Can you find Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo’s favorite dishes in a theme park? Don’t miss the three-day braised Dongpo Pork Ribs

▲ Three-day braised Dongpo Pork Ribs. (Photo / Reporter Chen Jui-chung, same below)

Reporter Chen Jui-chung / Taoyuan Report

Located in Taoyuan, HowToTrip’s Little People Kingdom has long been a familiar theme park to Taiwanese visitors. Thanks to Taoyuan’s rich cultural background related to the Chiangs, the park has officially opened the “Chiang’s Banquet” restaurant within the grounds. Led by a former personal chef to the Chiangs, the restaurant offers a variety of dishes paired with traditional Chinese calligraphy and porcelain themes, providing visitors with a new experience where culture meets gourmet cuisine.

▲ Chiang’s Banquet centers around the dishes favored by the Chiangs, and also features a selection of popular Taiwanese snacks.

Chiang’s Banquet is primarily based on a modernized Jiangsu-Zhejiang cuisine style, combined with a variety of dishes loved by the Chiangs and Madame Chiang during their lifetimes. Chef Yan Yong-yu, who serves as the head chef, has worked at the Grand Hotel Taipei since 1966, having planned state banquets for five presidents and also served as the personal chef to the Chiangs. Chef Yan said he understands the flavor preferences of the Chiangs and has adjusted the dishes to suit the tastes of the general public.

▲ The restaurant can accommodate up to 450 people.

On the menu at Chiang’s Banquet, you’ll find everything from local favorites like shrimp rolls and Sanbao Beef Noodles to more refined dishes such as Dry-Braised Silver Carp Head, Steamed Sea Grouper, and Dongpo Pork Ribs. Chen Tsung-nan, deputy manager of the dining department at HowToTrip’s Little People Kingdom, noted that Chiang’s Banquet offers set meals, combo packages for 2 to 8 people, and à la carte options. Among the must-try signature dishes are the Dongpo Pork Ribs, Five-Vegetable Jade Plate, and Chiang’s Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

▲ The Five-Vegetable Jade Plate made with seasonal vegetables like yam and ginkgo.

It is said that former President Chiang Kai-shek particularly enjoyed Wuxi cuisine when staying at the Sun Moon Lake Hanbi Building. Therefore, the Dongpo Pork Ribs use three-day braised Dongpo pork paired with a modernized version of Wuxi pork ribs. The Dongpo pork is tender yet holds its shape, and when combined with the bone-in Wuxi ribs, it offers a richer texture. The Five-Vegetable Jade Plate combines five colorful seasonal vegetables such as yam, ginkgo, and okra, aligning with Chiang Kai-shek’s philosophy of healthy eating. Additionally, unlike the thick and heavy Buddha Jumps Over the Wall found elsewhere, Chiang’s version is lightly braised without thickening, resulting in a refreshing and not greasy taste, while still delivering the umami of abalone and scallops. For those with a sweet tooth, the Madame Chiang’s Honey Taro, made with honey, fruit vinegar, and sour plum, is also a highly recommended signature side dish.

▲ The honey taro, sweet with a hint of fruity acidity.

HowToTrip’s Little People Kingdom stated that there are currently six different themed restaurants within the park. The establishment of Chiang’s Banquet not only provides dining services but also features garden landscaping with small bridges and flowing water outside the restaurant, as well as displays of porcelain and calligraphy inside, enhancing the overall dining atmosphere. Currently, set meals are priced between NT$3,000 and NT$30,000, and there are also combo packages designed according to group size, with the 2-person set starting at NT$1,199.

▲ Elegant porcelain and traditional paintings are displayed throughout the restaurant to create a refined dining ambiance.

Chiang’s Banquet at HowToTrip’s Little People Kingdom
Address: No. 891, Gaoyuan Road, Gaoyuan Village, Longtan District, Taoyuan City (within HowToTrip’s Little People Kingdom)
Phone: 03-4717211