春寅食堂

Chun Yin Restaurant is located on Lane 132, Hulin Street, in the Xinyi District, right behind the bustling Section 5 of Zhongxiao East Road. It is about a five-minute walk from Yongchun MRT Station.

Today, I enjoyed Mao Zedong's pork rib rice, pepper chicken with pork belly soup, Japanese-style fried oysters, and Keelung-style tempura, totaling 580 NT dollars.

Mao Zedong's Pork Rib Rice:
This dish has a powerful name, apparently inspired by Mao's red-braised pork, but improved by the restaurant. The ribs are braised and then coated in a strong mix of spices, topped generously with fried garlic and crispy shallots, creating an impressive presentation.

The pork ribs are tender yet slightly chewy, seemingly from the rib section, with the sauce seeping into the meat, providing a salty and slightly sweet flavor. The spiciness is not overwhelming, making it quite palatable. The melt-in-your-mouth texture of the rib meat and the gelatinous feel of the connective tissue is very satisfying. The rice is distinct and, when drizzled with sauce, is even better, complemented by an egg and blanched greens, creating a well-balanced dish.

Pepper Chicken with Pork Belly Soup:
The milky-white broth is paired with thinly sliced pink meat. The soup base is rich and robust, with a hint of pepperiness that is not overpowering. The warm chicken broth exudes a rich gelatinous texture, making it smooth and warming on the stomach. The pork belly is cleaned very well, with a soft and chewy texture and no fishy taste. The accompanying vegetables are perfectly stewed, melting in your mouth and soaking up the essence of the broth, adding layers to the overall soup.

I've returned to this place multiple times, but the cabbage on that day seemed to have some issues, particularly a strong earthy taste at the root. I believe this was an isolated incident and does not affect my overall rating.

The soup is enhanced with thick “phantom” noodles, which are a firm type of Japanese ramen.

Japanese-style Fried Oysters:
They are golden and crispy, perfectly fried, and you can hear a light crunch when biting into them. The oysters inside remain moist, deliciously rich, and not overcooked. When paired with yellow mustard sauce, the slight spiciness enhances the fresh sweetness of the oysters.

Keelung-style Tempura:
The outer layer is crispy with a slight bounce, not overly hard, providing just the right texture. The fish paste releases a natural sea flavor upon chewing.

Overall, this restaurant combines features of Taiwanese and Japanese styles in a distinctive soup dining experience. The decor and atmosphere are quite unique, brimming with subcultural vibes, from the "Attack on Titan" Survey Corps flags on the wall to various nostalgic toys, figurines, and humorous slogans written in calligraphy. It feels like this place is not just a restaurant for eating, but more like a hidden anime haven.

I hope the quality of the cabbage is better next time; I will definitely return with confidence once again.

Highly recommended to everyone!