly popular in winter. There is always a crowd waiting in line, especially on cold days when it is even more difficult to get a seat.

The signature dish here is the herbal oil chicken soup, which has a rich flavor but isn’t greasy. The aroma of sesame oil is strong, combined with the herbal flavors of goji berries and ginger slices. It warms the body without causing any heatiness, and you won’t feel tired even after drinking several bowls. Moreover, the best part is that you can have unlimited refills on the soup, making it increasingly enjoyable. They use tender chicken thighs that are very flavorful and the meat easily separates from the bone, adding to the satisfaction.

In addition to the soup, their herbal oil chicken sticky rice is limited in quantity each day and is another popular item. The sticky rice absorbs the aroma of sesame oil and ginger, resulting in chewy and moist grains. Paired with chicken and ginger slices, it is mouth-watering, but unfortunately, I arrived too late this time and it was already sold out. 😢

As for the noodles, they are also a classic choice paired with the herbal oil soup. The noodles are smooth and not overly soft, and they become even more fragrant after soaking up the soup. If you're looking to add something extra, their blood rice cake is also a good option, as the rich aroma of the herbal oil soup makes the blood rice cake very flavorful.

In terms of pricing, the herbal oil chicken soup starts at 120 NT dollars, while the noodles and other ingredients are around 30 NT dollars each. It’s inevitable that prices have likely increased by 20-30 NT dollars over time. Overall, this combination is especially comforting in cold weather and is, in my opinion, a great choice for warming up in Tainan.

Located in the Salt Industry area of Yongkang, Tainan, "Rui Rui Jia Yummy Mushroom and Free-range Chicken Soup" is a small shop specializing in health-focused soup dishes. I became curious after seeing their sign and decided to give it a try. They don’t have many soup options; their main offering is the Yummy Mushroom and Free-range Chicken Soup, which can also be mixed with pork ribs. Besides soup, they also sell rice rolls, but I didn’t order them this time.

The broth of the Yummy Mushroom and Free-range Chicken Soup has a complex flavor, with a hint of medicinal herbs that distinctly sets it apart from regular chicken soup. The chicken is cooked to perfection — incredibly tender and almost melts in your mouth, which gives off an authentic feel. The inclusion of the Yummy mushrooms enhances the overall aroma and flavor, making it a less common pairing. The tea served is also a highlight of the shop and is provided for free, offering a refreshing and slightly sweet taste.

I ordered the minced pork rice. Although it pairs conveniently with the soup, the taste is rather ordinary, relying heavily on the soup to stand out. Additionally, the prices are a bit on the high side; a bowl of soup costs 150 TWD, which might be a bit much for the local consumers, explaining why there aren’t many diners inside. To put it into perspective, the soup and rice combination for 180 TWD could get you all-you-can-eat at nearby hot pot restaurants.

Despite this, the soup here indeed possesses a unique charm. If one is willing to pay for quality, I personally think it’s worth revisiting. However, the long-term viability will depend on market acceptance.

When at NTU Hospital and you want to nourish a patient with a bowl of sea bass soup, there is a place you can choose from the food court in the hospital's basement.

An Yong Fresh Foods specializes in various fish soups, related porridge dishes, frozen foods, and souvenirs. However, the prices are indeed very expensive — a slice of steamed sea bass can sell for 100, which is quite shocking. Nonetheless, the texture of the meat is very tender, and the accompanying green onions and garlic enhance the flavor, making it truly delicious.

The dining space inside the restaurant is not large, as part of the space is also used for displaying souvenirs and other products. So, friends who want to dine in should come early to purchase during meal times.

Taipei Beitou - Known for its Michelin Bib Gourmand recommendation, famous for its healthy and original soup dishes. Every time I come, I must have a bowl of "Clam Stewed Chicken Leg Soup"! Shuangyue has opened many branches, and this time I came to Beitou specifically to try it out. I discovered a new set menu called "Eat Like Oppa," which costs 520 NT and includes:
🔹 Clam Stewed Chicken Leg Soup
🔹 Spicy Pepper Noodles
🔹 Shuangyue Dried Oysters
🔹 Braised Golden Barramundi

Additionally, we ordered an extra noodle dish:
📍 Black Truffle Mixed Noodles NT$99
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
A mild black truffle flavor, the sauce isn't overly rich, and the noodles are chewy. I find it decent, though not particularly impressive.

📍 Spicy Pepper Noodles
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌖
This is Shuangyue's most recommended noodle dish. I love the aroma of Sichuan pepper, though it's not too spicy, and it perfectly blends with the sesame sauce! Delicious!

📍 Clam Stewed Chicken Leg Soup
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
Five stars recommended! The cabbage and clams are fully infused into the soup, making it super fresh and sweet. The chicken leg pieces are ample, not too tough, nor too tender.

📍 Shuangyue Dried Oysters
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
A generous portion of fresh oysters, lightly seasoned, with shredded ginger at the bottom for added flavor.

📍 Braised Golden Barramundi
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
This dish is a bit ordinary, with a relatively mild braised flavor. It's more about purely enjoying the fish itself.

▶️ Environment
🔹 The dining area is quite large, accommodating around 25-30 people.
🔹 The decor is clean and simple.
🔹 Offers self-service drinking water and burdock tea (small cups).
🔹 Self-service utensils.

▶️ Helpful Tips
🔹 Take a number upon entering and wait for it to be called.
🔹 Use the ordering machine to pay (separate machines for cash and credit card/mobile payment).

▶️ Overall Review
🔹 Every time I finish eating at Shuangyue, I can't wait for the next visit! The soups are truly impeccable. I recommend each person get their own bowl of soup, as sharing one bowl between two people might not be enough, haha!

