The White Rice Police 👮🏻‍♂️ came with high hopes to enjoy the old hometown flavors. I had been looking forward to having a delicious sauerkraut and pork belly hot pot on this slightly chilly day, but I was quite disappointed.

First of all, there wasn't enough rice! We were the first group of customers seated at six o'clock and ordered five bowls of rice, but we waited a long time without receiving them. After prompting the waiter, they said there were only three bowls... by then, we were almost done with the hot pot, so I just asked them to bring it out first.

The rice itself was just mediocre, barely passing. Perhaps due to being at the bottom of the pot, some parts were overly soft. While not having enough rice isn’t a huge issue, the biggest problem was simply that there wasn’t enough.

I'm not sure if it was our seating position or something else, but there was a slightly stale, moldy smell where we sat, which matched the restaurant's name: Old Hometown Taste. However, in terms of the dining environment, it really wasn't acceptable.

As for the hot pot itself, it was fairly decent. Both the ingredients and the meat had a certain level of quality. However, the aforementioned two major issues really diminished the overall dining experience. In a competitive place like Taipei, there are definitely better options available.

The Taste of My Uncle’s Hometown - This old establishment for sour cabbage and pork belly hot pot, located in Taipei and coming from Taichung, has a broth that is sufficiently sour and strong, making it a place worth trying at least once.

[Restaurant Environment] 2/5
This time we dined at a round table for six. The restaurant environment is quite spacious, and I thought it would be crowded at night, but there were actually fewer patrons during our meal. The decor seems a bit outdated, revealing that it has been around for quite some time. There was a faint musty smell in some corners.

[Sour Cabbage and Pork Belly Hot Pot Broth] 5/5
The sour cabbage is quite sour with distinct layers, and the broth becomes richer the longer it’s cooked. There's plenty of sour cabbage in the pot; even after eating until the end, there was still some left. Anyone who enjoys sour cabbage and pork belly hot pot will not be disappointed with the broth.

[Meat & Dish Ratings] 3/5

• Pork Belly with Skin: Tender meat, the skin is chewy but does not overshadow the flavors of the fatty and lean meat.
• Pork Loin: Both the texture and flavor are great.
• Sirloin Beef: Quality is above average.
• Beef Short Ribs: Good taste, and the color is beautiful.
• Matsusaka Pork: Meat is a bit tough and has an average texture.

The pork belly with skin is the star of the sour cabbage and pork belly hot pot. The meat is tender and delicious, and the skin is subtle, not overshadowing the flavors of the fatty and lean pork. In contrast, the Matsusaka pork slices have an ordinary texture and are somewhat tough. The flavor and texture of the pork loin are commendable. Both the sirloin and beef short ribs are above average in quality.

You must try the tofu skin; it pairs very well with the sour cabbage and pork belly hot pot. Baby bok choy is also quite refreshing. The scallop balls are impressive.

[Alcohol Options]
The beer selection is limited, only Taiwan Beer and Heineken are available, with a draft Heineken beer tap.

[In-Store Service] 1.5/5
The service aspect is lacking. When we, a party of six, were seated, we wanted to order steamed rice, but the staff could only provide three bowls and said the rest was still cooking, which would take at least half an hour. The point is, we had made a reservation, and the restaurant was not full; shouldn’t they have prepared enough rice based on the expected number of diners? Isn't it basic to have rice available with hot pot?
We also wanted to order seafood, but there were no fish slices available, making the material preparation seem insufficient.

📌 Summary
In summary, this is an old restaurant with acceptable broth and dishes, but it indeed requires improvements in service and facilities. I came for the sour cabbage and pork belly hot pot, which is quite good, but overall the experience was not extraordinary, particularly because of the disappointing service. I might not visit again anytime soon.