It is said to be a Michelin-recommended restaurant.
What stood out the most was probably the service. Before we even opened the menu, they recommended several dishes, and each one sounded delicious, so we ordered them all. In the end, we didn’t even have time to open the menu before finishing our orders. Throughout the dining process, they were very attentive in changing plates and serving smaller dishes, but they didn’t interfere at all.
Highlights of the dishes:
Steamed stinky tofu: The tofu is quite pungent, yet the seasoning is refreshing. Surprisingly, it's both very smelly and very delicious—a striking contrast.
Pork ribs with pancakes: The hearty pancake paired perfectly with the soft, salty, and fragrant ribs.
Chive egg: The surface is crispy while the inside is evenly soft and tender, showcasing excellent skill with very simple ingredients.
Overall, the environment is comfortable, the service is attentive, and the food is delicious—basically, there’s nothing to criticize.
📍A 50-year-old shop at Yan San Night Market, also recommended by Bib Gourmand in 2024.
🍽️Environment
The interior doesn't have many tables, accommodating about 20-30 people, so you might need to share a table. The cleanliness is average, meeting the standards of a Taiwanese snack shop. I visited around 2 PM this time, and there was no queue. After ordering at the counter, I picked up my meal and found a seat.
🍛Dishes
▪️Tube Rice Cake $40
You can choose between fatty or lean meat. Besides a small slice of meat, there's also a portion of braised egg placed on top of the rice cake. Although it's called tube rice cake, it falls apart quite easily when touched, having a lower stickiness. Once separated, it actually resembles regular rice cake more 😅.
You can add sauces from the table, which I feel are the soul of the tube rice cake. The sauces provided here pair well, so feel free to add more. The spicy sauce is average; you can choose to add it or not.
▪️Double Combination Soup $75
Additionally, I ordered a double combination soup with oysters and pig's blood. It’s not exactly cheap, but the oysters are pretty plump and there are quite a few of them. The pig's blood, however, doesn't have that same fullness and has a slight hollow feeling when bitten into.
Overall, it’s suitable for when you’re not too hungry and want a taste of nostalgia. It’s worth considering when there’s no queue.
User review: There were two wash stations, which was nice.
I've eaten here twice before, both times taking it to-go.
This time I came to eat on-site and found there were quite a few seats available.
It was pretty crowded during lunch, but the wait wasn't too long, although we had to share a table.
For three people, we ordered the following dishes: Braised Pork Rice (large) 65 TWD, Clear Soup with Pork (70 TWD), Braised Cabbage (large) 60 TWD, Cabbage (large) 60 TWD, Bamboo Shoots (large) 60 TWD, Tofu (large) 30 TWD, Fried Tofu (large) 30 TWD, Braised Duck Egg 20 TWD, and a la carte Braised Pork 150 TWD.
Overall, the flavors were on the salty side, but it was very satisfying. 😊 The braised pork rice had a good mix of fat and lean meat, with a dark color and a gelatinous texture that made it stick to the mouth. The soup was delicious, and the meat was tender, not dry. The tofu was well-braised, and all the side dishes were flavorful. The braised pork was tender and easy to eat, and the duck egg paired excellently with rice. The service was fast, with a high table turnover, but the attitude of the staff could have been better.
Location: Taipei Xinyi
Michelin Plate-rated restaurant
Made a reservation with friends in advance
Went with great expectations
🌟 American Rib-eye Fried Rice
As soon as the dish arrived, we thought it was definitely worth photographing.
It's completely a photo-worthy dish.
The rib-eye steak on top is indeed very eye-catching.
It’s reasonably tender and not hard to chew or unappetizing.
The fried rice is fragrant, with a touch of wok hei.
But honestly, given the steep price,
it felt like the fried rice wasn't as distinctive as expected.
Seems like you could get this level of fried rice at a regular stir-fry place.
Personally, I was a bit disappointed.
🌟 Fried Soft Shell Crab with Salted Egg Yolk and Roselle Sauce
Originally worried that the fried soft shell crab with salted egg yolk would be too greasy,
but the sauce with roselle added a perfect finishing touch,
bringing a refreshing twist to the otherwise richly flavored dish.
🌟 Grilled Scallops and Mullet Roe Fried Rice
The scallops on top were grilled,
and you could tell they were sashimi-grade, very fresh and sweet.
However, the mullet roe flavor in the fried rice was extremely faint
and lacked a strong presence.
Overall, it was still quite palatable.
🌟 Stir-fried Water Lotus with Pine Nuts
This dish seemed the most ordinary.
It lacked the wok hei in the stir-fried water lotus,
and the seasoning was rather bland.
Many Taiwanese stir-fry places do this dish tastier.
🌟 Signature Mung Bean Puff Tiramisu
This is my top favorite among all the dishes.
