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<”, using black pork belly and thick-cut squid, delivering a rich sea flavor in one bite. (Photo / Reporter Liao Xinghui)

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<”. To present this traditional dish in its original rich flavor, the pork part insists on using firmer-textured black pork, while the squid is first soaked in saltwater for one hour, during which the water is changed three times. It is then boiled in rolling water for 30 minutes to tenderize it just enough — ensuring the thick-cut squid does not become too soft, but still retains its texture, while also offering a Q (chewy) mouthfeel. The savory sauce combined with the rich sea flavor makes it hard to resist taking multiple bites. More amazingly, although the thick squid retains its texture, it is also surprisingly easy to chew, making it enjoyable even for elders and children.

▲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<,Mealetc.alsoPushOutThemmanyOfCombineDishesandLiangOfsetMeal,snackthe centralcrispyfriedtunafishAtierFreshcrispyCrispy,ImmediatelyBentoColdThemalsobutstartintoFlavor,CherryNoodlesshrimpcookingriceRicericeGrainGraindifferentstarQieFinebutpricesor greasy,atsaeveningCherryNoodlesshrimpaFlavor,MountChengkindsproducttiercookingrice.ShopInsidejerkyNetstarBright,Sandyto trigger / to provokeRegionsareCombinethreekindsGoodreasonableandwhiteamongCourtyard,OsakaLongTableareCombineCirclevisitedCombineDishes,ThisAlsoShopInsidealsoandTuneWineandatsteppedEnterentranceBeerWine／YangWine／ClearWine,accompanimentMealforOneCupShareIncidentSeaIslanddegreeFakeAtmospherewei,PhaseDongComfortbusinessGivebe.

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