Taipei Snack Shop: Thin-skinned buns with generous fillings and freshly fried pork chop rice!

Text and photos byXiao Hu’s Dream Food Blog

I’ve long heard there are two “San Wei Xiang” shops in Ximending,but aside from writing about one of them years ago—【Tiger’s Random Eats at Ximen Station】San Wei Xiang Traditional Old Dough Handmade Buns—

I never managed to stumble upon the other one during my many strolls around Ximending over the years. It wasn’t until recently, when I was trying to find an acclaimed beef noodle shop recommended by a certain political figure, that I spotted it by chance. As it turned out, that beef noodle place wasn’t open either, so I figured, why not seize the day? It felt like fulfilling a wish I didn’t even know I had.

Well, first of all, I’m not interested in and don’t understand whatever drama or rivalry exists between these two shops both named “San Wei Xiang.” Like I always say, the most important thing is how the food tastes once it’s in your mouth.

I arrived around 2 p.m., and there were only two tables of customers inside, though there was a steady stream of takeout orders outside. The aroma of buns wafting from the bamboo steamers was enough to convince me to order one of the highly-rated buns online before even stepping inside.

From the time I entered to when I left, most of the customers were slightly older regulars. Chatting with the staff, it seemed many were familiar faces—some didn’t even need to order, they just sat down.

The menu is pretty simple: buns, wontons, and fried pork chops. There are also heartier noodle options, as it is after all a Northern Chinese snack spot.

The bun skin is slightly fluffy when you first bite into it, reminiscent of old dough fermentation, though it lacks—or maybe just has very little of—the slight tanginess you’d get from chewing raw dough. Overall, it’s a bun skin I quite like, especially that gentle yet satisfying chew.

As for the filling, it has more juice than I expected. It doesn’t splatter when you bite down, but it’s juicy enough. The meat is sweet, the veggies are sweet—it’s all satisfying, and you can even taste a slight crispness from the veggies. The scallion aroma is just right, which is quite charming. Overall, whether it’s the skin or the filling, it really won me over. At the very least, I’ll definitely buy two next time I pass by, even if I don’t sit down to eat.

The fried pork chops are made using my preferred no-breading method, and they’re fried to order. When I placed my order, the staff specifically reminded me to wait a bit, to which I happily agreed.

Once the pork chops arrived, the enticing aroma of hot oil hit me. The taste is purely the delicious sweetness of the meat paired with a light, crispy layer of oil. I liked both the texture and the flavor, though I will say the pieces are a bit small—not as satisfying as I’d hoped (laughs). P.S.: The pickled radish served on the side—though I’m not sure if it’s homemade—was definitely tasty.Lovers of pork and veggie wontons are surely familiar with Taoyuan Street’s【Hu Tianlan’s Ultimate Gourmet #21】【Ximen Station】Zhao Ji Pork & Veggie Wonton King,

but many friends who used to live nearby have told me they actually prefer the wontons at “San Wei Xiang.”

When I tried them, I found San Wei Xiang’s wonton wrappers to be thinner, the pickled vegetable flavor less overpowering, and the sweet pork flavor more pronounced, with a hint of dried shrimp aroma. Personally, I might lean slightly more toward San Wei Xiang, though those who prefer stronger veggie flavors might think otherwise. As for the broth, there didn’t seem to be much difference.
San Wei Xiang (Hengyang Branch)
No. 19, Taoyuan Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-23310756

Business hours: 07:00–20:00
"Xiao Hu’s Dream Food Blog