The secret to the delicious broth? "Dongmen Braised Pork Ball Soup" is firm, bouncy, and tender

▲ The Dongmen Braised Pork Ball Soup tastes firm, bouncy, and tender, with a delightfully savory broth—there must be a secret behind it. (Photo / Reporter Chen Mingren)

Reported by Chen Ziying / Taipei

Located near Dongmen Market, "Dongmen Braised Pork Ball Soup" is packed early in the morning with customers eager to try this unique soup that has been passed down for 30 years. The broth here is especially savory and sweet, and the pork balls are particularly firm, bouncy, and tender. Many food lovers enjoy this soup for breakfast, starting their day on a satisfying note.

The owner, Zhang Fukai, the second-generation successor, says his family’s pork balls have earned a great reputation. As for the broth, it's made using the water from blanching the meat, combined with dried bonito, bamboo shoots, and shiitake mushrooms, then simmered and thickened. Each batch uses around 60 to 70 kilograms of meat, so naturally, the broth is exceptionally flavorful. For the pork balls, he uses fresh pork hind leg meat mixed with cheek meat from the day’s slaughter. After the water boils, the meat is scooped out and shaped. The hind leg meat is more tender and caters to modern preferences for lean meat. It isn’t coated with too much starch, giving it that firm, bouncy texture.


▲ This uniquely flavored Dongmen Braised Pork Ball Soup, passed down for 30 years, is helmed by second-generation owner Zhang Fukai. (Photo / Reporter Chen Mingren)

 
▲ The broth is made with the water from blanched meat, along with dried bonito, bamboo shoots, and shiitake mushrooms, then simmered and thickened—resulting in exceptional flavor. The pork balls use tender hind leg meat with minimal starch, resulting in a firm, bouncy texture. (Photo / Reporter Chen Mingren)

The braised pork rice here is also full of substance. Zhang Fukai says they specially select pork belly with an even distribution of fat and lean meat. During the braising process, the fat is filtered out, making the overall dish neither greasy nor heavy. It’s paired with specially prepared shredded bamboo shoots to balance the saltiness of the braising sauce, and the rice is fluffy and distinct—offering a truly delicious overall experience.


▲ The braised pork rice is special because the fat and grease are filtered out during the braising process, making it neither greasy nor heavy. Paired with specially prepared shredded bamboo shoots, the overall taste is wonderfully balanced. (Photo / Reporter Chen Mingren)

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【Dongmen Braised Pork Ball Soup】 Address: No. 56, Linyi Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Phone: 0932─139─491
Business Hours: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Closed on Sundays)
Price: Braised Pork Ball Soup 30 NTD, Braised Pork Rice 25 NTD