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Hsiao Wang Pickled Cucumber Pork Soup @ Huaxi Street Night Market in Taipei 小王清湯瓜仔肉



This a must try stall in Taipei if you are a street food enthusiast. Hsiao Wang Steamed Minced Pork with Pickles in Broth 小王清湯瓜仔肉 is the only stall from Huaxi Street Night Market awarded the Bib Gourmand by Michelin in 2019.

From the countless lu rou fan (braised pork rice) stalls in Taipei, Hsiao Wang was the only one in the Bib Gourmand list, edging out many more famous names e.g. Jin Feng. Hsiao Wang also serves a unique pickled cucumber pork soup not found at any other street food stalls.




Hsiao Wang Steamed Minced Pork with Pickles in Broth 小王清湯瓜仔肉 was founded by current owner 王捷生's father in 1975 at Huaxi Street Night Market. 王捷生 worked at his father's stall since he was 7 years old. They started with braised pork rice which is an ubiquitous staple in Taiwan. 王捷生's father added pickled cucumber soup because he wanted something to set him apart from competitors (lu rou fan stalls are everywhere in Taipei).




The signature pickled cucumber pork soup is really a humble, simple home based dish which 王捷生's father perfected for the stall. It's a simple soup many Taiwanese mothers make at home by boiling fresh pork with canned pickled cucumbers. Hsiao Wang serves the savoury sweet pickled cucumber soup with savoury sweet blended pork-fish balls which are tender and smooth to the bite. It's a soup many generations of customers associate with mum's cooking. 



Hsiao Wang's lu rou fan comes in a small bowl with luscious stewed cubed pork belly over boiled white rice. It is splashed with a savoury sweet thick brown sauce tacky with greasy gelatin from melted pork skin and fat. The flavourful skin, fat and meat feel like they are melting in your mouth yet still have a slight spring to the bite. It is also not overly greasy.

Fans call this "black gold" lu rou fan because of the gleaming braised pork's rich dark brown colour. The secret of Hsiao Wang's lu rou fan is their braising stock - the same braising stock since 1975 containing decades of essence from all the ingredients that had gone through their stewing pot.



Hsiao Wang has many stewed side dishes to go with your braised pork rice. You can have braised pork belly, cabbage, tofu, egg etc., all highly recommended by Hsiao Wang's fans.



After 45 years, Hsiao Wang moved into a much nicer, cleaner, neater, comfortable space in the shop which they bought right behind their own street side stall.



Definitely a must try stall when you are visiting Taipei.

Restaurant nameHsiao Wang Steamed Minced Pork with Pickles in Broth 小王清湯瓜仔肉
AddressNo. 17-4, Huaxi Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple (Blue Line)
Tel: +886 2 2370 7118
Hours: 9:00am - 8:00pm (Tues off)



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