Does it look like dried tofu? Ultra-thick squid slices melt in your mouth — only available on Liuqiu Island

▲Does it look like dried tofu? Actually, it’s the unique Liuqiu Island dish “Squid Xiaofeng,” with the close-up showing thick-cut squid. (Photo by reporter Liao Minghui)

Reported by reporter Liao Minghui / Liuqiu Island

Liuqiu Island is surrounded by sea and relies mainly on fishing — it has the highest number of ship captains in Taiwan. As the entire island consists of coral reefs, farming is difficult, and the hot climate makes it hard to raise poultry or livestock. Only black-haired pigs can survive here, but they’re scarce, making pork a luxury for locals. In earlier times, residents rarely had the chance to eat pork unless it was a festival or special occasion.

That’s why a local dish called “Squid Xiaofeng” became popular — it combines pork belly, dried squid, and shredded bamboo shoots in a braised sauce. The owner of Liuxia Lai Restaurant said: “The squid isn’t just for flavor, it also fills the plate because meat is so expensive!”

▲Liuxia Lai serves up an old-fashioned “Liuqiu N<”，选用黑猪三层肉及超厚切鱿鱼，海味野味一次满足。（图／记者廖明慧摄）

Restaurants get creative by serving Squid Xiaofeng over steaming white rice, topped with a half-boiled marinated egg and drizzled with sauce and scallions — creating the most traditional-style “Liuqiu N<”。为了原汁原味呈现这道传统料理，猪肉部分坚持使用肉质较Q的黑猪肉，干鱿鱼先以盐水浸泡1小时，这1小时内要还换三次水，接着再用滚水煮30分钟以上，才能让这超厚切的鱿鱼不会过于软烂，且在保有纤维的情况下，还能拥有Q弹的口感，酱香加上海味，令人忍不住多咬几下，更奇妙的是，虽然超厚鱿鱼保有纤维，但却意外地好咀嚼，连长辈和小孩也能驾驭。

▲Liuxia Lai Restaurant’s 2-person set meal features a table full of seafood for just NT$600, including sashimi / giant oysters / crispy tuna / sakura shrimp fried rice / vegetables / fruit / Lover’s Tears (seaweed), etc. (Photo by reporter Zhang Yizhong)

Besides Liuqiu N<，餐馆还推出了多人合菜和两人套餐，其中酥炸鲔鱼超级鲜酥脆，即便冷了也不会走味，樱花虾炒饭米饭粒粒分明且毫不油腻，再撒上樱花虾提味，堪称五星级炒饭。店内干净明亮，沙发区适合三五好友和小家庭，大长桌适合团客合菜，此外店内还有调酒和各式进口啤酒／洋酒／清酒，佐餐来一杯享受海岛度假氛围，相当惬意自在。

Liuxia Lai Hotel/Restaurant
http://www.stayhotel.com.tw/seafood/
Address: No. 43-2, Minsheng Road, Liuqiu Township, Pingtung County
Phone: 08 861 1133