The "Good Kid Danzi Noodles" in Xitun District, Taichung, is a Taiwanese snack shop that attracts many locals and tourists with its affordable prices and diverse dishes. Speaking of favorites, their braised pork rice is truly impressive, full of aroma, with a rich braising sauce perfectly matched with the texture of the rice; in addition, the crispy fried crystal fish is tender inside, so fragrant! The fried large intestines are also noteworthy, with no fishy smell, crispy skin, and chewy intestines, making them quite tasty, encouraging bite after bite. Stir-fried snail meat is also a must-order, cooked just right without being overdone, fresh and springy. Generally, Dragon Pearl dishes are considered a bit more expensive hot stir-fried dishes, but the portion size here is sufficient, not making you feel lacking.
In terms of price, overall it is not considered expensive, and it matches the portion size and taste. However, there is indeed quite a crowd here, often requiring lining up, but surprisingly, the service attitude is unexpectedly friendly. The lady helping with the checkout on the day was very polite and kept apologizing to customers, which is rare in popular snack shops, particularly in Taiwan where some businesses become indifferent once they become successful. This kind of service feels quite heartwarming.
Overall, the "Good Kid Danzi Noodles" is worth trying both for its dishes and prices. Whether it's braised pork rice or fried items, their performance is very consistent. It's recommended for friends who love Taiwanese snacks, but be prepared to queue up before going.
"Beiyixuan Hotpot Seafood BBQ" is located in Gushan, Kaohsiung, and this visit left me with mixed feelings. Starting with the positive, the kimchi pork here is really excellent, with a spicy and tangy flavor that whets the appetite, making it irresistible to stop eating. The sakura shrimp fried rice is also good; although not as distinct in grain as mentioned online and a bit moist, the flavor is still very fragrant, with the salty taste of the shrimp perfectly infused in every bite of rice, leaving a very satisfying overall impression.
However, there was a chicken dish, I forgot the exact name, but it made me quite angry. The chicken was cooked in a way that was really disappointing, as it was undercooked. When bitten into, it was pink inside and difficult to chew, impossible to break apart! After calling the waiter, they initially insisted the meat was cooked, only after I repeatedly emphasized the state of the meat did they agree to take it back to be refried. Their refrying didn’t mean preparing a new dish, but rather returning our half-eaten dish to the pan! And to top it off, when brought back to the table, not even an apology was offered; the waiter just placed the dish down and walked away. How can they have such an attitude when they can’t even cook the food properly?
In summary, regarding the food, the kimchi pork and sakura shrimp fried rice are up to standard with good flavors; however, the service attitude can only be rated one star, as they didn’t handle the undercooked food properly. Overall, I’d give it three stars! After reading Google reviews, a lot of people also say this place has a bad attitude and become arrogant because of their business success. For me, tasty food is one thing, but this kind of service handling really makes one feel uncomfortable.
Chang Wang Seafood Stir-Fry is located near the Houshanpi MRT station exit and is a very popular budget stir-fry restaurant in the area. Although it claims to offer dishes for 100 NTD, there are actually quite a few items that cost over 100 NTD.
Today, I enjoyed Mapo Tofu, Stir-Fried Bamboo Shoots, and Sesame Oil Chuanqi, along with a serving of white rice, totaling 320 NTD.
Mapo Tofu:
All the selected dishes happened to be 100 NTD items. The spiciness of the Mapo Tofu isn't very high, but its mouth-numbing quality is average. Overall, it's decent and pairs well with rice.
Stir-Fried Bamboo Shoots:
The bamboo shoots were carefully selected, with a tender and fine texture that is quite pleasant. The spiciness remains moderate, and in addition to the bamboo shoots, some shredded meat was stir-fried in as well, making it tasty and nutritious.
Sesame Oil Chuanqi:
This is a relatively rare mountain vegetable. The unique oily texture of Chuanqi goes very well with the aroma of sesame oil. It's really a good deal for just 100 NTD.
Overall, it's a nice budget stir-fry restaurant. It seems that dine-in customers can enjoy unlimited white rice, but the takeout portion of rice is also quite generous.
