Authentic and hearty Taiwanese street eats in Kaohsiung – A bowl of pig’s blood soup with intestines for just NT$40

Text & Photos /A Culinary Adventure in Kaohsiung – Exploring Local Delicacies

That day, in search of the delicious rice noodle soup that fellow foodies had raved about, we headed to Gushan District. Under the scorching sun and following the clues given by others, we still couldn’t find the rice noodle soup. Driving all the way to the Gushan Second Public Market, we spotted a line of people queuing up. Being the observant travelers we are, we decided to stop and check it out. The Gushan Second Public Market has a long history. Gushan is one of the earliest developed areas in Kaohsiung. In the early days, traditional markets were an integral part of daily life. However, with the passage of time and changes in consumer shopping habits, these traditional markets have gradually declined. Even so, time-tested snacks like those found here continue to win people's hearts, and Wu Ji Pig’s Blood Soup is one of them.

Wu Ji Pig’s Blood Soup, which has been around for 50 years, is located right at the front of the market. It’s also one of the few food stalls in the market that has been operating for over half a century. Open from the morning, it serves up hot meals for local residents. Back in the days when Western-style breakfasts weren’t yet popular, most people were accustomed to starting their day with a Chinese breakfast. Some have been eating here for decades. No wonder most of the customers we saw were middle-aged or older food enthusiasts.

There’s quite a variety of food on offer here. Aside from the famous pig’s blood soup, stir-fried rice noodles, stir-fried noodles, liver and intestine soup, and pork rib soup are all popular items. Whether you’re dining in or taking away, there’s always a line to place your order.

Pork floss rice / Large bowl

I’ve never seen such a huge portion of pork floss rice before – it’s incredibly generous. It was probably designed to satisfy hardworking laborers looking for a filling meal. The steaming white rice is drenched in a generous amount of pork floss and its sauce. The only downside is that the aroma and flavor of the pork floss sauce could be stronger. In our opinion, while it may not be the most delicious pork floss rice, it’s definitely cheap and comes in a huge portion.

Pig’s blood soup with intestines

This is one of the shop’s signature dishes. We heard there might be options with either small or large intestines, but since it was our first time and the menu board wasn’t clear, we weren’t sure how to order. So, we just ordered what others were having. The broth is made from boiling pork bones – likely the same stock used for the pork rib soup – and is enhanced with crispy fried shallots, giving it a nice flavor. It’s quite enjoyable.

The hearty pig’s blood soup also contains a good amount of intestines. And all of this is yours for just around NT$40 per bowl – incredibly affordable. There are various dipping sauces on the table, and based on observation, most people go for the shop’s homemade scallion soy sauce. From my experience, the texture of the pig’s blood was just okay, and the intestines had a slight fishy smell, which some might not enjoy. It really depends on personal taste.

Pork rib soup

The shop starts preparing early in the morning, and after hours of simmering, the pork bone broth is rich in flavor and full of authentic ingredients. To enhance the taste, it seems they add a bit of sesame oil or rice wine just before serving – it’s really delicious.

Each bowl comes with several generous pieces of pork ribs. The shop really goes above and beyond. We estimate that a bowl like this is only sold for around NT$35–40 – truly cheap and filling.

Unlike some shops that give you mostly bone and very little meat, this place doesn’t skimp. Each rib piece has plenty of meat, offering excellent value for money. Highly recommended.

Stir-fried rice noodles

I’ve always loved stir-fried rice noodles, especially the traditional kind. This shop uses thinner rice noodles, but perhaps too much sauce was added, making the noodles a bit too moist. They lacked that satisfying dryness and springy texture, which is a bit of a shame.

The total for our entire meal came out to just NT$135, which really amazed us – it’s incredibly cheap. Just the ingredients in those two bowls of soup would be considered generous in other food stalls. It’s the kind of satisfying, hearty meal that everyday folks look for. If the pork floss sauce could be improved a bit, it might be perfect. If you’re passing by the Gushan Second Public Market, don’t forget to try these authentic 50-year-old street food flavors. We highly recommend it.

Wu Ji Pig’s Blood Soup

Address: No. Gushan 2nd Rd., Gushan District, Kaohsiung City (Gushan Second Public Market)

Business Hours: 06:00–14:00

A Culinary Adventure in Kaohsiung – Exploring Local Delicacies