Affordable Yunnan cuisine in Yonghe: boneless spicy chicken and larb chicken rice

Text & photos byKUNI

Once during class, a student came in without having eaten and brought several takeout boxes into the classroom. She claimed she wanted to share with the teacher, but seeing her pale smile, it was clear she was hungry. I couldn’t bear it and politely declined: "You eat first, teacher. I overate at lunch, but thank you for your kindness."

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted something familiar in the plastic bag. When I looked closer, there was a box of thick-sliced pork—it was quite a generous portion. The student said it was only NT$50, which piqued my curiosity. I asked for the address, thinking I’d check it out myself someday. Then the student said, "Teacher, if you want some, I can share half with you." "Stop stalling—get your violin out and warm up."

A few months later, on an unlucky afternoon, heavy rain suddenly started. While passing through Zhonghe Road, I looked for a place to take shelter and have a late lunch. Scanning my list of places to try, I suddenly remembered this affordable eatery, located in the blurry boundary between Zhonghe and Yonghe. I walked into Lane 335 and found it right away.

It was a low-key family-run eatery. The owner and her family were all from Yunnan, China. The decor was simple but not dirty or messy.

We ordered:
Thick-Sliced Pork (NT$50)
Spicy Chicken (NT$60)
Larb Chicken Rice (NT$80)

(The store entrance under the heavy rain)

(The menu on the wall)

Since there weren’t many customers in the afternoon, the food came out quickly. The thick-sliced pork was indeed generous—compared to the famous Chun Lemon in Nanshi Corner, it had more pork skin and slightly thicker slices. The seasoning was primarily garlic paste, with sour-spicy as a secondary note.

Surprisingly, the spicy chicken came boneless, with a subtle numbing sensation from the Sichuan peppercorns as you chewed. The larb chicken rice came with well-cooked white rice that suited my taste. The larb aroma wasn’t strong, but the chicken was more tender and flavorful than expected. After all, it’s an affordable home-style snack, so don’t expect too much refinement.

After paying, the heavy rain stopped just in time. The mischievous sun peeked out, and in that moment of satisfaction, the rain cleared and the skies brightened. That good mood lasted well into the evening.

(The thick-sliced pork)

(The spicy chicken)

(Not refined, but still tasty)

(The owner’s mother preparing ingredients outside)

(The larb chicken rice)

Zhao Mama Yunnan Snacks
Address: No. 12, Lane 335, Zhonghe Road, Yonghe District, New Taipei City
Phone: (02)2922-0483

Interpreting food through music
Violinist KUNI
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