New Taipei’s Hottest Instagram Check-in Spot: Braised Pork Belly Rice Hidden Under a Bridge

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

Bridgisan, which opened just on August 5th, is located under the intersection of the Civic Boulevard Elevated Highway and the Xinyi Elevated Highway in Taipei. Its location makes it a new neighbor to Huashan and 3C Innovation Park. In just over a month, it has already garnered numerous check-ins on Instagram. That’s why when we arrived around 1:00 PM that day, the place was already packed. Luckily, we spotted two individual seats against the wall, allowing us to enjoy our meal before closing without having to come back a second time.

Bridgisan is a small shop with an unassuming exterior. However, its playful pink signboard is quite eye-catching. It reads “Bridgisan” in English and features a bald uncle cooking a sunny-side-up egg with his intense gaze (pure speculation).

The shop only offers seating on the first floor. Though the space is small, it accommodates about fifteen seats. We sat at individual booths against the wall. The tables aren’t very large, but they didn’t feel too cramped during the meal. If you arrive earlier, you might choose to sit at the larger central island table, which also has space underneath for storing bags.

Bridgisan’s menu is written on the blackboard of its semi-open counter. Currently, only three main meals are offered: soy-glazed pork loin rice bowl, direct-flame braised pork belly rice, and red-oil cold pork loin rice bowl. There are also special sandwiches, daily soups, appetizers, and drinks, but the selection is not extensive.

Soy-Glazed Pork Loin Rice Bowl – NT$170

This dish comes with nearly 11 slices of pork loin, tender and perfectly cooked. The soy-glazed sauce adds a touch of sweetness. It’s served with a medium-boiled egg and mashed potatoes. The green vegetables consist of finely chopped okra, scallions, and onions, giving the dish a slightly sticky yet refreshing flavor. There’s also a vegetable resembling garlic—Chinese chive bulb—that’s pickled by Bridgisan. It has a mildly tangy taste that pairs wonderfully with both the rice and meat. Overall, the soy-glazed pork loin rice bowl tastes great, and the portion of rice is generous enough that most guys shouldn’t leave hungry. However, it leaves you with that slight emptiness after a satisfying, filling meal.

Direct-Flame Braised Pork Belly Rice – NT$170

This rice bowl features pork belly with a 3:7 lean-to-fat ratio. The sweet glaze complements the rich aroma of the pork belly. The fat is bouncy yet melts in your mouth, making it delicious without being greasy. It comes with the same side dishes as the soy-glazed pork loin bowl. Compared to the soy-glazed pork loin rice, the direct-flame braised pork belly rice is even more memorable. Upon asking, we learned that if there’s enough pork belly available that day, you can request more fat or more lean meat when ordering.

Afterthoughts

Under the bustling elevated highways of Taipei, this small eatery plays music by the local rock band PAUSE, giving off a distinctly Taiwanese personality. The two rice bowls we ordered that day were both quite tasty. Not limited to lunch or dinner, Bridgisan also has a bar-style drinking session from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The only downside is that we both felt the ratio of rice to meat in the rice bowls could be improved. It’s perfect for a quick, simple meal—and then perhaps heading outside to take a fun photo with the quirky Bridgisan sign.

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.

BRIDGISAN Bridgisan
Address: No. 16, Lane 62, Section 1, Xinsheng North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
(Under the intersection of Civic Boulevard and Xinyi Elevated Highways, opposite Huashan, diagonally across from 3C Innovation Park)
Business Hours: Monday–Sunday
Lunch Hours: 11:30 AM–2:00 PM (Last order at 1:30 PM)
Dinner Hours: 6:00 PM–9:00 PM (Last order at 8:30 PM)
Drinking Hours: 9:00 PM–11:00 PM (Last order at 10:30 PM)
Phone: 02-25678904

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