Alian Hu Family Mutton

Review

When people think of Kaohsiung mutton, Gangshan usually comes first, but neighbouring Alian also has several old mutton shops, and Hu Family is the one locals recommend most. Blogger Nash has written about it several times since 2015 and even says he prefers it to Gangshan's mutton. The dining room is bright and spacious with mostly large round tables, each fitted with a gas burner for mutton hot pot.

The stars are the stir-fries and mutton soup. According to a 2024 review, a small plate of scallion-fried mutton is NT$130, fragrant with scallion without overpowering, slightly sweet and appetising; shacha mutton is NT$90 with a peanut note; and sesame oil mutton is NT$170, full of wok aroma and not bitter, the writer's favourite of the three. Mutton soup and mutton rib soup are NT$80 each, the herbs balancing the meat for a rich yet clean broth. A large mutton hot pot to take away is NT$900, made with skin-on fresh mutton. Another iFoodie user recorded NT$230 for the scallion and shacha mutton, possibly a larger size, so sources differ and the menu on site is the guide.

Fans praise the broth, friendly prices and generous portions, and say the scallion mutton is silky; a foreign visitor also noted that the owner visits each table to check on the meal, which gives the place a warm feel. On the downside, some found the shacha mutton chopped too finely with bitter, slightly burnt vegetables, others call the food ordinary, and one family felt the hot pot was a little pricey though they praised its quality.

Hours are about 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and map listings show it closed on Thursdays; check before you go. Crowds build fast: the room is nearly full within ten minutes of opening, and dishes can take half an hour to arrive. Diners order inside and help themselves to bowls, chopsticks and sauces, while takeaway customers wait outside. Arrive before 11 a.m. to beat the rush.

Good for families after affordable mutton, road-trippers on Provincial Highway 28, or a meal after visiting the Gangshan Eye. Two or three people can share scallion and sesame oil mutton plus a mutton soup with rice for a little over NT$100 each; in winter, larger groups can go straight for the hot pot.