Daguanyuan Savory Tangyuan & Pork Liver Sausage

Review

Daguanyuan sits on the ground floor of Keelung's Ren'ai Market, a small stall now run by the third generation after more than 60 years. The menu has just two items, savory tangyuan and pork liver sausage, and regulars stream in every day. Pork liver sausage is rare across Taiwan, with only a handful of makers in Keelung, and this stall is the one media mention most often, making Ren'ai Market synonymous with the dish.

The sausage is made by stuffing pork liver into casings. Sliced, it has a gentle bounce without being dry, and the liver's aroma grows as you chew. The seasoning leans salty, so it goes well with rice or drinks. The tangyuan have thin, slightly chewy skins and fresh pork fillings, and the broth is light with a scallion fragrance that balances the sausage's strong flavour. Supertaste lists the tangyuan at NT$60 and the sausage at NT$35, while a 2019 report gave NT$50 and NT$30, so check prices on site.

Most diners find the sausage distinctive, free of any gamey taste and more delicious with every bite, and praise the tangyuan's thin skins, generous fillings and sweet, clear broth, calling the pair a must at Ren'ai Market. Complaints mention that the sausage is salty and the portion small for the price, and some visitors from Taipei find the flavours heavy overall. The stall is tiny with only seven or eight seats, so expect to wait at peak times.

Hours are roughly 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed Mondays, and it may close early on Sundays. Once the sausage sells out it's gone, so go early. Ren'ai Market has been under renovation in recent years and some stalls have paused, so check before you go. There is an underground car park at the market, and it's about a ten-minute walk from Keelung Station.

It suits anyone curious about Keelung's unique old-time flavours or fond of offal, and works as brunch while exploring Ren'ai Market. The usual order is a bowl of tangyuan with a small plate of liver sausage; two people can share a large plate, and you can take some home to eat with rice.