來馬芽菜雞 頭份店

"I encountered Malaysia in Miaoli."

For most Taiwanese, Malaysian cuisine is simply Bak Kut Teh, Laksa, Char Kway Teow, and so on. Those more in the know might have heard of the Hainanese chicken war between Malaysia and Singapore. However, at this restaurant in Miaoli, I found Malaysian dishes I had never encountered before, making this trip well worth it.

"Visit the Malaysian Bean Sprout Chicken."

🍚 Order of the Day
👉 Fried Bean Sprouts + Wenchang Chicken (NT$40 + NT$200)
Bean Sprout Chicken is a classic dish from Ipoh, Malaysia. Since Bean Sprout Chicken is this restaurant's signature dish, it was only natural that I ordered the Bean Sprout Chicken combo.

The bean sprouts here are exceptionally thick and plump.

The bean sprouts are already crispy, and the owner has specially sourced farm-grown, appropriately thick bean sprouts, striving to replicate the Malaysian version. While they still don't match the original Malaysian bean sprouts, they are the crispiest and thickest I've had in Taiwan.

The Wenchang chicken has super tender meat, with both skin and meat being quite flavorful. Each bite bursts with oiliness that makes it hard to put down the chopsticks. The richness of the chicken pairs perfectly with the crisp and mild bean sprouts. One piece of chicken, two mouthfuls of bean sprouts – this combination is simply perfect. I'll definitely order this combination in the future.

👉 Chicken Soup with Rice Noodles (NT$70)
The chicken soup with rice noodles was a delightful surprise.

The rice noodles are incredibly silky, sliding over the tongue like smooth silk and down the throat, paired with fragrant chicken soup, creating a marvelous flavor. Upon closer tasting, I could even detect a faint shrimp aroma, likely from shrimp used during the broth preparation, adding more layers to the flavor – elegant with a unique character, which I really enjoyed.

👉 Char Siu (NT$120)
The Char Siu here involves a very complex preparation process. Compared to the common plum blossom version in Taiwan, which is sweet and fatty, this is a more satisfying experience. If you find lean meat unfulfilling, you should try the Malaysian version of Char Siu here; tasting a different type of Char Siu will be an interesting experience.

🍚 Other Orders (None Disappointing)
👉 Chicken Oil Rice (NT$35)
👉 Shrimp Oil Tofu (NT$65)

🍚 Summary
👉 Focuses on Malaysian Ipoh cuisine
👉 Perfect for dining after a trip to Miaoli!