Singles, this one’s for you — this mutton hot pot in Taipei is perfect for one!

Text & Photos byOld K

Located at the intersection of Fuijin Street and Xindong Street, Qiang Ge Yi Pin Mutton Hot Pot is somewhere I’ve been wanting to try for a while because they specialize in servings for one. Whenever I’ve wanted to eat mutton hot pot before, I always had to gather a bunch of people — and since many don’t even eat lamb, it was such a hassle to get everyone together. Now being able to enjoy it solo is so convenient. But this winter hasn’t been very cold, haha XD Thankfully, it’s finally starting to feel wintry these past few days.

I came for lunch at around 1 PM on a weekday. There were seats outside, but in this cold weather, most people probably prefer sitting inside, right?

The interior looks pretty much like any regular noodle shop.

Aside from mutton hot pot, they also serve beef hot pot. Of course, you can also just order beef noodles or mutton noodles. They also have soup dumplings, rice casseroles, and other dishes. But for a first visit, you’d probably want to go for their signature braised mutton hot pot. It’s a bit like San Ma Stinky Hot Pot — rice is free and you also get complimentary black tea.

Sauces are self-serve.

Rice is also DIY, though Old K skipped the tea this time.

Alcohol gel used for keeping the pot hot.

Braised Mutton Hot Pot (NT$160)

Looks like there’s quite a generous portion.

Let’s try the broth first. It’s rich and smooth, not too greasy, and actually quite tasty. Though the flavor does get saltier the longer it simmers, so keep an eye on that.

There are about six or seven pieces of lamb — a decent amount.

Other ingredients include tofu, enoki mushrooms, fish cakes, and cabbage — similar to what you’d find in a small hot pot.

The lamb is cooked until very tender. Even with some cartilage, it’s still easy to chew and quite delicious. The fermented bean paste isn’t overly salty and has a nice sweetness — it pairs really well with the lamb.

Old K’s Little Tips: I really like the broth of their mutton hot pot. I even asked the owner — is the braised mutton hot pot broth the same as the one in the braised mutton noodles? She said yes. That makes me want to try the braised mutton noodles next time, because I’m not a big fan of hot pot side ingredients, and the noodles won’t get saltier as they simmer. Maybe I’ll give the braised beef noodles a shot next. I recommend this place to anyone who wants to eat mutton hot pot but can’t find others to join — it’s really good value!

Old K’s Personal Ratings (out of 10, higher is better)
Taste: 8.1
Value: 8.5
Dining Ambience: 6
Price: 8

Qiang Ge Yi Pin Mutton Hot Pot
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Address: No. 38, Xindong Street, Songshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-8787-7897
Business Hours: Monday 17:00–22:00, Tuesday to Sunday 11:00–22:00 (usually open, check their Facebook page for holidays)

Old K
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