They labeled it as ‘signature’ probably because it is truly delicious 🤣
The texture of the mung bean puff blends perfectly into the tiramisu,
incredibly tasty
without any sense of discordancy.
It gives this global dessert a Taiwanese flair.
Highly recommended! It's an absolute must-order dish!
The restaurant seems to specialize in cocktails,
but the next day was a workday, so we didn’t drink.
Since dishes that pair with drinks usually need to complement alcohol,
normally the seasoning in a gastro-bar’s food wouldn't be mild,
which is why I wouldn't highly recommend this place.
But the dessert was really amazing,
recommended for those who get tired from shopping to drop in for some sweet treats 😏😏
Recently, as a long-time local from Taichung, I visited the original store for the first time. Initially, I felt that everything inside truly had an aged feeling. People who tend to feel hot might find the air conditioning not cool enough and wouldn't want to sit for long after eating. However, the dishes were delicious.
Visiting again for dinner today, possibly because it was close to closing time, the crowd wasn't as packed as last time, and the air conditioning felt a bit more comfortable. We ate in a rush, as you can't have everything perfect. For a more comfortable dining experience, one should go to Lalaport, as the original store is about history and memories.
📍Near Dihua Street, across from Yongle Elementary School, there is a traditional snack shop that has been selected for the Michelin Bib Gourmand for several consecutive years. The menu is simple, offering only rice, noodles, and various cold cuts. Parking nearby is not convenient, and there is almost always a line.
🍽️ Environment
The traditional shop is located in an alley, with the tiled bar area at the entrance serving as the kitchen, which can also seat a few people. Inside, there are about 6 or 7 tables that can accommodate around 20-30 people, and tables are usually combined. Overall, it is generally clean, but don't expect it to be overly pristine. Sometimes, even before 9 am, a crowd starts to form, but luckily, the table turnover is quite high. When it's your turn, the staff will help take your order and explain the remaining items.
🍜 Dishes
▪️ Soup Noodles $20
▪️ Sliced Pig Liver $50
I decided to stop by on a whim and arrived close to 2 pm, with about 10 people in line ahead of me. The only item left on the menu was noodles; the only cold cuts available were pig liver and pig heart, so I ordered the soup noodles and a serving of pig liver. You can negotiate the portion for the cold cuts with the staff, but there is a minimum order requirement. The soup noodles are very simple, consisting only of broth and noodles. The broth is quite pleasant and sweet, and drinking it won't leave you thirsty, so it seems they didn't add MSG! The portion of noodles is decent for only $20. The pig liver is served cold, tender, and does not have any fishy taste; it’s delicious whether added to the soup noodles or eaten with dipping sauce.
😁 Overall, it’s a pretty good snack shop with very reasonable prices. Unfortunately, there are no other items available for cold cuts. I heard that the red fermented pork is one of their specialties, and the rice mixed with pork fat is also quite enticing. I will definitely come back earlier one day to line up and try other items.
📍Kaohsiung Qianjin District
This established restaurant has been recognized as a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2024. The dining space is semi-open, and when the air conditioning is on, transparent cloth curtains are pulled down as a barrier, but it still doesn't quite help against the hot weather in Kaohsiung, making it not very cool 🤣. The restaurant has about 6-7 tables and has a quick table turnover. I waited for about 15 minutes. Parking nearby is rather inconvenient, so it's recommended to ride a scooter for easier parking.
Dishes 🥘
The Qianjin Pork Rice is on the fattier side, with a sauce that leans towards a slightly sweeter Southern Taiwanese flavor. You can appreciate the comforting aroma of the gravy and the unique gelatinous texture from the fatty parts of the meat, giving it a slightly sticky mouthfeel. Pairing it with the restaurant's special fish floss adds an extra layer of texture but also takes away some moisture from your mouth, making you slightly thirsty after finishing the whole bowl. Next time, I might choose the version without fish floss. The soft-boiled duck egg is the soul of the pork rice. Gently breaking the slightly firm golden egg yolk allows it to flow out, and wrapping the rice grains with a bit of the yolk provides another level of enjoyment. I personally recommend everyone add the soft-boiled duck egg; it's an excellent pairing with the pork rice!
