Huang Ji Braised Pork Rice

Review

Huang Ji Braised Pork Rice is tucked into Lane 183, Section 2 of Zhongshan North Road, right next to Qingguang Market. It has served the neighbourhood for decades and built its following by word of mouth. Supertaste says it has about 30 years of history and was named to the Essence of Asia list of 50 best Asian restaurants in 2021, and the 2026 MICHELIN Guide lists it as a Bib Gourmand, so it is the braised pork rice most often recommended around Qingguang and Shuangcheng Street.

The signature braised pork rice is mostly fat, with a savoury, gelatinous sauce that MICHELIN describes as rich without being greasy. Other media write that the meat is on the lean side and slightly sweet, so descriptions differ a little. Among the sides, the braised napa cabbage wins wide praise, and the soup, made from a bonito base with satay sauce, keeps to a traditional style. There are also bento boxes where you pick three side dishes, and pork knuckle and braised egg are common add-ons. A small bowl is modest, so one person can add a side or two.

Praise centres on the low prices, the flavourful cabbage and the clean, air-conditioned dining room, and many foreign visitors treat it as an easy introduction to Taiwanese braised pork rice. On the other side, some feel a wait of over half an hour is not worth it, find the pork occasionally tough and the chilli sauce ordinary, or think the seasoning is too sweet and leaves them thirsty, calling it merely average.

Hours are 11:30 to 20:00, closed Mondays and Thursdays. Supertaste lists braised pork rice at NT$35 for a small bowl and NT$50 for a large one, with most items between NT$35 and NT$115. Lunch brings long lines, and diners say mid-afternoon around 3 to 4 p.m. is quieter. According to MICHELIN it is cash only; you fill in an order slip and pay at the door before being seated. It is about a five-minute walk from Exit 1 of Zhongshan Elementary School MRT station, and parking nearby is difficult.

It suits travellers who want a Bib Gourmand braised pork rice for under NT$100, or a meal while exploring Qingguang Market. First-timers can order a small bowl with braised cabbage, then add pork knuckle or a braised egg depending on appetite; for a balanced meal, choose the bento with three sides. To avoid queues, skip noon and the hour around 6 p.m.