A soup made by simmering an entire honeyed Rishan apple — available only at Mingrenfang’s Tainan branch.

▲ Honeyed Rishan Apple Soup with Pork Ribs.

Reported and photographed by Huang Shiyuan, Tainan

Mingrenfang, a high-end Cantonese restaurant with Michelin-star prestige in Hong Kong, officially expanded to Tainan on December 29th after opening its first Taiwan outlet at Hanshin Hotel. The second branch is now located on the first floor of New World Sanxia Tainan, featuring an 80% overlap with the original Hong Kong menu. Chef Fu from Mingrenfang has also created an exclusive seasonal soup for the Tainan location: “Honeyed Rishan Apple Soup with Pork Ribs.”

The “Honeyed Rishan Apple Soup with Pork Ribs” features honeyed apples sourced from Dayuling in Rishan (available only in October and November). These small fruits are rich in nectar, offering a strong flavor without concerns about pesticide residues. The soup begins with a four-hour preparation of premium stock, followed by adding a whole, deseeded honeyed apple along with pork ribs, yam, and carrots. After simmering for one hour, the natural sweetness of the apple infuses the broth, while the pork ribs and yam absorb the unique honey aroma of the Rishan apple.


▲ Bird’s Nest-Stuffed Chicken Wings.


▲ Bird’s nest stuffed inside chicken wings.

When it comes to Mingrenfang, one must mention its signature dish — Bird’s Nest-Stuffed Chicken Wings. This dish was originally conceived by Chef Fu while working for Lim Por Yen, who wanted to serve guests something they had never tasted before. Chef Fu took the traditional glutinous rice-stuffed chicken wing and replaced the rice with bird’s nest. The bird’s nest is first simmered in chicken stock to absorb its fragrance. The chicken wings are then deboned, stuffed with the bird’s nest, sealed, and air-dried for 20–40 minutes before being deep-fried to achieve a crispy outer layer.


▲ Braised Wagyu Beef.


▲ Chef Fu’s Fried Rice.


▲ Stir-fried Pork Belly Tips with Black Bean and Chili.

Recommended dishes at Mingrenfang also include Chef Fu’s signature fried rice, braised Wagyu beef, crispy young pigeon, signature pipa tofu, amber-style stewed black pork, stir-fried pork belly tips with black bean and chili, lobster soup congee, taro and plum-flavored duck pot, and crispy fried spring chicken. Additionally, the dessert chef has designed dog-shaped “Puppy Custard Buns” in anticipation of the upcoming Year of the Dog.

Mingrenfang opened its first Taiwan branch in 2015 at Hanshin Hotel in Kaohsiung. Its second branch debuted on December 29th on the first floor of the premium retail area at New World Sanxia Tainan. The Tainan branch offers 68 open seating areas and four private rooms with independent layouts and high privacy, catering to various customer needs and bringing Michelin-starred dining closer to the mall’s patrons. For the first three days of opening, there is a “Buy One Get One Free” promotion on Chef Fu’s signature crispy roast pork buns, limited to 50 sets per day.

Hanshin Mingrenfang Tainan Branch
Address: 1F, Area C, New World Sanxia Tainan Main Store (1F, No. 658, Section 1, Ximen Rd., West Central District, Tainan City)
Phone: 06-3030-111


▲ Mingrenfang Tainan Branch located on the first floor of New World Sanxia Tainan.


▲ One of the four private rooms.

▲ Open kitchen.