A Tung A Pao Four Herb Soup

Review

A Tung A Pao Four Herb Soup is at No. 153 Minsheng West Road in Datong District, right at the Chengde Road corner and close to Shuanglian MRT Station. Mirror Media's feature on old shops says the first generation was the owner's grandmother, who sold pork buns, rice dumplings and four herb soup from an unsigned market stall near Shuanglian. In 1977 the second-generation owner, Chou Tung-liang, set up a stall at the current spot with his sister, then partnered with Feng Lung-pao, a close friend who supplied pork intestines; the name comes from their two nicknames. Today third-generation owner Chou Yu-hsien runs it with Feng, and the shop has even released a co-branded soup with a convenience store chain.

The four herb soup is the signature. The article says the intestines arrive daily from a meat market in Pingtung and are cleaned the same day. The broth is simmered from pork bones, salt and herbs: Chinese yam, poria and euryale seed are ground to powder, lotus seeds have their bitter cores removed, and job's tears are kept for texture, with a splash of rice wine added before serving. The pork buns follow the first generation's recipe and are a must for regulars. In 2021 the soup was reported at NT$60 a bowl and buns at NT$20 each; check current prices in store.

Diners praise the cleanly prepared intestines with only a faint offal taste, the light broth and the extra aroma from rice wine and pepper; some mention staff topping up their soup, and others like the pork-filled fish ball soup. Complaints mostly concern service, with staff described as curt, and some find the rice dumplings or buns ordinary next to the soup.

Online listings show hours from 11 a.m. to 5 a.m. the next day, so it is open almost around the clock, with late nights and after-work hours the busiest. It is a traditional eatery where you order on the spot and food comes out fast, ideal for a quick stop. Parking nearby is difficult, so walking from Shuanglian MRT Station is easiest, and Ningxia Night Market is close by.

Good for a late-night bite or a hot bowl after Ningxia Night Market. The standard order is a bowl of four herb soup and a pork bun; those who like bold flavours can add rice wine and pepper, and anyone wary of offal can pick another soup. Groups of two or three can add rice dumplings or siu mai to share.