Taoyuan’s late-night diner: Affordable and nostalgic pork chop rice

Photos and text bySan Gao Chi Han

Along Zhongzheng Road between Sanmin Road and Ciwen Road, this stretch is packed with food stalls and a night market, bustling with people and vehicles from morning till night. It’s always crowded and not very easy to navigate. By chance, I discovered this 24-hour eatery located near the Ciwen Road end of Zhongzheng Road, marked by a simple yellow sign with green characters that read “Red Meat Soup” (赤肉羹). It’s a humble, home-style snack shop.

Once past midnight in Taoyuan City and Hsinchu City, there are very few places to eat, which is quite pitiful compared to Taipei. Any 24-hour eateries automatically get categorized as “late-night snacks” for me—places you’d only truly appreciate visiting at night. During the day, there are too many other temptations that make you less likely to choose them.

Opposite the unnamed Red Meat Soup shop is a Chiayi-style rice dumpling stall, also open 24 hours. I haven’t tried it, but like the others, it’s perfect for a late-night bite. For me, as long as the taste is decent, that’s good enough—I’ll give it a try when I have the chance.

The shop is called Red Meat Soup (赤肉羹), but it actually offers quite a variety of items, which is a pleasant surprise during the late-night hours. The prices are also very reasonable. Aside from the cheapest lu rou fan (braised pork rice) for 25 NT, there are also pre-fried rice noodles and rice dishes sitting out, priced between 25–30 NT. I wasn’t too interested in those, but then I spotted what seemed to be the most expensive item on the menu: pork chop rice for 75 NT. I decided to give it a try.

At 75 NT, the pork chop rice might not sound super cheap, but when the braised pork chop arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by its generous size. It came with shredded bamboo shoots and fried tofu on the side. When you’re hungry, this kind of meal is pretty irresistible.

This classic-style, fried-then-braised pork chop isn’t the best I’ve ever had, but it’s still pretty good. The savory-slightly-salty braising sauce is well-balanced. The pork chops are cut quite thick, so the flavor doesn’t fully penetrate, but they’re tender and juicy with a nice meaty aroma. It’s flavorful and satisfying. The highlight is definitely the thick slices of meat—it feels hearty. The chop is already sliced when served, making it easy to eat. Such thoughtful service...

The plain rice is actually quite good too—the rice quality is solid. A simple drizzle of the braising sauce makes it even better. At this point, you can also pair the pork chop with some side dishes.

The pig liver (30 NT) is pre-sliced, marinated, and refrigerated. If you want freshly sliced pig liver, you’ll have to visit a fresh meat and cold cuts stall in the morning. The pig liver slices are thin, tender yet slightly chewy, and the garlic paste seasoning complements it well. The pickled cabbage (30 NT) is the kind of dish that doesn’t leave much of an impression—nothing special—but you’ll notice both side dishes are generously portioned despite being the same 30 NT price.

Finally, I finished the meal with a bowl of red meat soup (30 NT). It has a mildly sweet starch-thickened broth with floating egg flower, and while it’s nothing extraordinary, the ingredients are solid. Overall, considering the price and the portion sizes, this meal is a great deal and makes for a solid late-night dining option.

Unnamed homemade red meat soup
Address: No. 698, Zhongzheng Road, Taoyuan City
Business Hours: 24 hours

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