Taichung’s coin-sized snacks: limited-time-only pork rice, fried noodles, and pig’s blood soup at night

Text and photos byOrange Dog Loves Candy

Fried noodles, pig’s blood soup, and pork rice are truly classic representations of Central Taiwan’s street food staples. You can find shops serving them open 24/7. Once you get used to them, having fried noodles and pig’s blood soup for breakfast will leave you feeling energized, not to mention how a bowl of pork rice before bed helps you sleep soundly XD. If you live around SOGO in West District, the pork rice spots you can find after midnight are probably Songxiang and Night Department.

Songxiang was the first pork rice shop I tried when I came to Taichung. Back then, I thought it was pretty special that people would gather under the building’s arcade late at night just to eat. But my favorite has always been 【Xiao Yao Pork Rice】 near the old train station. However, it stops selling at night, and it’s quite a distance to go there often. So, considering proximity, between the two, 【Night Department Pork Rice】 has become my most frequent late-night dining spot.

I remember when I first arrived in Taichung, 【Night Department Pork Rice】 was also on Jingcheng Road, but back then it was just a small little shop. At the time, I always felt the lighting in the shop was rather dim, and the variety of items they sold didn’t seem as extensive as it is now.

Later, it suddenly moved to its current location next to Shi Er Guo (a hotpot chain), and got a brighter and more spacious dining area (though it’s open-concept without air conditioning). It used to be open all day until late at night, but now it operates from 5 PM until 2 AM. I’ve been coming here for four or five years now. When you come, it’s simple — just find a seat, fill out your order slip, then take it to the counter to pay and place your order.

If it’s crowded, don’t mind sharing a table with others — everyone’s just minding their own business anyway, so just go with the flow. Although the shop opens in the evening, the peak times when it gets really busy and seats are hard to come by are usually after 7 PM and during the late-night hours. On holidays, the later it gets, the busier it seems to be. Another reason I like this place is the music they play. Unlike some snack shops that play non-stop TV news or dramas like “Love Around” or “Night Market Life,” this place doesn’t have a TV, but it always plays nostalgic oldies. Listening to classics by artists like Jacky Cheung and Fei Yuqing while eating is really comforting.

As for the menu, you definitely can’t miss the trio of Central Taiwan street food staples: pork rice, fried noodles, and pig’s blood soup. There’s also braised pork ribs and pork knuckle rice, and plenty of side dish options that are all very affordable. You can easily fill up your whole meal with just a few coins’ worth, but I highly recommend going straight for their “Meal Combo” — a main dish plus three side dishes make for a satisfying meal.

【Signature Pork Rice │ Small Bowl │ 50 TWD】
I like how their pork has a higher proportion of fat — those shiny pork leg pieces really catch the eye, and the aroma is amazing. With a bit of pickled mustard greens and a drizzle of braising juice, the fat part is tender, oily, and slightly chewy with a gelatinous texture, while the lean parts are also tender and flavorful. The plain rice can be a bit hit-or-miss — sometimes great, other times a bit too soft — but it’s usually pretty good, so XDD.

But today the pork pieces were a bit smaller than usual. However, the portion size for the rice, considering it’s a small bowl, is actually quite generous. Compared to Songxiang on Meicun Road not far from here, Songxiang’s pork quality tends to not be that great, especially later at night.

【Signature Fried Noodles │ Small Bowl │ 35 TWD │ Must Pair with Dongquan Chili Sauce】
Fried noodles are truly the soul of Central Taiwan’s street food. They may look simple, but each place still has its own slight flavor variations. Stir-fried with ingredients like Chinese chives and crispy fried shallots, the aroma is already fantastic when it arrives. Then add a spoonful of their braising juice. But the “completion level” of the fried noodles when they first arrive is only about 70–80%. The real key to deliciousness is the 【Dongquan Chili Sauce】.

Almost every snack shop in Taichung has a bottle — either a repackaged one or a full glass jar — sitting on the table. Just pour it directly onto the fried noodles. Once mixed, it brings together the braised aroma and the slightly sweet-spicy kick of the chili sauce (some people pour so much that you can barely see the noodles). That’s the perfect combo. But in areas like Fengyuan and Dongshi, they use Yuanmei Chili Sauce, which has a slightly different flavor from Dongquan.

