Time to dig in at this sinful and wildly popular Zhigao Rice spot near Daqiaotou Station!

Text & Photos / Travel Writer Liao Weiren
 
Located near Daqiaotou Station, Yansan Night Market is hailed as Taiwan’s most formidable food night market. Eating your way from start to finish is guaranteed to impress. As you turn left off Taipei Bridge, you’ll find a whole street packed with shops on either side—those that have survived are all incredibly impressive. Today, we’re taking you and our travel editor to try out this insanely popular Zhigao Rice spot!

Sanchong Zhigao Rice is tucked away in a corner alley along Section 3, Yanping North Road. During meal times, the entrance is always bustling with noise and energy, packed with both dine-in and takeout customers. That kind of crowd is definitely a seal of deliciousness.

This Sanchong Zhigao Rice joint is a locally famous favorite, adding serious firepower to Yansan Night Market. Zhigao Rice is actually thigh-and-rump rice—the meat is half lean and half fat, boneless, and a big hit with diners.

Both the thighs and the trotters are incredibly flavorful. The moment you walk in, you’ll see two huge pots of braising liquid—clearly aged over the years. It’s this repeated braising process that infuses the relatively thick cuts of thigh and trotter with rich flavor, balancing just the right amount of sweetness and saltiness. Slurping down a mouthful of rice paired with a bite of tender braised meat is simply the perfect way to eat it.

So why did our travel editor go for just the Zhigao and pork trotters? Because she didn’t want to give up on the fried chicken leg. Seeing the chicken legs on other tables sealed the deal—she was determined to order the fried chicken leg rice. Their chicken legs are juicy with thin, crispy skin. One bite and the savory juices burst in your mouth alongside the pepper seasoning—it’s absolutely satisfying.