Pingtung's newly opened bento shop in August - 小吉腿庫飯 (Xiao Ji Leg Rice). The white sign with red characters is indeed distinctive, and the simple and straightforward name immediately tells you that it specializes in classic leg rice, creating a vibe reminiscent of old Taiwan.
Pork leg rice 💰100, cooked thoroughly, with a slightly sticky gel-like texture, and the parts with tendons have a nice chewiness, making it very enjoyable to eat. The white rice is drenched in their braised sauce, which is sweet and salty, making it very complementary with the rice. Unfortunately, the selection of side dishes isn’t very diverse, with only two florets of broccoli and dried bamboo shoots, which can feel a bit bland after finishing the meal.
This bento shop is truly a surprise! The meals are not only affordable, but the portions are also generous, leaving you feeling full and satisfied. Each dish is made with care, the ingredients are fresh, and the cooking is just right, definitely above the standard of regular bento shops. With such high value for money, it's no wonder that once you try it, you become a regular customer. Whether you're a working professional or a student, this place is the top choice for bento. I recommend it to all friends who seek deliciousness and affordability. Highly recommended!
Every time I pass by, it's always a steady stream of people. This time, since I happened to have some free time while doing business nearby, I decided to check out how impressive it is, only to discover that it’s the popular online shop "Fan Fan"!
There is a simple seating area for dine-in, as well as takeout and delivery services. I ordered the popular recommendations "Charred Beef Brisket" and "Extreme Charred Chicken Thigh Rice" to take out. The "Charred Beef Brisket" comes in medium and large servings. Since I wasn't very hungry this time, I ordered the medium serving, and the charred main dishes required a 20-minute wait for takeout.
The moment I opened the food box, the aroma of the charred beef brisket and chicken thigh filled the air, instantly whetting my appetite. Personally, I believe that although the side dishes are quite simple, the overall flavor is still worth the price.
*Just to mention, all beef brisket items have increased by $15, as noted on the business card.
Pingtung's famous old shop for ribs - Xiao Huang Ribs, offers a variety of dishes including rice and noodles, with affordable prices that are popular among many students and young professionals. The star of the show is the crispy fried ribs on the outside and flavorful on the inside. You can choose three side dishes with the ribs for just 75 NTD!
It's already 2024, and they still have a 75 NTD rib bento. Xiao Huang has been around for 25 years. I always thought it was called "Lao Cha," but after looking closely today, I realized it's actually called Xiao Huang 😂 (Lao Cha is the eye-catching store next door that sells jeans). But the name isn't important; what matters is the high value for money.
The ribs are marinated and sprinkled with pepper, making them quite flavorful and pairing perfectly with the fragrant white rice. However, there are only five or six pieces, which isn't enough; for a guy's appetite, it only fills about 70%. You might want to order an additional main dish to feel satisfied.
If you want to see more video introductions, feel free to search on IG: ooo.eat
The Kinkatsu Taro Restaurant is located in the East District of Taipei City. The nearest MRT station is Zhongxiao Dunhua Station, Exit 3, which takes about a 6-minute walk. There is a fabric curtain on the right side of the store, and as you walk in, there are very few indoor seats (around 2 or 3 people?), with most customers choosing to take away.
After placing your order verbally with the staff, you can only pay in cash. After checking out, you take a number tag and wait for your number to be called.
Today, I ordered the Taro Small Cuttlefish Rice for $140. The main dish consists of 3 small cuttlefish, one of which was slightly burnt, but it still tasted relatively fresh with light seasoning.
The rice is mixed with taro chunks, giving it a special aroma. The amount of taro is just right, pairing well with the rice, but the texture today was a bit sticky. (Since I don't really like taro, I asked, and I couldn't order plain white rice because the taro and rice are cooked together 😂).
The side dishes are all unseasoned: half a boiled egg, slices of cucumber, and shredded carrot. The vendor has adjusted the prices; the previous price was $160, but the side dishes felt richer back then. The side dishes after the price cut taste rather uninteresting. While they are very healthy, they don't stimulate the appetite. It's a place one might go to when they can't think of what to eat for two or three months.
Although it is a chain bento shop, it still has its impressive aspects. Most of the dishes at other chain bento shops are cold, with only the meat being hot, but that's not the case here at Liang Shehan. Each dish is served piping hot, which is really quite impressive, and they are willing to spend that extra money to heat or keep the dishes warm.
However, when it comes to the flavors, I find the dishes to be rather ordinary, with a slightly salty taste, especially in the meat. Overall, it's a bit greasy. The vegetable dish is quite sweet, and I personally feel that this kind of flavor does not go well with rice.
Moreover, as far as bentos go, their prices are really on the higher side. Unless they are using high-quality ingredients, I probably wouldn’t become a repeat customer unless I specifically want a piping hot bento.
This is a shelter kitchen located in the center of Taitung City, where more than 70-80% of the staff are people who are not able to care for themselves fully physically or mentally. However, this inconvenience does not affect the quality of their dishes.
This isn't just to speak on their behalf since the market is also a tough one; the bento must be delicious to survive. Their bentos meet the standards expected of a bento shop, with rice that is perfectly cooked, fresh ingredients, and healthy seasoning. Even though the cooking methods are relatively simple, the flavors of the food itself are therefore highlighted.