【Braised Pork Ribs Rice │ Small Bowl │ 60 TWD】
The pork ribs are quite large. When served, the rice and ribs are placed separately. Personally, I think they look more impressive when stacked on the rice. I wouldn’t say they’re outstanding — although they’re first deep-fried then braised, and both the braising juice and aroma are nice, the meat texture is a bit too firm and thin. It’s not overly dry, but the pork ribs could definitely be more tender. I’d suggest getting this as part of the meal combo.

The best ones I’ve had so far were at a pork rib rice shop at the intersection of Meiting Street and Xitun Road (forgot the name) — thick and tender.

【Compartment Meat Pig’s Blood Soup │ 40 TWD】
Their soup bowls are already fairly big. Choosing the combo with double ingredients naturally costs a bit more. I usually go for the pig’s blood soup. The pig’s blood is delicious, but the compartment meat is even more generous — the bowl is almost entirely filled with it. The broth, with shredded ginger and pickled mustard greens, is quite appetizing.

【Pork Intestine Pig’s Blood Soup │ 40 TWD】
The pork intestine is also pretty tasty, and the portion is quite hearty. Drinking a bowl of their soup on an autumn or winter night always feels satisfying and filling. I just suddenly wondered if they do refills on the soup — I’ve never asked before. But honestly, the best pork intestine soup I’ve had is still the one from 【Qingshui Ace Rice Cake】 way over in Wujhi — absolutely amazing.

【Cabbage Braised in Soy Sauce │ 20 TWD】
This dish is a must-have sidekick for rice with minced pork or braised pork — you’d really be missing out not to order it. Their version has a lighter taste, and you can definitely taste the sweetness of the cabbage.

【Cold Cucumber Salad │ 30 TWD】
Whether you’re at a noodle shop, a fancy restaurant, or a snack stall, cucumber salad is almost always a staple side dish — but whether it’s tasty or not is another story. I personally really recommend the one from Night Department. Besides being refreshingly crisp and lightly garlicky, it also has a nice tangy-spicy kick that really whets the appetite.

【Braised Milkfish Head │ 25 TWD】
Their braised fish head is generously portioned for one person, reasonably priced, and really tasty!! There’s no fishy smell at all, though you do need to watch out for the bones a bit. It’s not overly salty either, making it a great value side dish.

【Blanched Greens │ 30 TWD │ Water Spinach or Sweet Potato Leaves】
I always feel ripped off when ordering blanched greens outside — often it’s just a small handful of leaves for twenty or thirty yuan. But the portion at the nighttime branch is pretty decent, with just fried shallots and salted water added. I usually prefer to go with sweet potato leaves.

【Braised Intestines Plate │ 50 NT$】
The intestines aren’t overly braised, salty, or dry — they seem to have just been lightly blanched. But they’re simply seasoned with soy sauce, and the texture is soft, slightly chewy, and fatty without being greasy. They’re cleaned well, and the slight spiciness from the ginger slices combined with the savory soy paste actually makes for a pretty good flavor. The portion is quite generous too.

【Braised Tofu │ One serving (two pieces) │ 10 NT$】
It’s not bad, but personally, I prefer their fried tofu here, so I accidentally ordered the wrong thing at first.

If you happen to live around the West District or are passing by and you’re in the mood for a late-night snack, then why not swing by the aptly named Nighttime Branch? Whether you want noodles, rice, or a bowl of hot soup, they’ve pretty much got it all. Though sometimes the aunties and sisters might be a bit less smiley when they’re busy, they’re actually quite chatty when things are quieter. The food tastes pretty good — even if it’s not my absolute favorite, it’s the closest place to home, so I actually end up coming here quite often.

Related Information
Nighttime Branch | Pork Rice
◎ Address: No. 109, Jingcheng Rd., West District, Taichung City (near Gongyi Rd.)
◎ Phone: 04-23200735
◎ Business Hours: 5:00 PM – 2:30 AM
◎ Note: Open year-round, only during evening hours

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