The Last Heir of Shanghai Cuisine: Authentic Hunan Dishes at Hongdou Restaurant

Photos and text excerpted from “In Search of Flavor: 74+ Great Restaurants in Taiwan”

Due to historical and cultural developments, Taiwan once had many Shanghai-style restaurants. However, as many veteran chefs passed away over time and the dining industry embraced innovation, many classic Shanghai restaurants gradually disappeared. But at “Hongdou Restaurant,”Shanghai cuisine has been given a modern and contemporary twist, presented with a modern aesthetic in plating, while still staying true to its classic flavors—sharing the essence of Shanghai cuisine with even more food lovers..

To preserve the authenticity of Shanghai cuisine,Hongdou Restaurant invited Chef Zheng Jianshun, the last disciple of the renowned Shanghai master Tang Yongchang.. Having mastered authentic Shanghai cuisine, Chef Zheng has been working tirelessly with Hongdou Restaurant to continue the legacy of this culinary tradition. The restaurant’s name, which means “red bean,” symbolizes longing and affection, reflecting the chef’s deep nostalgia for the flavors of Shanghai. A must-order dish at Hongdou Restaurant, highly recommended by the head chef, is Stir-Fried Blue Crab with Glutinous Rice Cake.The ingredients are carefully selected: the crabs are the highest-quality virgin crabs, and the glutinous rice cakes at the bottom of the plate must be the authentic Dachen-style, otherwise the genuine texture cannot be achieved. In addition to preserving classics, Hongdou Restaurant also adds creative touches to traditional dishes. For example, with Dongpo Pork, Chef Zheng sears French foie gras until golden brown, then serves it with homemade baked pancakes, paired with slices of Dongpo Pork. The two rich and distinctive flavors intertwine to create an unforgettable taste.

Since Hongdou Restaurant’s branches are all located inside department stores or malls, space and dining hours are somewhat limited. Therefore, Hongdou Restaurant opened the Minsheng Club to provide guests with a more comfortable environment and a more relaxed dining experience. Although the space is designed with new trends in mind and Shanghai cuisine is presented in a modern form, preserving and passing on classic old dishes remains the restaurant’s most important goal.As a result, when old Shanghai natives visit Hongdou Restaurant and order a pot of Yanduxian (bamboo shoot and pork soup), a serving of Dongpo Pork, a bowl of vegetable rice, along with authentic pickled vegetable and broad bean crisps, they are instantly transported back to the flavors of home.

Gourmet Recommendations

Stir-Fried Blue Crab with Glutinous Rice Cake
Featuring tender and creamy virgin crab roe paired with authentic Shanghai-style glutinous rice cake from the bottom of the plate, all simmered in fermented broad bean paste. The freshness of the crab, the savory richness of the paste, and the glutinous rice cakes that have absorbed the essence of the sauce conquer the palates of food connoisseurs.

Stir-Fried Shrimp
Made with seasonal sand shrimp, the sand veins are removed, and the shrimp are cleaned and dried before being coated evenly with egg white and a unique seasoning blend.
The shrimp are then pan-fried to perfection. Upon tasting, you can enjoy the crispness from the egg white coating and the sweet, fresh flavor of the sand shrimp.

Culinary Landmarks
No. 129, Section 3, Minsheng East Road, Songshan District, Taipei City, B1 (Minsheng Club, Global Business Building)
(02) 8770-6969
Lunch: 11:00–14:30; Afternoon Tea: 14:30–16:30; Dinner: 17:00–21:30
Set meals starting from NT$680
Credit cards accepted
www.redbeandining.com