The must-try "street food" in Changhua — pork rice with a refreshing taste and free bamboo shoot soup!

Text/Photo bySan Gao Chi Han

Whenever I visit Changhua, one dish I always have to eat is pork rice. There are a few places whose deliciousness remains vivid in my memory. I recently discovered that writer Shu Guozhi once praised Changhua as having the best street food in all of Taiwan, referring to pork rice as Changhua’s “street food” — something you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. Jiao Tong also said that pork rice is the best local delicacy in Changhua. I think many who’ve tried it would agree.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t wake up early enough to have pork rice for breakfast, so I opted for Lu Rou Bin for lunch. Even on a rainy day, the business was booming. The boss has a rather loud voice (or maybe gruff?). After waiting in a somewhat chaotic line, it was finally my turn to order — a bowl of pork rice, a bowl of pig trotter rice, some vegetables, and free bamboo shoot soup and miso soup to fill up (the flavors were a bit light). This ordering style is similar to another old shop, Lu Rou Zhang.

However, the taste felt quite the opposite. Lu Rou Zhang's flavor is stronger and saltier, whereas Lu Rou Bin is comparatively lighter. It’s not that it lacks flavor — it’s just that the dark brown braising liquid actually has a refreshing quality. The pork is delicious, with lean parts tender and not dry, and the skin soft and not greasy. The pig trotters are the same.

Perhaps as Shu Guozhi said, Lu Rou Bin is more of what he considers the “Yuanlin” style. Personally, I’d prefer a bit more richness and aroma.

This time, no one asked me whether I was a tourist or a reporter when I paid the bill ~(how does that even sound like a reporter?).

Lu Rou Bin pork and pig trotter rice
Address: No. 37-1, Nanchang Road, Yuanlin City, Changhua County
Business hours: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Closed on Thursdays)

Savoring Taiwan with care, recording delicious footsteps along the way
San Gao Chi Han’s Food Journey　San Gao Fan Page