A Fuzhou-style breakfast with strong Matsu flavor: Dengbianhu with three seafood broths is super labor-intensive

▲ The cheery owner from Fuzhou chats with customers while busy at work. (Photo / Reporter Yang Xiaorou, same below)

Reported by Reporter Yang Xiaorou / Interviewed in Matsu

Matsu is closest to Fujian, with a distance of only about 9.25 kilometers, so it shares similarities with the mainland in terms of geography and culture, including food. One common Matsu breakfast dish—“Dengbianhu”—is relatively rare in Taiwan. Though similar to the famous Keelung snack Dengbian?, the thicker rice paste gives it a different texture.

▲ Dengbianhu comes with rich toppings and is served in very large portions.

Located on the second floor of Lion Market at Jieshou Ao Kou, “A-Mei’s Shop” is a famous Dengbianhu restaurant. The owner from Fuzhou explained that Dengbianhu is a traditional Fuzhou dish, once only eaten during festivals. It is made by adding rice sheets to a rich broth. The rice sheets are made from soaked and ground glutinous rice. In a pot of boiling seafood broth, the rice paste is spread around the edge of the pot, and once cooked, it is scooped into the broth, resulting in a delicious bowl of Dengbianhu.

▲ Wontons are also a very popular signature item at the shop—come late and you might miss out.

The Dengbianhu broth at “A-Mei’s Shop” is made from three types of broths simmered for 2–3 hours using fish bones, pork bones, and clams, which is quite labor-intensive. The soup also includes ingredients such as wood ear mushrooms, winter melon, and scallions, and generously features whitebait fish. The rice sheets made from glutinous rice have a chewy but not mushy texture, giving the whole dish a rich umami flavor. In addition, A-Mei’s Shop also sells wontons and rice noodle soup, but since it’s a breakfast shop, the daily portions are limited, so you might not get any if you come too late.

▲ A-Mei’s Shop is located on the second floor of Lion Market, opposite Jieshou Ao Kou Park.

Dengbianhu at A-Mei’s Shop
Address: 2nd Floor, Lion Market, Jieshou Village, Nangan Township, Lienchiang County
Business Hours: 6:00 AM until sold out
Phone: 0836-23675