If you want a balanced meal for lunch or dinner, you can come to this shelter kitchen. There are many dishes to choose from, and you can even pair different meats together, so there's no worry about not finding something you want to eat.
🚩 Location 🧭
Located near the intersection of Beiping Road Section 3 and Wenchang East 5th Street in the North District of Taichung City, close to the Wenxin Chongde MRT Station; upon seeing the famous snack shop Lao Xiang, you will find it right inside.
🪑 About the Overall Atmosphere 🎡
It’s somewhat hidden in a first-class dining battle zone alley. The exterior and signage use a yellow theme, with a limited number of indoor seats—about two tables and an L-shaped bar on both sides. The air conditioning is on, and you can see the food preparation process through the transparent glass window. The interior decoration continues with a white and yellow warm space feel. If you're lucky, you might find parking at the entrance, but parking there will cover the store's entrance, which can be a bit awkward; it is better to find another parking space.
💰 About the Price 💰
Char Siu Pork $105, Grilled Pork Belly Noodle $100
🍴 About the Food ☕
The Char Siu Pork bento feels very much like a Chihshang bento, with all the dishes laid on top of the white rice and no selection for side dishes, which include spring rolls, halved tofu, halved braised egg, broccoli, cabbage, and amaranth. Each side dish is relatively mild in flavor; I haven't had spring rolls in a long time and found them delicious, although the amaranth had a slightly rough texture. The amount of Char Siu Pork is quite generous; it has a good chewiness, pairing well with the ample white rice, though towards the end, it felt a bit salty.
The Grilled Pork Belly Noodles have very few side dishes, just a piece of broccoli, pineapple, and cherry tomatoes. The amount of meat is substantial, and there is a lot of noodles, somewhat similar to stewed noodles, with a bit of chewiness. The pork belly has a juicy bite, but since the noodles themselves are quite flavorful, both end up feeling a bit salty by the time you finish.
🤨 Conclusion ♥
Considering the price point, the portion sizes and variety are quite good. I would like to try non-heavy-flavored dishes next time; otherwise, the portion is so large that it becomes a bit salty towards the end.
🚩Location🧭
Located at the intersection of Section 2 of Meicun Road and Section 2 of Liuchuan West Road in the West District of Taichung City, near Chonglun Park. If you're lucky, you can park 1-2 cars in front, but it's along a red line.
🪑About the overall atmosphere🎡
You actually notice this place because the sign is super extravagant. "Universe World Invincible Chicken Leg Box Meal" and "Rice Selection Box Meal" have been born! It can be considered a five-star meal in the bento world. All along, it has adhered to the concept of "less oil, less salt, truly healthy," using traditional Chinese medicine for marinating without excessive seasoning, emphasizing the freshness and essence of the ingredients, and insisting on using top-quality Emperor Rice from Chihshang.
It sounds so impressive that it seems you can't miss it. The shop only accepts cash payments, and if you order non-fried items, they are usually pre-packaged, so they can be handed over immediately; they also provide disposable soup bowls for you to serve soup. The shop has quite a few seats for dining in, probably more than 10, but they are bar-style seating. The soup seems to change daily, and there are cold drinks available for self-service.
💰About pricing💰
Authentic Chihshang bento $90
🍴About the food☕
Upon opening the bento box, wow~ it looks premium; it's not the traditional Chihshang bento that is crammed into a wooden box, but instead, they use an additional three-compartment paper box to separate the side dishes. Side dishes cannot be chosen; they include cabbage, broccoli, half a braised egg, sliced sausage, tofu, and roasted meat. The side dishes are really mild; the cabbage has a slightly shredded part, and the broccoli is super delicious! The cooking time is just right, soft enough but still firm, and the braised egg and sausage are not too salty. Although the meat is a bit dry, it doesn't feel tough; as soon as you bite into it, the aroma spreads in your mouth, and the Chihshang white rice is also dry but very tasty. Perhaps it's because they use wooden boxes, so both the vegetables and rice are quite dry, and the bottom is almost dry after finishing.
🤨Conclusion♥
Although I didn't order the Universe World Invincible Chicken Leg Box Meal (is that the signature dish?), the Chihshang bento really impressed me. I think it's truly delicious with less oil and salt, so next time I’ll have to try the legendary chicken leg bento.
🍱 Restaurant Name: Mijia's Delicacies
📍 Address: No. 29, Section 3, Yanping North Road, Datong District, Taipei City
▫️ Business Hours: ❌ Closed on: Friday
Monday to Thursday 11:00-21:00
Saturday, Sunday 11:00-21:00
▫️ Service Charge: None
▫️ Minimum Charge and Dining Time: No special regulations
▪️ Inside Environment and Atmosphere:
The lighting in the shop is bright, and there are not too few seats,
but if the place is full, you may have to share a table with others.
There is not much oil smell, but still, takeout is recommended!
📝 Orders must be placed and paid for at the counter.
💰 Payment must be made in cash.
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🔖 Meal Record:
▪️ Fried Pork Chop Box $105
▪️ Radish Meatball Soup $40
💡 Meal: 3｜Service: 3｜Atmosphere: 4｜Environment: 3
