Authentic Northern-style Handmade Dumplings in Taipei — The Famous Bursting Beef Pie!

Text & Photos byDaKou

When it comes to "Zhu Ji Dumpling & Congee Shop," most people in northern Taiwan must be quite familiar with it. Over the past 45 years, the shop has sold enough pies stacked over 4,000 Taipei 101 buildings tall and long enough to circle Taiwan 20 times. It’s a nostalgic, delicious treat loved across generations — from the young to the old. Established in 1973, "Zhu Ji Dumpling & Congee Shop" has branches in Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, and Hsinchu. The authentic northern handmade dumplings paired with affordable prices make it a favorite among both locals and international visitors!

This time we visited the Yongkang branch of "Zhu Ji Dumpling & Congee Shop." Not only is the environment clean, bright, stylish, and elegant, but the calligraphy artwork on the walls also gives off a strong sense of Eastern culture. There's a wide variety of food options — various types of noodles, congee, noodle soups, dry noodles, fried rice, à la carte dishes, soups, drinks, and side dishes. Not only are the main dishes and à la carte items delicious, but the sides are also impressive, making it a great choice for gatherings and meals.

The Yongkang branch (Zhu Ji Dumpling & Congee Shop Yongkang) is located in the alleys of Taipei’s Yongkang Street — just walk into the alley opposite the Somewhere Mango Shaved Ice shop and you’ll see it. It’s about a 2-minute walk from Exit 4 or 5 of Dongmen MRT Station, so it’s quite convenient for transportation.

Zhu Ji Dumpling & Congee Shop was established in 1982 and has a history of over 40 years. There’s a sign at the entrance detailing its historical background, which everyone can check out.

The dining environment here is very clean and tidy, with a modern touch. It looks quite cozy. I specifically came here for lunch, and luckily there weren’t too many people yet — because by lunchtime, it gets fully packed in no time!

The menu offers a concise selection, with clear categories such as appetizers, soups, main dishes, and drinks, allowing diners to choose easily.　

The menu is a sheet where you can check off the dishes you want and hand it to the staff.

There are quite a few choices, including noodles, rice, dumplings, porridge, side dishes, and more. All the main dishes and sides are ordered by marking them on the form, and then the staff will handle the rest.　

Even ordering drinks is simple — you just tell the staff what you want, and they’ll take care of it.

You can also customize your own meal combinations, and finally settle the bill at the counter.

There aren’t too many soup options, but each one looks quite appealing.

Among them, the cold eggplant dish looks absolutely delicious — it’s not soggy at all and still retains that glossy, oily feel. It seems super flavorful, XD. Also, the pickled cucumber and other sides look great too.

The pan-fried pork dumplings (NT$120) — although their price is a bit higher, they’re also much bigger than usual. Plus, with their crispy outside and soft, chewy inside, they’re actually quite worth it!

I asked a friend who’s local and they recommended trying the beef congee here. It’s not just tasty, but also pairs really well with the pickled vegetables served on the side.

The pork wontons here are also quite good. One of them even had a whole shrimp inside, which was a nice surprise. The flavor is rich, and when paired with chili oil, it brings out even more aroma. So fragrant and delicious!

The mushroom tofu hot pot here is also quite popular. It’s not just spicy but also very flavorful, making it a hit among diners. It’s rich, savory, and very satisfying.

The dragon beard vegetable (NT$40) — it’s been a while since I’ve had this, so I quickly ordered a plate to reminisce. The dragon beard vegetable here is quite tender and doesn’t have that overly fibrous texture. It’s lightly salty, fragrant, and refreshing — a pretty good appetizer!

The pickled mustard greens (NT$60) — they’re crunchy and sweet, not too hard or too soft, and the slight spiciness adds a refreshing kick to the appetite!

The pig skin (NT$40) — it has a rich gelatinous texture, soft, chewy, slightly sticky, yet also a bit crispy. It’s salty, flavorful, and delicious, whether eaten on its own or dipped.

