A traditional breakfast for Tainan locals—flaky, savory rice porridge made with milkfish and fresh oysters

Text & Photos /MIKA

Last time I stayed at a homestay near Anping District in Tainan, called Anping Guangying Time. Just stepping out of the alley behind the homestay, you’ll find Wang’s Fish Skin. The homestay owner highly recommended this place for breakfast, saying it’s the most authentic Tainan-style morning meal. Us outsiders always listen to the locals, so without hesitation, our first meal of the day was right here. Turns out, Wang’s Fish Skin is actually quite famous around here, and they’re open from 4 AM to 2 PM—not just for breakfast, but brunch and lunch too, which is super thoughtful. I’m totally in love with this place—their savory congee and side dishes are affordable, fresh, and delicious. Tainan’s savory congee is different from that in Kinmen or central Taiwan—it’s more like soup-soaked rice porridge, with intact grains that still have some chew and plenty of hearty fillings. So yummy!

Wang’s Fish Skin is conveniently located right by the roadside, though at first glance, it might be mistaken for a seafood stall.

The kitchen is an open-air, small stall setup, giving off a very approachable vibe.

There’s a decent-sized seating area here, also semi-open. In the summer, they have air conditioning and fans running, so for a street food spot, the dining environment is actually pretty comfortable.

They mainly serve seafood and street food, but their top recommendation is the savory congee.

Meat Juice Fried Dough Stick – 15 NTD
This whole plate is just 15 NTD!! The prices in Tainan never stop amazing me~ Crispy fried dough sticks drizzled with savory meat juice—of course it’s absolutely delicious.

Fried Egg – 10 NTD
Every now and then, you just miss a good fried egg when you’re out and about XD

Crispy Fish Savory Congee – 55 NTD
Crispy fried fish pieces paired with celery, topped with crispy fried shallots and a sweet, savory rice porridge broth.

I found it really flavorful and delicious—I love this kind of textured congee.

Savory Congee – 55 NTD
A savory congee made with a mix of crispy fish and milkfish, along with other seafood. Feels like a better deal, haha.

It’s a rice porridge cooked with a mix of fish and fresh oysters—the natural sweetness and umami are unbeatable!! So tasty~

Meat Juice Oysters – 60 NTD
Wow, these oysters are so fresh and delicious. With a dip in the meat juice, they’re incredibly savory, tender, and sweet.

Milkfish Soup – 45 NTD
The milkfish balls are firm and bouncy, but a bit bland to my taste—I personally didn’t love them much XD

What a hearty brunch. Do Tainan folks really eat such filling breakfasts? After this meal, we were stuffed until the afternoon XD. Gave me energy for the whole day—already ‘sent a package’ for the day ← (that’s Taiwanese slang).

Wang’s Fish Skin Shop
Phone: 06-2288095
Address: No. 612, Anping Rd., Anping District, Tainan City, Taiwan 708
Business Hours: 04:00–14:00 (Weekdays)
04:00–14:30 (Weekends & Holidays) (Closed during Lunar New Year)
 

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