石老爺臭豆腐

On Zhongxing Road, there is an inconspicuous metal house where you can find "Old Man Shi's Stinky Tofu." The business is so good that the line for scooters often extends far.

Let's talk about the fried stinky tofu first. The outer layer is fried to a golden crisp, while the inside remains moist. It is paired with mildly spicy pickled vegetables and fresh chili sauce that is aromatic. The portion of pickles is quite generous. The only drawback is that the serving size is a bit small; if you're like me and a bit hungry, you might want to order another serving after finishing.

Next is the oden, which here is only 10 yuan per stick. The soup base has a subtle bonito flavor, making it refreshing and warm without being greasy. It includes common oden items like meatballs, squid cakes, and rice blood cakes. Although this stall isn’t dedicated to oden, the taste is stable and can serve as a side dish to accompany the stinky tofu.

Overall, Old Man Shi's advantages are quick frying, a pleasant aroma that isn’t overpowering, and a well-balanced seasoning that suits the general taste. There are also reasonably priced oden options available. The stall offers free radish soup. I recommend going early to avoid long waits, as they often sell out quickly.