Tainan’s A-Zhong Fish Porridge Is Generous with Ingredients – One Bite Delivers Three Kinds of Goodness Including Oysters

Text & Photos /Orange Dog Loves Candy

Coming here to have a bowl of savory porridge lets you sense the local character and pace of life in Tainan—unhurried and laid-back. In the past couple of years, as travel culture has boomed, thanks to popular travel shows and the boost from blogs, Tainan’s historic city has basically turned into a tourist hotspot on weekends. The usual tranquility is gone, replaced by bustling crowds.

Almost every street food stall has crazy-long queues XDD, so when I want to try some old-school shops or snacks, I always prefer going on weekdays. It’s much more relaxed, and I can stroll and eat at my own pace—finish one stall and then walk to the next. The streets are much quieter that way.

I also get more chances to chat casually with the vendors after a good meal, and I think that’s when you really feel the warmth and friendliness of southern Taiwanese people. At least, that’s what I felt this evening at “A-Zhong Fish Porridge.”

Located in the middle section of Minzu Road, near the historic Chihkan Tower, this area gathers many Tainan street food vendors. Whether they’re truly authentic or not, I think every snack and every shop has its own local following. But when it comes to savory porridge, the more well-known spots around here are Yuejin and A-Tang, with A-Han a bit further away… These three are practically regulars in travel magazines and the go-to places for tourists wanting to experience Tainan flavors.

This place, the relatively small old shop “A-Zhong Fish Porridge,” is actually quite inconspicuous. Housed in an old building, the space is cramped and dated. I must have walked past it many times without paying much attention—it doesn’t have a big sign, just a small roadside lightbox with the shop name.


But I know quite a few locals really like this simple little shop.


After being featured on the food show “Foodie Safari,” it became even more popular. The owner’s wife still talks about it with pride and joy.

For 34 years, Mr. and Mrs. A-Zhong built this shop from scratch, supporting each other through thick and thin. They raised their children to adulthood during those years, and their hard work and attention to detail are all reflected in this bowl of soup porridge.


They open in the evening when the lights come on. Under the fluorescent lights, the small space is full of old-shop charm. Seeing me still deciding where to sit, the owner’s wife chatted with me a bit.

She smiled and said, “Good thing you came on a weekday. If it were the weekend, you might have to wait a long time for a seat. We’re so busy it’s almost overwhelming. Also, the fish innards sell out by the weekend, so you probably won’t be able to try them today.”


After sitting down and ordering, you can see the boss preparing the meal unhurriedly. A bowl of savory porridge includes milkfish, white croaker, and fresh oysters—all added slowly and carefully. A bit of sauce and broth rice is added, then out comes a steaming bowl of warm porridge that fills you with anticipation. The comforting steam rises gently from the bowl.

The seafood ingredients are handpicked by the owners early in the morning at the fish market, and even the deboning of the milkfish is done by them. So unlike most shops, they only start selling in the evening—after all, the prep work isn’t easy...

They offer a wide range of dishes, listed on a handwritten photocopied sheet that’s full of choices. It’s a bit of a pity I couldn’t try the fish innards today, but no worries. If you want to try them, it’s best to go two or three days after the weekend when they’re more likely to have some.


The prices are somewhat high for some dishes, but others are pretty affordable. But honestly, every dish is packed with quality ingredients, and the portions are definitely generous. Since I was planning to hit three shops today XDD, I kept it simple—just a bowl of porridge, fried rice, and scrambled eggs. After all, as a local, I’ll have plenty of chances to come back again!!


[Mixed Fish Porridge / 90 NTD]: Includes white croaker, milkfish slices, and oysters. The broth is made from fish bones, offering a rich umami taste along with the rustic aroma of celery and crispy fried shallots.


When it comes to ingredients, I can only say they’re generous and plentiful. Every bite delivers big chunks of toppings and a satisfying feeling.

The rice in the porridge has distinct grains... For many tourists, it might be different from what they expect porridge to be. But back home, this is how we often make porridge—some call it “rice soup” (in Taiwanese)... It’s completely different from congee.


It doesn’t aim for thickness. Instead, it highlights genuine portion sizes and delicious flavors. The pan-fried white croaker has a slightly charred aroma, the milkfish offers solid umami, and the oysters are rich and tender. This bowl of fish porridge showcases the honest and delicious side of Tainan cuisine. The price is a bit higher, but you get both a full stomach and deep satisfaction.


[Basil Scrambled Eggs / 60 NTD]: All the stir-fried dishes are cooked by the owner’s wife herself. I thought the porridge was amazing, but these scrambled eggs are also super generous in portion, packed with the fragrance of basil. I think if everyone had a bowl of rice or noodles, this amount of eggs could easily feed three.

The rich egg flavor combined with the aroma of basil makes this dish an absolute must-order.


[Garlic Pork Strips Fried Rice / 70 NTD]: This is also a hidden gem highly recommended by netizens. After beating eggs, garlic, pork strips, and seasonings are added, then quickly stir-fried before adding white rice and fish bone broth. It’s stir-fried until each grain of rice is golden and evenly coated before serving, aromatic and piping hot.

The rice is slightly moist but not mushy, and every bite is coated in a rich garlicky fragrance. The owner’s wife said adding a bit of chili would make it even better. I’ll definitely try that on my next visit. It may not look like much, but once you try it, you’ll fall in love with the flavor.


Today I only had a simple three dishes, since I plan to come back. Though I kinda wanted to order more XD. If I had to compare a bit, since I’ve only had A-Tang, A-Han, Yuejin, and Wanbo, I think Wanbo and A-Tang are both pretty good savory porridges. But A-Tang is now too expensive and too crowded.

As for A-Zhong, after trying it, I’d say it’s in my top three for sure. I especially love these kinds of old shops full of human warmth—simple greetings, but the food served is genuinely heartwarming. On a cold night like this, it feels extra comforting. I’m pretty full after this meal... but my next stop is heading to the nearby Ah Jiang’s Fried Eel for round two.



[A-Zhong Fish Porridge]

Address:No. 262, Section 2, Minzu Road, West Central District, Tainan City
Phone:None
Business Hours:05:00Pm-11:00Pm
Consumption Reminder:Closed on Mondays. It is recommended to visit on weekdays to avoid the queue.
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