Yushan Ramen is hidden in an alley on Section 1 of Daan Road, about a ten-minute walk from both Zhongxiao Fuxing and Daan MRT stations. The nearest landmark is the famous Ren’ai Hospital.
Today, I enjoyed two bowls of the ultimate duck Jiro, adding green onions, homemade braised bamboo shoots, and soy sauce braised duck leg, totaling 900 TWD.
Ultimate Duck Jiro:
This bowl is a perfect combination of visual appeal and portion size. The broth features a lot of garlic and back fat, smooth and rich without being greasy, with delicate duck fat bubbles floating on the surface, leaving a slight stickiness on the lips after drinking. Of course, it's best enjoyed hot; it can become quite heavy as it cools.
The ramen uses 360 grams of medium-thick noodles, which are hard and salty, similar to Japanese-style noodles. The noodles are coarse, with a good chew and a noticeable wheat aroma.
The meat selection is extravagant, featuring sous-vide pork chashu, soy-braised pork chashu, duck chashu, and chicken chashu, each with a distinct characteristic. The sous-vide pork chashu is tender and delicate, while the skin-on duck chashu has a strong duck flavor. The yolk of the onsen egg is perfectly jelly-like, with a hint of sweetness in its eggy flavor, moist and delicious.
The black pepper garlic vegetables weigh a staggering 400 grams, making the whole bowl (excluding broth and meat) exceed one jin (600 grams). If you don't have a strong stomach, you might want to think twice before tackling this. However, for those who want to experience a Jiro-style garlic flavor and back fat but have a lighter appetite, there is also the smaller Yushan Little Jiro to try.
Green onions:
Adding green onions gives the broth a refreshing touch, and for just 30 TWD, it's quite affordable.
Homemade braised bamboo shoots:
The bamboo shoots are cut rather thickly, maintaining their crispiness without being rough, and are well-marinated without being overly salty.
Soy sauce braised duck leg:
The skin has a deep color from the sauce, while the duck meat inside is fine and juicy, with a flavorful but not overly salty braising sauce. This flavor would make me buy a duck leg bento box if it was offered.
The spicy bean sprouts on the table are available for self-service, mildly spicy and crunchy, making for a nice appetizing addition.
Overall, this is a specialized duck ramen shop. The Duck Jiro is presumably available every weekend until the end of April, but even after the Jiro is no longer served, the other duck dishes are definitely worth trying.
The dining space is not large, so it's advisable to avoid peak dining hours. The small courtyard design at the entrance is great for taking photos.
Highly recommended for everyone!