Liu Jia Braised Pork Rice

Review

Liu Jia Braised Pork Rice sits in the stall area right in front of Hsinchu's City God Temple, registered at No. 75 Zhongshan Road, and almost every temple visitor passes it. A blogger notes it has operated in front of the temple for about ninety years; another guide says it dates back to the Japanese colonial era and once won first place at a Hsinchu food festival. Many locals have eaten here since childhood.

The signature minced pork mixes fat and lean in a fragrant sauce that melts in the mouth without feeling too greasy; the sauce alone makes plain rice tasty. The other star is fried rice noodles, made with thick Hsinchu noodles and topped with the same pork sauce, alongside braised duck eggs, fried tofu and braised cabbage. For soup there is a clear, unthickened mushroom pork soup or fish ball soup. You order mains at the first counter, then carry your tray to a second station for sides and soup.

Opinions are split. Fans like the balance of sweet and salty and the light touch of star anise, calling it a temple essential, and the line often wraps around. Others find the taste ordinary and the vegetables oily, feel the wait does not match the flavour, or report cool service at peak times. It works best as one stop on a temple snack crawl, paired with other stalls nearby.

Most sources list hours of 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; one report says it closes on Tuesdays while others show it open daily, so sources vary and you should check before going. Parking around the temple is hard; there are paid lots nearby, or walk about fifteen minutes from Hsinchu Station. There are plenty of seats in the temple square but sharing tables is common, and prices are pocket-change level.

Ideal for first-time visitors who want a classic Taiwanese snack meal at the City God Temple. Order a bowl of braised pork rice and a plate of fried rice noodles to share between two, with a braised duck egg and a bowl of mushroom pork soup, then pick up a spring roll or grilled mochi nearby for dessert; around NT$100 per person fills you up.