Hidden Gourmet Gem in Taoyuan's Daxi: Sweet and Tender Chicken Meals & Stir-Fried Mountain Veggies!

Text & Photos byXiaohu’s Dream Food Blog

How far would you go for food? How much discomfort would you endure for a good meal? Would you brave the cold and drive for an hour or two just to sit by the roadside, sipping a bowl of chicken soup and gnawing on a chicken leg? Then you might just qualify as a true “foodie.” This chicken farm restaurant was apparently discovered by hikers in the past and has become a fairly well-known hidden gem in the Daxi area.

Seriously, this place really lives up to the word “hidden.” The journey was so long that four friends of ours had been talking about going there since they first met—right up until November 2017—and most of the road is so narrow you can barely pass another car... At that moment, I thought, Taiwanese people must really love their food...

It must have been late autumn. The deeper we went into the mountains, the less the cold air seemed willing to spare my allergy-prone nose... Just as I’d sneezed who knows how many times, I spotted the sign: “Lao San Tu Ji Cheng” (Third Brother’s Chicken Farm). To be honest, when friends invited me, they only mentioned it was a good place for chicken. I didn’t even remember the name—or maybe I just didn’t care.

The friend leading the way explained that there are three chicken farm restaurants here, named “Eldest,” “Second,” and “Third.” Alright, I guessed it was another story of siblings splitting up the business.

Although all three share similar names, you still have to eat by the roadside... On a nice day, the breeze feels especially pleasant, especially in summer, but in winter, it’s not so poetic...

Eldest Brother’s shop is at the very end of the road, behind which is a parking lot you never have to worry about filling up. As we arrived, the first thing to greet us was the shop dog. My friend called it “Laifu,” but I preferred to call it “Blackie,” though it didn’t really react either way...

I like dogs, but I have a slight aversion to black ones, perhaps due to some past trauma involving being bitten by a black dog... However, this black dog was actually quite well-behaved, not fierce or scary at all.

While my friend was parking, I wandered around a bit. To put it plainly, it was the simplicity of the deep mountains. I had originally thought eating in a traditional three-section courtyard house would be quite lovely too...

Well, at the very least, there was a shelter that could keep out the rain... Even if it only blocked the wind from one side, it was somewhat comforting (laughs).

The first three dishes were not optional; they were entirely based on what seasonal ingredients the restaurant had on hand that day... BUT, the cabbage was insanely crispy and delicious. I loved it so much... I don’t know if it was because I was hungry and cold, but after the first dish, I was already won over...

The next two mountain vegetable dishes also had a crisp and refreshing texture. It felt like they were simply lightly fried, preserving the wonderful texture and natural sweetness of the mountain greens. The third dish, stir-fried mountain fern, was not only fresh and light but also had a hint of oily fragrance. I absolutely loved it.

As for the Skinless Chili Chicken, my friend and I once debated endlessly over whether the broth should be spicy. But here, the soup wasn’t spicy. However, the layer of oil on the surface initially startled me. Interestingly, it didn’t taste very oily. Maybe it was because the mountain wind had given us a slight chill. But regardless, I liked the soup, especially the delicious interplay between the chicken fat and the sweet skinless chilies.

As for the chicken itself, apart from the wings, I didn’t find much else particularly surprising. To be honest, I actually preferred the skinless chilies in the soup...

BUT, when the chicken was dipped in the restaurant’s specially prepared garlic-soy sauce, it became doubly delicious. There was also a hint of onion sweetness and a drizzle of sesame oil. I particularly loved this dipping sauce.

The Three-Cup Chicken had a very strong flavor, and the texture was even a bit rich and sticky. But it paired exceptionally well with plain rice—it was especially satisfying. Since most of the meat was from the bony parts, it wasn’t particularly tasty, but it added an extra layer of fun in gnawing. BUT… as always, I preferred the supporting role—the basil...

To be honest, before this plate of chicken arrived, I was skeptical of my friends’ claims that the chicken was delicious—even though I loved the mountain vegetables. But I have to say, the chicken here is really great. At the very least, it’s undeniably fresh, tender, and sweet. Even though I’m not a big fan of chicken that’s too firm in texture, and I actually prefer the thick layer of fat under the skin, chicken usually doesn’t have much subcutaneous fat. But remember to dip it in that garlic-soy sauce from the table!

Finally, the fried sweet potatoes that came last were incredibly, amazingly, unbelievably delicious. The outside was crispy with a perfect crunch and a hint of oily fragrance, while the inside was sweet to the extreme. I absolutely loved it. And don’t ask me which of the three shops is the best, because I’ve only been to one. But I did take a look online, and it seems the Eldest Brother’s shop is mentioned the least.

Ruanjiazhuang Chicken Farm - Eldest Brother’s Shop

Address: No. 1, Lane 22, Meihua Village, Daxi Township, Taoyuan County
Phone: 03 388 8350

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