I would like to try the dishes that cost over 100 NTD in the future. If friends come to visit, dining in might also be a good choice. The interior of the restaurant is spacious with plenty of seating, so it doesn't have the cramped and unpleasant vibe typical of traditional stir-fry places.
I recommend it to everyone!
【Foodholic Neko @ Taipei】
This restaurant is my favorite and the one I most want to recommend for Taiwanese cuisine recently! Delicious and affordable! It’s quite suitable to gather with family and friends for a meal～
“Have Have 1969” is located in the Liaoning Night Market, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 2 of Nanjing Fuxing Station. There are two outlets, and it's just a short walk between them.
The minimum spending in the private room is super friendly, only $3000, which is actually quite easy to achieve.
Today, we dined with 8 people, ordered 14 dishes, 1 soup, 1 dessert, 5 bowls of braised pork rice, and 7 drinks, with a total of about $3300. Everyone was full and happy, costing less than $450 per person, super great value!
Almost every dish was delicious, truly a restaurant without a single wrong choice, quite impressive👏
Champion Braised Pork Rice $30
It really lives up to its name; I suggest adding chili. Everyone said it was delicious. A friend who usually avoids fatty meat ended up enjoying it so much that he ordered a second bowl.
My favorite dishes include:
A few slightly less impressive dishes:
Overall, it's definitely a restaurant I would think of for Taiwanese cuisine and gatherings next time. Today, every friend said this restaurant was very tasty～
P.S. If you’re with a larger group, be sure to make a reservation, preferably with a private room. This restaurant only has one private room; the other seating areas are more suitable for smaller gatherings. If there are more than 4 people, it can feel a bit crowded.
🔅 Actual dining date: 2024/09/14
*Photos may not be reproduced or used for commercial purposes without permission
🔺 The operating hours of the landmark are accurate on weekdays, but for weekends and national holidays, the reservation times are based on the menu hours (as announced by the restaurant) 🔺
A restaurant guided by local relatives; it’s important to make reservations on holidays as luck may not be on your side for a table. Reservation is highly recommended.
▪️ Golden Sand Tofu $220 ▪️ Fried Water Lily $220
▪️ Sweet and Sour Pork Loin $240 ▪️ Hakka Stir-fry $250
▪️ Silver Thread Roll $50/piece ▪️ Salted Egg Bitter Melon $160
▪️ White Cut Chicken $500/half
▪️ White Rice $10/bowl (served all in one pot)
▪️ Dried Stir-fried Broccoli (unsure which dish this is)
▪️ Meinong Herbal Tea $unknown
The Golden Sand Tofu is great with rice; the Sweet and Sour Pork Loin is very tender; both the Hakka Stir-fry and Salted Egg Bitter Melon are delicious; the White Cut Chicken isn't super tender (maybe it's a free-range chicken?) but is definitely not dry and tough, it must be eaten with its sauce, and I even took some sauce home; the unknown dish with dried broccoli is crunchy and cool, I learned it is dried and then stir-fried; the Silver Thread Roll isn’t extremely crispy, but the addition of crushed peanuts adds flavor and texture, which is also nice.
I recommend trying the herbal tea; it is really bitter and strong, at first, it was a little off-putting, but afterwards, it felt quite refreshing, and drinking it made me feel healthier (in the sense that it feels very healthy).
I must specifically mention the Fried Water Lily, which I found very special as I had never tried it before. My relatives said this is the only place in the entire Meinong that makes it, and it's really delicious! The concept is similar to tempura water lily; it's fried without being greasy at all, and even when it cools down, it doesn’t feel oily. The dipping sauce has the usual tempura sauce flavor. A must-order! 👍
Although the restaurant name includes “banh tieu” (thin rice noodles), I didn't specifically order it because you can find delicious ones everywhere here, haha.
Overall, this place is simply delicious; the flavors are spot on and not overly greasy or salty. The food doesn’t take too long to serve, and the staff is very kind and enthusiastic. It’s definitely a great choice for group dining! The portion sizes and prices can be evaluated as you see fit; this is for reference only.
