Lefuji’s signature fried pork ribs and crispy chicken leg – must-try staples of the house

▲ One of Lefuji Pork Ribs’ signature dishes: crispy chicken leg rice. (Photo by reporter Chen Mingren)

Reported by Chen Shichang / Taipei

A bento shop that has stood firm in an office district for many years must have something special. “Lefuji Pork Ribs,” located on Wuxing Street and Keelung Road in Taipei, has been in business for over seven years and offers as many as 22 bento options. Over the years, while the management style and menu have evolved, the oversized pork ribs – bigger than a human face – and the uniquely flavored chicken leg remain unforgettable signature dishes.

▲ One of Lefuji Pork Ribs’ signature dishes: fried pork ribs rice. (Photo by reporter Chen Mingren)

“Lefuji Pork Ribs” is run by Boss Li in the kitchen and his wife, Qiu Lixiang, handling front-of-house service. Together, they once managed to prepare an impressive 700 bentos in a single day. Thanks to their location in the World Trade Center business district on Keelung Road, they are the go-to bento delivery choice for many exhibition staff. Qiu Lixiang said they would even deliver just three bentos. “Our goal is to serve and meet our customers’ needs.” It’s said they once delivered as many as 150 bentos all the way to Linkou, driven purely by their dedication to service.

The Lefuji menu offers 22 options, all designed as bento types with corresponding pricing. Among them:The best-selling fried pork ribs ricefeatures pork ribs slightly larger than an open male palm (left photo), with a thickness of about 0.5–1 cm;One of the signatures, the crispy chicken leg rice,is slightly sweet and refreshing, with meat that’s quite chewy.

Qiu Lixiang explained that the pork ribs and chicken legs are fried to order. The marinade ingredients for different main items like chicken legs and pork ribs vary, and the recipes are closely guarded by the boss. She revealed that all meats are marinated in flour-coated sauces for over 24 hours before frying, and each type of meat has its own unique recipe. However, a few years ago, each bento came with six side dishes, but now there are four, with an additional small side pack provided for takeout.

To cater to varied tastes, Lefuji introduced a light-flavored heated stewed dish line two years ago, available as set meals or à la carte, offering more choices for those who prefer lighter food. There are four types of stewed dish sets, differing only in the main carb – either Prince Noodles, white rice, glass noodles, or udon – while the sides, including cabbage, turnip, pork shin, quail eggs, meatballs, blood cake, sausage, bean curd skin, are all heated and served together in a bowl, making for quite a generous portion.

% (Photo by reporter Chen Mingren)

[Lefuji Pork Ribs]
Address: No. 39, Lane 171, Tonghua Street, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: (02)2732-2808, 2732-2822
Business hours: 08:30–14:00, 16:00–20:00
Price: NT$75–NT$95 per bento