老頭擺客家菜

【Foodholic Niko @ Taoyuan】

"Old Man's Hakka Cuisine" has more than one branch, and the branch we are dining at today is located near Longtan, Taoyuan and Sunkeng Old Street. Because the name is quite special, I did a little research and found that "Toubai" in Hakka represents "ancient" or "old times." Therefore, "Old Man's Hakka" indicates a place that has been around for a very long time.

The shop's decor truly reflects this name; it lives up to its reputation. The outdoor area resembles a traditional Sanhe courtyard, giving a feeling of dining in Grandma's home yard. The indoor is styled in a very traditional Taiwanese wooden building design, with separate sections resembling different areas of a home, which naturally forms small private rooms — quite likable.

Hakka Stir-fried Dish $240
I usually don’t like the Hakka stir-fried dishes, but today I enjoyed this one a lot. The pork used is well-marbled with fat and lean, and the tofu isn’t as hard as the usual ones I encounter. Both are stir-fried together and infused with flavor without being overly salty.

Stir-fried Mountain Pork $280
The seasoning is quite good, but the mountain pork pieces are a bit small; I had to keep searching around the plate to find them. I would prefer larger pieces of pork.

Ginger Shredded Large Intestine $240
The large intestine pieces are also a bit small, but they are cleaned thoroughly. The acidity is just right—not too sour but enough to eat a few bites with rice.

Stir-fried Water Lily $210
I didn’t particularly like this dish because it was stir-fried with ginger, which I really don’t enjoy. I had to keep picking out the ginger, so it wasn’t really satisfying.

Pineapple Shrimp Balls $230
There are about 9 shrimp balls, and they are fried just okay, tasting average. They aren’t the delightful pineapple shrimp balls that leave you feeling refreshed.

Sweet and Sour Ribs $240
The sweet and sour sauce leans more towards sweet, and the acidity could be stronger. The ribs have a lot of meat (not just bones), but the meat is a bit tough and requires some effort to chew.

Nine Layers Pagoda Egg $150
The egg is fried to a fragrant oiliness, paired with the aroma of nine layers pagoda, making it a great complement to rice. I really like this dish.

Local Chicken Chopped Platter (Large) $570
It’s quite a large plate. The sauce is made from orange marmalade mixed with soy sauce and chili, providing a mild spiciness, and it’s nice for dipping. The local chicken has no unusual gamey taste, so it’s good.

Hakka Braised Bamboo Shoots $150
These are just braised bamboo shoots, but they taste good. The crispness of the shoots is nice.

Mei Gan Ko Rou (Braised Pork with Preserved Mustard Greens) $240
The pork is evenly balanced in fat and lean meat, and the preserved mustard greens are very flavorful, making it a perfect combination. Eating preserved mustard greens with rice can easily consume half a bowl. Highly recommended.

Radish and Pork Rib Soup $230
I initially thought that at this low price, the portion would be small, but it ended up being a huge pot. There are lots of radishes, and the soup is delicious; I had two bowls!