Nantun Braised Pork Rice

Review

Nantun Braised Pork Rice (also written with the alternative character for braised) is at 585 Nantun Road Section 2, beside Nantun Market, and serves as a breakfast-and-lunch stop for locals, opening at six in the morning and selling until three in the afternoon. It is a typical market eatery that diners call unassuming, and dine-in meals still come on old-fashioned plastic plates.

The menu centres on bento boxes and rice plates: braised pork belly, minced braised pork, roast pork, chicken leg and fish bentos (sources name different fish), plus plain noodles, wonton noodles, pork thick-soup noodles, and soups such as intestine and pork blood soup or pork thick soup. The standout feature is choosing four sides from eight or nine options, including fried tofu, fried egg and stir-fried greens, with a bowl of radish and pork bone soup. You can ask for the braised pork belly fattier or leaner; it is tender with no gaminess and the sauce is not overly salty. The roast pork uses a leaner cut sliced thin, with golden crackling and a firm, non-greasy interior seasoned with white pepper; a large portion is NT$120, and a blogger suggests dipping it in Dongquan chili sauce.

Diners praise the big, tender, well-seasoned pieces of braised pork and generous bentos, noting that two people can eat a spread for under NT$200. One favourite side is sweet-sour, crunchy wood ear with pineapple, some think the honey-glazed chicken leg outshines the signature pork, and the dry plain noodles with house chili also get recommendations. On the other hand, the fried skin on the roast pork is too dry for some, the dining area is basic with a damp floor, and parking nearby is difficult.

It opens daily from 06:00 to 15:00 and closes on Saturdays. Expect a queue at lunchtime, but food comes out quickly, and takeaway bentos are packed full. As it sits beside the market, walk or come by scooter; drivers can park at the Wanhe Temple car park or the Nantun Elementary School underground car park and walk over.

It suits anyone visiting Nantun Old Street or Wanhe Temple who wants a cheap, filling Taiwanese brunch, or a bento to take away. First-timers can order the roast pork or braised pork belly bento, choosing wood ear with pineapple and greens as sides; with two people, add a honey-glazed chicken leg to compare.