A 50-year-old family-run shop passed down through four generations！Taiwanese-style pork congee and deep-fried pork liver under the big banyan tree

Text and photos by /kuni

(The simple and unpretentious Ye’s Pork Congee)

On a bright mid-morning, head to the old banyan tree, where Ye’s Pork Congee is one of the stalls in front of the snack mecca, Cisheng Temple Plaza. Sit down and order. In addition to the basic pork congee (NT$20), there’s also deep-fried pork liver (NT$50), deep-fried oysters (NT$50), red-braised pork (NT$50), and deep-fried shrimp (NT$70). You might as well order some water spinach from the neighboring stall.

(The plaza in front of Cisheng Temple)

(The stall under the old banyan tree)

(Ye’s Pork Congee, a 50-year-old shop)

This 50-year-old shop is now in its fourth generation. At the stall, a mother and son work together—one scooping out the congee while the other expertly chops up the red-braised pork with a cleaver. The congee at Ye’s is light and simple, just like classic Taiwanese rice porridge, with distinct grains, a bit of scallion oil, and the simplest soy sauce saltiness. Then, when I scoop up two pieces of pork meatball, I suddenly feel like a little kid again, wanting to show them off to my parents.

(The boss’s son is the fourth-generation owner)

(The boss is slicing red-braised pork)

(Water spinach from the neighboring stall)

(Simple Taiwanese-style pork congee)

The deep-fried pork liver isn’t from the soft liver but still manages not to be dry at all—it’s delicious and thought-provoking. The shrimp are springy, and the red-braised pork has more fat, firm to the bite, though it lacks a bit of sweetness. Luckily, the sweet chili sauce is just right. Hmm, this flavor combination feels oddly familiar.

(Red-braised pork and deep-fried shrimp)

(Deep-fried oysters and deep-fried pork liver)

Lately, I’ve really been loving this kind of Taiwanese breakfast bathed in sunshine—eating it under such warm light seems to fill you with energy, while you daydream about whether your parents might have once eaten or gone on dates under this same old banyan tree when they were young.

Ye’s Pork Congee (Cisheng Temple)
Phone: 0916-836-699
Address: No. 17, Lane 49, Bao’an St., Datong District, Taipei City

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