Da Lai Xiao Guan

Review

Da Lai Xiao Guan is a long-standing Taiwanese restaurant in the Yongkang area, and its owners have done business here for over twenty years. Its braised pork rice won prizes in Taipei's braised pork rice contests in 2007 and 2011, and the trophy is on display. The brand later opened a seafood and banquet branch on Jinhua Street, while this Yongkang Street shop keeps to simple home cooking and is a go-to for showing visitors Taiwanese food.

The braised pork rice is a must: the meat sauce is gelatinous, leaning towards a slightly sweet southern style without greasiness, and house-made bamboo shoots cut the richness. A small bowl works well as a side. Other frequent recommendations are the fried pork chop, braised pork knuckle, dried-radish omelette, bamboo shoots stir-fried with sakura shrimp and seasonal greens. Overall it is light, unfussy home-style food, like eating at a friend's house.

Fans say the dishes taste homemade, arrive quickly and are not oily, and that the pork rice is consistently good. Complaints focus on prices that feel high for home cooking; diners mention a per-person minimum spend, which makes ordering just a bowl of rice awkward, and some find the staff pushy and rushed, feeling the renovation took away the old family atmosphere.

It opens roughly from 11:00 to 21:00 with an afternoon break, but sources list different break times, so check before you go. The room is small and reached by a staircase; most sources say cards are accepted and foreign-language menus are available. It is about a three-minute walk from Dongmen MRT Station, and parking nearby is scarce, so use public transport.

It suits small groups of friends or families who want to try several Taiwanese home-style dishes at once. Build the meal around braised pork rice, then add a fried pork chop or radish omelette, a bamboo shoot or vegetable dish and a soup. With fewer people, mind the minimum spend; two or three dishes give better value.