The millet porridge (NT$25) — when you come to a noodle shop, you’ve got to try a bowl of millet porridge, XD. I noticed many customers ordered a bowl of millet porridge along with a few à la carte dishes or sides, making for a hearty and satisfying meal.

The millet porridge has a mild flavor, but it’s quite smooth and comforting. It goes really well with heavier dishes and leaves a refreshing aftertaste, XD.

The millet porridge here is also cooked with some red dates, adding a subtle sweetness and fragrance. It’s really comforting and pairs well with other dishes.

The beef pie (NT$45) — it’s one of their signature dishes. The plump, golden, slightly crispy pies look super tempting!

The beef congee — the broth here is very rich and flavorful. It has a deep umami taste, but when it first arrives, it’s super hot, so be careful not to burn your mouth!

The beef pie’s flaky crust paired with the juicy, fragrant filling is truly a perfect match. It’s another dish we all really love!

The wontons with spicy sauce (NT$110) — these round, plump wontons paired with the bright red, specially made spicy sesame sauce look absolutely irresistible.

The meatballs here are incredibly juicy. They’re the juicy kind, and after soaking up the specially made sauce, they become even more fragrant and flavorful!

The wontons here have a smooth and tender skin, paired with a filling that’s firm and plump, along with a tangy flavor and a slight numbing spiciness—just one bite is massively satisfying!

The wontons here are springy and smooth, with a strong Sichuan peppercorn aroma. The numbingly spicy and slightly tangy taste is elevated even further, and one piece at a time is just perfect—chewy and delicious!

(The dry noodles cost 160 NT), and the portion of fried rice is quite generous—it’s actually quite filling to eat!

The texture of the meatballs here is bouncy and elastic, not greasy at all, and the umami from the meat is rich and full. The unique flavor of the dry noodles here is exceptional—if you don’t like greasy food, these might be your dish.

Every single bite lets you enjoy the umami of the shrimp, not just the richness. It’s not fishy at all, and it has a refreshing and slightly sweet aftertaste, making every mouthful feel like a little celebration.

(The dry noodles with chicken soup cost 160 NT), which is basically a bowl of dry noodles paired with a cup of chicken soup. Friends who don’t like heavy flavors might want to consider ordering this!

At first glance, it might seem like nothing special, but in reality, it tastes amazing.

The wontons here are smooth and elastic, with a slightly salty flavor. They may look simple, but they have a genuinely good taste.

The chicken here is surprisingly not dry at all, and there’s no greasy aftertaste either. It’s made using high-quality chicken thigh meat. The meat is Q-textured, firm, and not overly dry or chewy—in fact, it has a rich, bouncy, and springy bite!

This drink isn’t too sweet, and there aren’t too many additional ingredients or additives. It’s especially not cloying, and it doesn’t feel heavy on the stomach. Drinking it warms both the heart and the stomach, and it feels quite nourishing XD

“Zhu Ji Pie & Congee Shop” not only has an elegant and comfortable dining environment but also offers a variety of noodles, congee, noodle soup, dry noodles, fried rice, à la carte dishes, soups, drinks, and side dishes. There’s a wide selection of meals, all with a certain standard of taste—suitable whether you’re looking to eat heartily or lightly. Additionally, must-try items include beef pies bursting with juice, potstickers, and wontons—all of which are dishes we really love. Friends who are interested might also want to give them a try—you might end up loving them just as much as we do!

Zhu Ji Pie & Congee Shop (Yongkang Branch)
Address: No. 10, Lane 6, Yongkang St., Da’an District, Taipei City (about a 2-minute walk from Exit 4 or 5 of Dongmen MRT Station)
Phone: 02-33222156
Business Hours: 11:00–21:30 (No days off)
Official Website:http://www.zhuji.com.tw/#1
FB Fan Page:https://www.facebook.com/zhuji.tw/

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