Located on Jin Hsueh Road in Shanhua District, Tainan, "Huang Sheng Restaurant" is a place recommended by colleagues; otherwise, I wouldn't usually pass by this spot. I ordered their salted fish fried rice, which was quite good overall. The rice grains were distinct, and the salted fish had a moderate salty flavor that combined very well, especially with the right level of saltiness that was not overly stimulating.
Additionally, I specially ordered a relatively rare dish called "egg sausage soup," which sounded intriguing just by the name, and I thought it would be some innovative cuisine. In reality, it was just soup made by stuffing eggs into sausage casings, but the flavor didn’t bring any significant surprises; it was rather bland with no outstanding texture or taste.
Moreover, the restaurant has a side dish that boasts "spiciness," but the actual heat level is quite low. For those who love spicy food, the side dishes here won't offer much excitement. Although the overall performance of the meal wasn’t particularly outstanding, the restaurant's business was exceptionally good, with many customers, especially during meal times when it was nearly full. They are likely all people from the nearby NanKang Science Park! Overall, Huang Sheng Restaurant offers average dishes and is a place worth trying occasionally.
Foodholic Naiko @ Taipei
The "Lin Mei Ru" stir-fry restaurant is located near Zhongxiao Fuxing Station, about a 10-minute walk from Exit 5. It has been on my to-eat list for a while, and since I was meeting up with friends, we finally decided to check it out!
Let’s get to the conclusion:
I would give the food's portion and deliciousness a 4-star rating, but the restaurant was just too noisy. I had to shout to talk to my friends, and we still couldn’t hear each other well, which isn’t ideal for gathering and chatting, so I deducted 0.5 stars.
The four of us girls ordered a total of 10 dishes and 1 dessert, spending a total of $2260. We were overstuffed, and the cost-performance ratio was great, but I suggest ordering three fewer dishes.
(According to the order of the photos)
Golden Sand Tofu $180 - Recommended
The tofu is cut into bite-sized pieces and fried perfectly. Although the salted egg flavor isn't very strong, garlic lovers will enjoy it a lot, and the portion is generous.
Pineapple Shrimp Balls $260 - Recommended
There were about 8-10 balls, and I’m basically a huge fan of pineapple shrimp balls. Drizzling it with lots of mayonnaise makes it incredibly delicious, and they are fried to a nice crisp; very tasty.
Shredded Pork Fried Rice $130 - Recommended
As expected, the fried rice at stir-fry restaurants is the best! It's full of wok flavor, very fragrant and delicious; it's best eaten hot because it can taste a bit oily when it cools down. The only downside is the portion is quite small.
Choy Sum with Preserved Radish $180 - Recommended
The portion of this dish shocked me when it arrived; it was huge! The edges are delicious, but the center of the egg is a bit salty.
Water Lily with Seed $180 - Optional
The water lily is tasty, but since I don’t particularly like the seed, it was just average for me.
Stir-fried Seasonal Vegetables $150 - Optional
It's water spinach; the seasoning was okay, but it felt a bit wet and soft.
Crispy Pork Intestines $220 - Optional
The portion was shocking—way too much for us to finish. It was somewhat good at first, but it wasn't crispy enough, still being a bit soft, which made it a bit greasy after eating a few.
General Tso’s Chicken $240 - Would not order next time
The chicken was fried and stir-fried with crispy peppers, making it a bit spicy. However, it was way too salty—even for someone like me, who enjoys strong flavors, it was hard to eat.
Four Seasons Matsusaka Pork $280 - Would not order next time
It was different from what I imagined. I thought it would be stir-fried like Four Seasons Intestines, but it turned out to be quite moist, resulting in the Matsusaka pork lacking crispness. I was not satisfied.
Cold Jellyfish Salad $120 - Would not order next time
It was good for the first few bites, but then it felt like it was missing something, and it became a bit greasy.
Located on Yongping Street in Yongkang, Tainan, "Red Ant" is a stir-fry restaurant situated right across from the gym factory. Every time I work out, I think about trying to eat there, so this time I decided to give it a try. The restaurant specializes in a variety of Taiwanese-style stir-fried dishes and seafood. I ordered a few dishes, and overall, the flavors leaned towards sweet, but it was still quite good.
