Former tennis pro opens Taipei shop serving “bak kut teh”改良自马来西亚中药配方

Text & Photos /A Man’s Daily Life
(Text by Man E, Photography by Man J)

The long-established Guoshou Bak Kut Teh is located near the intersection of Minzu East Road and Fuxing North Road, close to Songshan Airport. Its uniquely refreshing Southeast Asian-style bak kut teh and curry rice are made without any artificial additives—just slow-simmered meat bones and herbal ingredients. The flavors have been adapted to suit Taiwanese palates, and the small shop is about to celebrate its fourth anniversary.

The shop is named “Guoshou Bak Kut Teh” because the owner was a national tennis player in his youth. As he grew older, he began reminiscing about his past and missed the Southeast Asian cuisine he enjoyed while competing in Singapore and Malaysia. That nostalgia inspired him to open this bak kut teh shop.

It’s about an 8–10 minute walk from Zhongshan Junior High School Station. The retro yet simple decor features five or six tables, and a corner of the shop displays some of the owner’s trophies. Nearby is the self-service utensil area. When we visited around 1 p.m. on a weekday, the place quickly filled up with customers. Aside from its famous bak kut teh and curry rice/noodles, the shop also serves mouthwatering pork rice with egg.

%技strong>Pork Rice with Egg $40

The rice is fluffy and separate, topped with a few slices of chewy poached chicken and a half-boiled egg. The yolk slowly oozes onto the white rice, and when mixed together, it delivers a rich eggy aroma—a simple yet delicious dish.

%技strong>Curry Chicken Leg Rice $100

The curry sauce is rich but not overly thick, with a fragrant lemongrass-infused taste. Paired with rice and side dishes, the flavor is refreshing and layered. The chicken leg meat is firm, tender, and full of chicken flavor. The portion isn’t large, so for guys, ordering just this might leave you feeling a bit hungry.

%技strong>Bak Kut Teh $70

The bak kut teh at Guoshou is simmered with a carefully balanced ratio of medicinal herbs and meat bones. Before serving, it’s topped with a variety of blanched vegetables. The four or five pork ribs inside are tender yet slightly chewy. Though it’s based on a herbal broth, the taste is light, refreshing, and quite enjoyable.

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Afterword

The cool-looking but extremely friendly owner explained that there are two main styles of bak kut teh—Malaysian and Singaporean. Guoshou Bak Kut Teh adopts a Malaysian herbal-based recipe that has been modified to offer a lighter, more refreshing taste, distinct from the heavier traditional Southeast Asian style. Overall, the dining environment here is clean, the prices are reasonable (they haven’t increased since opening), and the ingredients are high quality. It’s a satisfying meal without any heavy after-feel, reflecting the owner’s dedication to his craft.

In addition to the main dishes, the shop also offers a few side dishes. The lamb chop series on the menu is said to be a signature favorite among regulars. Next time, I’d love to try the exclusive lamb chop bak kut teh and curry lamb chop noodles that I didn’t get to sample this time.

Guoshou Bak Kut Teh
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Address: No. 510, Fuxing North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City (About 8 minutes from Zhongshan Junior High School Station toward the airport)
Business Hours: Mon–Sat: 11:00–20:30 (Closed 14:30–17:00), Sun: Closed
Phone: 02-2515-9268

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