Super savory: The braised pork knuckle loved by foodies – a taste of home cooking

Text and photos by /San Gao Eats China

Besides being famous for its mutton hot pot, Xihu is also home to A Zan Pig’s Trotter, a well-known local eatery with over 30 years of history. It even has a branch in Beidou. If you’re heading south and pass through Beidou, why not stop for lunch? It’s just a 10-minute drive from the exit – very convenient.

Zhonghua Road in Beidou is the commercial heart of the area. Just around A Zan Pig’s Trotter alone, there are five or six bubble tea shops. Keep going down the road, and you’ll find all kinds of food options popping up.

According to media reports, the main branch in Xihu gets pretty lively during meal times, but the branch here is just a small shop that looks like a simple bento place. Probably because business is good, just past the off-peak lunch hour, I walked in to find the side dishes almost all gone. I managed to scrape together just two dishes – gotta have some greens with your pig’s trotter.

I ordered two pieces from the mid-section of the leg – my favorite cut, though I always wish there was more meat. So I asked to add some more meat. The lady boss picked out a nice-looking piece of pork belly, but today I was craving the “braised knuckle” (aka pig’s trotter). I mustered up the courage to ask if she could maybe swap it for a different piece. When she came back, she brought out what turned out to be a “circle piece” (aka pig’s trotter skin ring).
⟨NL⟩ She laughed and said this one wasn’t for sale – it was actually meant for her own meal. Now I’m in for a treat~

The large-cut mid-section of the pig’s trotter went into the braising pot. The thick skin and meat were different from what I expected – this is dedication. A Zan’s braising is thorough, and the texture is on the softer side, but not overly mushy. When you gently bite the slippery skin, there’s still a slight bounce. The tendon and meat are Q and smooth; a slight press and lift with chopsticks and you can enjoy the whole piece of skin and meat.

The braising sauce with added scallions is pretty good, though it lacks a bit of that signature aroma – you could say it has more of a home-cooked feel. Compared to the ideal balance of sweet and salty, it’s slightly saltier by just a touch. I wonder if the original braising sauce at the main store tastes even better? But paired with rice, it’s still quite irresistible – especially when you’re hungry.

“Circle piece” refers to a cross-section cut from the pig’s trotter skin, a prime cut that’s actually quite rare. The skin wraps around varying amounts of trotter meat or tiny bones to form a ring shape. It’s often a favorite among seasoned foodies. The piece I got even had a small bone in the middle.

What looks like greasy fatty skin has actually had most of its excess oil drawn out during the long braising process. It’s flavorful and Q-soft, with a bit of soft tendon chewiness near the center – adding some bite and texture. Placed on top of white rice, a bite of meat and a bite of rice is simply delicious. The pig’s trotter pales in comparison – haha~

Last time in Taipei, I tried five different cuts of red-braised pork at A Jiao’s. This time, A Zan Pig’s Trotter gave me another pleasant surprise – truly a rare find!

Shop name:Xihu A Zan Pig’s Trotter & Meat (Beidou Branch)
⟨NL⟩ Address: No. 357-1, Zhonghua Road, Beidou Town, Changhua County
⟨NL⟩ Business hours: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM

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