The renowned unnamed cart at the South Airport Night Market serving shaobing! 🤤 Every time I go to the South Airport Night Market, I have to eat it! This time, the two of us ate a total of 7 pieces 😂 I eat so much, I’m getting super fat! There are quite a few people in line, so we’ll have to wait a little bit 😀
The vendor now has four flavors: scallion shaobing, salty crispy shaobing, sweet crispy shaobing, and red bean shaobing. Each one is $15! It’s fantastic to have one or two after a meal~ I remember they used to be around $10 each when I first tried them 🤣 This time, I personally had half a salty crispy shaobing and 3 sweet crispy shaobing 😋
Salty Crispy Shaobing
I’ve had scallion shaobing before, and I personally didn’t really like it 😅 I was a bit scared to try this one 😱 However, surprisingly, it was really good! It had thin pork and some green onions inside, and the outer layer was crispy. It was easy to eat~ Delicious! I could order more 👍🏻
Sweet Crispy Shaobing
This is a must-have every time I go! Inside, there’s probably something like syrup. Anyway, the outer layer is crispy and thin, while the inside is sweet, but not overly sweet! Plus, it’s hot and fresh when you eat it~ So blissful ☺️
This time we went at a little past 9, and the vendor surprisingly had something similar to fried buns 😂 The owner’s wife said it's because someone ordered extra or something like that~ Usually, this isn’t on the menu 🤣
I personally feel that some snack shops are overhyped in terms of cost-performance ratio 💁. Since it made the list in 2021 and is still on it this year, this Michelin Bib Gourmand award-winning shop 🏅 is also one of the 500 bowl award winners. The food is good, but the prices are quite shocking 💸.
🙅♀️ I do not recommend coming here alone. It's better to enjoy it with a group so that the cost can be shared more evenly 🙆♂️. Even with three of us having this set meal, it cost $485, (and we didn't even feel full). Averaging around $162 per person feels a bit pricey to me 🥲.
Although I see crowds lining up every day and always people waiting inside, it’s really not a place I would recommend or want to visit daily.
This shop sells a lot for takeout, and there are many people dining in. Although there are many staff members and the table-clearing speed is fast, no one will guide you to a seat or arrange seating for you; everything relies on grabbing a spot! 🏃
It's like when you go to a department store's food court during meal times; you often have to watch from the side to see which table finishes first, quietly waiting beside it and rushing to take a seat after they leave!
Most of the seating in this shop is inside, but sitting down still follows this kind of method 😩. Of course, if you end up at a large table, you might have to share it with others, which is one of the reasons I don't like to dine here 😓.
Apart from the pressure of grabbing seats and feeling bad for standing too close to others, having someone stand beside you while eating is also quite stressful 😰.
Dining in allows you to enjoy hot dishes immediately, but in such a pressure-filled environment, the meal doesn’t taste as good. I would rather choose takeout 🙂↔️.
🌟2022, 2023 Must-Visit Michelin Recommended
"Qiaozaitou Huang's Braised Pork Rice" is located on the historic Qiaotou Old Street. The restaurant has inherited its unique recipes across three generations. The braised pork is made from hand-cut shoulder and belly meat, stewed until tender, with a perfect balance of fat and lean meat. It is complemented by the simple flavor of cilantro, making it a highly recommended spot by many locals in Kaohsiung. During meal times, there tends to be a crowd, so expect to wait in line to order.
Huang's Braised Pork Rice is located on Qiaonan Road, nearby a bustling shopping area where parking is quite difficult. There is a parking lot run by a farmers' association next door that charges 100 NTD per hour, which I find a bit pricey. XDD
The restaurant is a spacious storefront, with a covered outdoor area that has some seating and an ordering zone. Inside, there are four two-person tables and four four-person tables, making it comfortable and not cramped. Whether it's for a meal with friends or a family outing, it's quite convenient. The utensils and condiments are self-serve.
The menu for Huang's Braised Pork Rice includes: signature braised pork rice, meat soup rice, noodles, various soups, blanched greens, and a mixed plate with market prices. The prices range from 30 to 65 NTD for small to large portions, making it economical.
Let's eat!
Braised Pork Rice + Soft-Boiled Egg Rice (small) 💰40 NTD
The braised pork rice is topped with cilantro, so if you’re not a fan, remember to tell the restaurant. The highlight of Huang's dish is the soft-boiled egg. When the golden yolk gently flows out and mixes with the diced shoulder and belly meat, it creates a savory flavor that embodies traditional southern braised pork. Unfortunately, the soft-boiled egg I had that day was a bit overcooked, and the yolk didn’t flow out.
Fish Ball Soup 💰40 NTD
Each fish ball is plump and chewy.
Thoughts: The braised pork rice with a soft-boiled egg is truly classic. However, on my visit, the soft-boiled egg had turned into a hard-boiled one. So sad!
Focus on the dish: This truly has the flavor of southern braised pork. Adding a soft-boiled egg enhances the taste even more.
Focus on the environment: Clean and bright.
Focus on parking: Motorcycles can park at the entrance; cars have a hard time finding a spot.
Focus on the restroom: There is one restroom available.
Focus on queueing: The line moves quickly.
Focus on service: Average.
Focus on value for money: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
(Only discussing food and prices)
