Jin Da Braised Pork Rice

Review

Jin Da Braised Pork Rice, at No. 40 Daren Street in Sanchong, is the best known of what locals call Sanchong's five great braised pork rice shops, and it is often dubbed the king of the district's pork rice. It opens at 6:30 a.m. and serves until 9 p.m., drawing people for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and with well over ten thousand map reviews it is one of Sanchong's signature everyday eats.

The fat in the braised pork is cooked until it melts in the mouth, and the sweet-savoury sauce coats the rice with a glossy sheen. The grains stay separate, and a little pickled cucumber in the bowl cuts the richness. The must-order side is braised napa cabbage with dried shrimp and fried pork skin, soft and gently sweet. Soups include several kinds of pork rib soup, such as bamboo shoot and preserved mustard greens, with ribs stewed until tender. Braised tofu, eggs and milkfish round out the menu.

Most diners praise the fragrant pork, the tasty cabbage and bamboo sides and the friendly prices, and note that despite the queue, tables turn and food arrives quickly; staff even help foreign guests in English. Critics say the fame outruns the food, finding the pork rice too plain, neither salty nor aromatic enough, the tofu and eggs ordinary and the milkfish bony; the high fat content can also get heavy.

Supertaste listed prices in 2026 at NT$35 for a small bowl and NT$50 for a large, with sides and soups about NT$35 to NT$60; a 2022 article gave the braised cabbage at NT$30 and rib soup at NT$50, so prices shift over time. Hours are about 06:30 to 21:00, closed Thursdays. Expect queues at peak times and weekends; seating is adequate and takeaway is available. Parking is scarce, so the easiest route is the MRT to Cailiao Station, an 8 to 10 minute walk.

It is ideal for first-time visitors to Sanchong who want the area's signature pork rice, and for early risers after a Taiwanese breakfast. Order a bowl of pork rice with braised cabbage and a rib soup, and groups can add braised tofu or bamboo shoots to share. If you dislike grease, go for a small bowl and more vegetables; to avoid crowds, come in the morning or mid-afternoon.