First, we had the stir-fried beauty legs (water bamboo), which had a very crisp and fresh sweetness, and the accompanying sauce was not too heavy. The fried dragon balls are also recommended; they are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, and the unique texture of the dragon balls is especially delicious under the golden, crispy coating. As for the Wugeng Changwang, this dish features pig intestines and duck blood, with a sweeter sauce. Although it isn't particularly spicy, it pairs well with white rice.
The only slight disappointment was the Mapo tofu, which wasn't quite numbing or spicy enough and lacked the depth of flavor that it should have. In comparison, the other dishes were relatively standard, not too salty or greasy, making them suitable for those who prefer lighter flavors.
Overall, "Red Ant" is a stir-fry restaurant worth visiting from time to time. If you enjoy Taiwanese-style stir-fry or are looking for a place to have a drink, the food and atmosphere here are quite suitable.
The food near Pingtung Railway Station - the unnamed lamb restaurant. You can reach this old brand lamb restaurant located on Chongqing Road in just a seven-minute walk. No matter if you want rice, noodles, or bone soup... any food related to lamb can be found here, and the business is very good. There is no phone for reservations, and many people specifically ride over to order and then return later to pick up their food.
Every time I pass by this road, I can smell the fragrant medicinal lamb. This is a hot stir-fry restaurant that I have revisited many times. The restaurant has air conditioning, but the environment is not that great, as the owner does all the cooking, so patience is required.
Lamb fried rice 💰90, the portion is just right, but if you are a guy, you might want to order a bowl of soup to go with it for a better experience. The main seasoning is satay sauce, and it is extremely fragrant. They give a lot of lamb, and because it is quickly stir-fried over high heat, there will be quite a bit of oil left at the bottom when you finish eating, but that is what makes it delicious.
🚩New store popular stir-fry restaurant started from a food cart and moved to a storefront
After taking a long nap on a holiday, we were ready to head out around 7 PM, but there weren't many places still open (most regular restaurants close around 8 PM, aside from chain outlets 😕). So, my family and I decided to go to Liu Ji Stir-Fry to solve our dinner dilemma.
The restaurant is located on Jian Guo Road in Xindian, with a small alley separating the cooking area from the checkout and dining area. After filling out the paper menu in the dining area, the staff helps to take the order over. Once we're done eating, we pay at the counter, where cash and street payment options are accepted. The dining area is spacious and bright, with plenty of seats but not much decoration.
Here are my thoughts on the dishes:
Bamboo shoots: Besides the bamboo shoots, there were also a few pieces of shredded meat. It was stir-fried very well and had a rich aroma.
Clams: Heavily seasoned with a lot of condiments, which I didn't particularly enjoy; the portion was quite large.
Stir-fried vegetables: At NT$70, this is very reasonable. The water spinach was crunchy and fragrant with garlic, but it mostly consisted of stems with very few leaves.
Pork fried rice: Fragrant, not greasy, and has clear grains, very tasty. The seasoning wasn't too salty, making you want to take bite after bite. The portion was sufficient; it looked like a little mountain, and it feels great to just take this home for a meal.
Pork fried noodles: Heavily sauced and on the salty side, it tasted average, but the portion was huge, even taller than the fried rice, perfect for those with a big appetite! 🤣
Milkfish soup: Contains two large slices of milkfish; though it's bony and not very convenient to eat, at NT$150, it seems like a great deal! There were also a few clams inside. The downside is that the fish takes up a lot of space, so there isn’t much soup left to drink, but that’s okay because the soup was extremely salty, they might have knocked over the salt container today. 🙃
This restaurant has been in Xindian for many years; it previously operated from a food cart on Zhongzheng Road, only serving during the late-night hours but had great business, often with many customers in line, and frequently sold out of food. It moved to its current location two years ago, and the hours have expanded. Overall, the dishes are decent, and I highly recommend this affordable place for a filling late-night snack! 👍🏻