📍New Beitou Station, Taipei

Shuangyue is a very famous soup restaurant in Taipei, known for its various soup dishes. This time, I tried the branch in Beitou, located next to Beitou Park. The business is very good; during lunchtime, there is a bit of a wait before being directed to the self-service ordering machine. There are quite a few seating options, and the dining environment is pretty nice.

Dishes 🥘

• Energetic A-Gan Shredded Lean Pork Soup / 110 NTD:
  The flavor is a sweet and spicy sensation, with noticeable spiciness, but the sweetness of the cabbage and the spiciness of the chili blend well together, highlighting the sweet aftertaste. However, there were a bit too many meat scraps today, which slightly affected the appearance.

• Love-Hate Mixed Noodles / 70 NTD:
  I really liked the noodles; they are made of a thicker type that holds the sauce well. They were cooked perfectly—not too hard, while still maintaining the texture of thick noodles. Paired with the special sesame sauce and pepper powder, the aroma of the sauce combined perfectly with the spice in the mouth, highly recommended to try!

• Oily Golden Braised Pork Rice / 50 NTD:
  I felt that this bowl of braised pork rice was a bit lacking in the amount of pork given, which was disappointing for its price. Moreover, the pork itself wasn't particularly outstanding and felt a bit empty; I might not order it again next time.

• Golden Fresh Bass Clams / 200 NTD:
  The fish was very fresh and in large pieces, but be careful as there may be some leftover fish bones. The soup contained a lot of soft, well-stewed cabbage, and the flavor was quite fresh and sweet; there was no heavy feeling when drinking it.

• Lucky Braised Egg ($10 each) + Relaxed Tofu Skin ($25):
  All of Shuangyue's braised dishes are made with chicken broth and pure brewed soy sauce, without any chemical ingredients, so you won’t feel dry after eating.

Sharing a chicken soup specialty shop located in the Eastern District - Wang Wang Chicken Nourishing Native Chicken Soup. It mainly serves the local working crowd, so it is only open on weekdays.

When I visited this time, I wasn't particularly hungry, so I tried their à la carte dish - sesame oil chicken gizzards - for 100. The portion is not large; the gizzards themselves have no fishy taste, and the texture is neither hard nor soft, just average, all cut in half. The sesame oil flavor is mild, and it comes with shredded ginger. What surprised me more was the sesame oil broth next to it; it’s not just the usual sesame oil chicken soup flavor but has a rich taste. I feel it would be more worthwhile to order the sesame oil chicken soup directly!

📍Beitou District, Taipei City (near Xinbeitou Metro Station🚉 & Beitou Park⛲️)
Famous for its soup dishes | Slogan: The number one brand of health soups for the Chinese community🥣

Shuangyue is a restaurant I frequently order takeout from!
The food is thoughtfully packed (the sauce for the dry noodles is separated from the noodles!), generous portions, and great quality, not much more expensive than dining in.

This time it was my first visit to dine in at Shuangyue🍴

🥘
Ordered items:
🌶️ Energetic A-Gan Pulled Pork Soup ($110):
This is the must-order soup every time I get takeout🤣 Unfortunately, there was a bit too much meat residue in the soup today, which affected the experience of drinking it. Although it uses lean meat, the soup base is still chicken soup (there’s also another version with chicken thigh).
I absolutely love the combination of pulled chili peppers and chicken soup; the spiciness isn’t high, and it’s a gentle, heartwarming match.

Additionally, I particularly liked the cabbage in the soup—I saw on the website they claim to use high-altitude cabbage, and I could definitely feel that the cabbage was cooked for a long time to become very tender, yet still retained the sweetness and crispness of high-altitude cabbage.

🍜 Love-Hate Mixed Noodles ($70):
Also a must-order every time!
The noodles have a slight thickness and great chewy texture, making them very delicious. It’s quite a unique type of noodle, as you rarely find noodles with this texture.

The sauce base is sesame sauce, with a little chili powder for seasoning; personally, I don’t think it’s as spicy as Sichuan pepper, but be aware that this dish is spicier than the pulled chili soup.

🍚 Oily Braised Pork Rice ($50):
The fat-to-lean ratio is about nine to one; the sauce portion could be a bit more generous.

🐟 Fresh Sea Bass with Clams ($200):
A very sweet soup base, which is much milder in flavor compared to the previous soup—the balance of flavors is really well captured, allowing you to taste both the sea bass and the clams.

🥚 Lucky Braised Egg ($10 each) + Tofu Skin ($25):
I’ve tried several of Shuangyue’s braised dishes, and personally, I recommend the braised egg; the others are rather ordinary.

✏️
Notes:
🔸 The dining environment can be somewhat crowded; couples will need to share tables, and you’ll need to take a number and wait. The number vending machine is on the right side upon entering the restaurant.
🔸 There are also several chairs outside for waiting for your number (Arrived on Sunday at 12:30, had to wait about 15 minutes).

I ordered the Emperor Chicken Soup (Super Tender Thigh) set. The herbal chicken soup is decent, but the thigh meat is not "super tender." The shredded chicken on the rice is also quite dry, and the sauce and white rice are not flavorful enough.

This restaurant no longer offers sesame water lily; it's all been replaced with broccoli. However, the texture is both soft and tough, clearly having been refrigerated or frozen, lacking the crispness that fresh blanched broccoli should have.

The chicken broth clear noodles can't really be called fragrant with chicken soup, but the combination of cabbage with pickles and sauce is still somewhat suitable.