Popular chicken rice from Kaohsiung now in Taichung, plus fish maw ball soup with three textures!

Text & photos by /Orange Dog Loves Candy

Recently, I found this 【Xiao Lin Chicken Rice】 in Taichung, which is actually a well-known spot to many locals. It’s said to have expanded from its namesake in Kaohsiung. Naturally, it’s packed at lunchtime. What surprised me was how popular chicken rice is in Taichung, a city famous for its big noodle soup, stir-fried noodles with pig’s blood soup, and pork rice.

After all, I’ve rarely had chicken rice outside Chiayi that I really loved, but if it’s this popular and hard to get a seat, there must be something worth checking out. So even though I hate queuing, I braved the lunch rush!

Actually, saying it’s “very crowded” just means you might have to wait during peak hours. The crowd thins out after about 1:30 PM. The 【Xiao Lin Chicken Rice】 shop isn’t very big, but there are a decent number of seats. However, it’s tough to share a table if you’re more than four people. It’s mostly an open space with only fans and ceiling fans—I imagine it gets pretty hot in the summer with this crowd.

The counter area is bustling with activity. Whether you’re dining in or getting takeout, you’ll need to queue up to order. The place is pretty noisy, and you can see all the menu options directly on the laminated boards above the counter. Honestly, the prices aren’t super cheap, but there’s a “very wide variety” of choices. As a first-timer, I was honestly overwhelmed standing at the counter, struggling to decide!

But I also felt the auntie working there was really friendly. Although she occasionally looked a bit expressionless due to the busyness, she explained things in detail when asked. Some ingredients weren’t obvious from their names or descriptions, so it’s better to ask before ordering in case there’s something you’re hesitant to eat.

【Signature Chicken Rice │ Small bowl 30 TWD, Large bowl 50 TWD】
Since the shop is called Xiao Lin Chicken Rice, of course, you’ve got to try the chicken rice, right? The small bowl isn’t super tiny, and instead of shredded chicken, they’ve added a little sauce. The presentation is quite simple, which made me a bit worried at first. But the chicken on top is tender, and there’s a hint of braised sauce mixed into the rice, giving it a mild savory-salty taste. For me, it’s pretty mild—not especially delicious, but not bad either, just nothing particularly memorable. Later, I read online that the taste has changed from before, which is a bit of a shame for me. Also, it seems rice-wise, chicken rice is the only option here—no pork rice like we have down south!

【Signature Fish Maw Ball Soup │ 60 TWD │ Highly Recommended】
The highlight of my visit to Xiao Lin Chicken Rice wasn’t the chicken rice, but the unexpectedly comforting hometown-style fish maw ball soup. Milkfish is a local ingredient and dish from Tainan, but I’d never had fish maw turned into fish balls back home. There are only four balls, but each one is bigger than your average fish ball or meatball—and crafted with real ingenuity.

They take the fatty part of the fish maw, wrap it with fish paste, and form it into large fish balls. Each fish maw ball offers three textures: delicate fish, rich and tender fish maw, and springy fish paste—all blended together. I don’t think even in Tainan do we have anything like this!

【Side Dishes │ Dried Fish Maw │ 70 TWD │ Highly Recommended】
Since leaving Tainan, I rarely order fish maw (unless it’s pan-fried). But this time, I struck gold. It’s not often you find milkfish maw that’s this plump and thick. These thick, boneless, tender pieces of milkfish maw are sweet, fresh, and melt-in-your-mouth. You don’t even need sauce—the plain fish tastes amazing on its own!

【Side Dishes │ Shark Sashimi │ 60 TWD】
The skin-on shark meat is chewy and firm. Though it’s a somewhat controversial ingredient, it’s a traditional side dish. However, this version lacks that classic smoky aroma, which takes away a lot of its distinctive charm.

【Side Dishes │ Three-Colored Egg │ 35 TWD】
I probably grew up seeing this dish often on my grandmother’s table, so I always want to order it when I see it at a casual eatery. I think it’s pretty good—the three colors each have slightly different textures but come together nicely. Recommended to give it a try!

【Side Dishes │ Small Squid │ 60 TWD │ Recommended】
The freshness and doneness of the squid were a pleasant surprise. It’s perfectly balanced—soft and tender, almost like it’s just barely cooked but without any raw fishiness. The Q-textured squid is delicious, and adding a bit of mustard gives it that classic Taiwanese flavor!

【Side Dishes │ Stuffed Pork Intestine │ 35 TWD】
Their stuffed pork intestine is also pretty tasty—worth trying if you’re curious.

This chicken rice shop from Kaohsiung is said to be just as popular back in its hometown. It serves southern-style snacks and sides. Here, I found some of those familiar southern flavors. The prices aren’t dirt cheap, but they’re not exorbitant either. Not every dish is a hit, but there are a few I’d return for. Queues don’t always mean great food, but you shouldn’t dismiss them outright. You won’t know what you like until you try. If you really want to eat here, avoid peak hours (if possible). But personally, I think the side dishes outshine the chicken rice.

Xiao Lin Chicken Rice – Milkfish Dishes│Beitun District
Address: No. 102, Beitun Rd., Beitun District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-22310053
Business Hours: 11:00–20:00
Consumption reminder: The shop is closed on Sundays, and it gets crowded during peak dining hours, so it's best to avoid those times.

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