Homestyle Braised Pork Rice Ousts Signature Beef Dishes to Become Night Market Favorite

Since braised pork belly rice is the signature dish, you must try a bowl. "Niu Ma Ma’s" 55-NT-dollar serving of braised pork belly rice looks no different from others: steamed white rice drizzled with braising sauce, two pieces of pork belly with equal parts fat and lean, plus pickled bamboo shoots tinted with the sauce. Take a bite of the pork belly—the fat part is springy but not mushy, the top layer of skin is chewy like jelly, while the lean part is tender and flavorful. Paired with a bite of salty, fragrant bamboo shoots and a mouthful of hot steamed rice, it’s guaranteed you won’t stop at just one bite.

Many people find the fatty part of braised pork belly unappetizing because it’s too greasy and mushy. Ms. Zhou Suying says the secret to making the pork belly springy and not greasy is to deep-fry it before braising—a process called "sealing the meat." This step draws out the fat. Since Ms. Zhou is from southern Taiwan, she says this is an authentic southern method. The two large pots of braised meat actually use different heat levels—one pot is perfectly braised and served first to customers, while the other is monitored and adjusted according to the braising progress.

▲ The pork skin is chewy like jelly, paired with bamboo shoots and a bite of rice—it feels like you could eat several bowls.

And the seemingly ordinary bamboo shoots are surprisingly delicious with rice. Ms. Zhou confidently says, "These bamboo shoots are the proud work of relatives from the south, preserved using traditional methods—rubbed with a generous amount of salt, then pressed under heavy stones to draw out the moisture, just like the common practice in rural three-sided courtyard homes. It’s the most traditional yet most flavorful method." Though constantly soaked in the braising sauce, they’re not overly salty. Instead, they’re juicy with every bite—truly the boss’s proud bamboo shoots.

▲ There are so many staff coming in and out of the stall, but many are actually relatives of the boss (on the right)! If you want to catch a glimpse of the graceful and skillful boss, she occasionally enjoys her homemade dishes quietly in a corner during meal times. Maybe one day she’ll introduce new dishes too.

Although braised pork belly rice has become the signature of "Niu Ma Ma," it wasn’t on the menu at the beginning. It was all “an unexpected success.” It turns out Ms. Zhou Suying and her husband love experimenting with food and often bring homemade dishes to share with regular customers at the stall. Unexpectedly, the customers were blown away and suggested that Ms. Zhou add the braised pork belly rice to the menu. Many even come specifically to take away the braised pork belly, and some hope Ms. Zhou will offer pre-orders for the New Year, wanting to add a “Sealed Meat with Crispy Bamboo Shoots” dish to their reunion dinner table. However, the boss also celebrates the New Year and declined the New Year dishes offer. She still hopes everyone will visit the stall in person.

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Stall Information

Ningxia Night Market Stall Number: 044

Reference Price Range: 55 NT – 150 NT

Business Hours: 5 PM – 2 AM