Hsiao Wang Zhu Gua

Review

Hsiao Wang Zhu Gua sits inside the Huaxi Street Tourist Night Market in Wanhua. Its website says it was founded in 1975 under the name Hsiao Wang Clear Soup Cucumber Pork, and the second generation renovated it and adopted the current name. It has been a Michelin Bib Gourmand pick since 2019 and remains on the 2026 list; the guide describes how it grew from a roadside stall into a bright, spacious shop.

The signature 'black gold' shiitake braised pork rice has a dark sauce, salty with a touch of sweetness, rich in collagen yet not greasy. The clear pickled-cucumber pork soup is peppery with a sweet finish, with crunchy pickles and chewy pork. Storm Media lists the shiitake pork rice at NT$30–60 and the soup at NT$70, with free broth refills. The guide also recommends the braised napa cabbage, soft and soaked in meat juices, ideal with rice.

Praise focuses on quick service, rich braised pork rice, a clean broth and an English menu that makes ordering easy for visitors. On the downside, some find portions small and need several dishes to feel full; others think the fame outstrips the food or find the rice a little dry. Diners warn that the table chili oil is extremely hot, so go easy if you are spice-shy.

The guide and online listings give hours of 09:30–20:00, while the website and some reports say it opens at 9:00, so sources differ; check before you go. It is closed on Tuesdays and takes cash only. You tick your order on a slip, with different colors for dine-in and takeaway, find a seat, then pay at the counter. At 3–4 p.m. there is almost no wait, and even at mealtimes the line moves fast.

It suits anyone wanting an affordable Taiwanese meal around Longshan Temple and Huaxi Street, and travelers who like to sample several small dishes. Order a bowl of shiitake braised pork rice with the clear pork soup, plus braised cabbage or blanched sweet potato leaves; bigger appetites can add braised pork belly. Ask for a broth refill when you finish, then walk over to Longshan Temple.