Nantun Hsiao Braised Pork Rice (Zhongqing)

Review

Nantun Hsiao Braised Pork Rice has several branches in Taichung, and this one on Section 2 of Zhongqing Road carries the Nantun name but is actually in Beitun. It is open 24 hours, serving breakfast and lunch right through to the small hours, its walls are covered with photos of visiting celebrities, and Supertaste includes it in both its braised pork rice and late-night features.

The star is the three-layer braised pork belly: half fat, half lean, with lean meat that is not dry and fat so soft it nearly melts on the tongue. The braised pork belly bento (NT$95) comes with braised napa cabbage, fried tofu and gluten rings and is seen as good value; braised pork rice on its own is NT$70, and a small minced pork rice is NT$40, with one writer especially recommending the all-fat version. The braised pork hock (NT$60) has springy skin and tender meat without greasiness, and the bamboo shoots (NT$40) are crisp, not oily and generous. The pickled greens are juicy and sweet-sour without being salty, and like the chili they are unlimited for dine-in guests.

Almost every article is positive, highlighting the round-the-clock hours, tender pork and free pickles. Concrete criticism is scarce; the points that come up are crowds and a checkout queue at peak times, and the fact that takeaway customers cannot pack pickles themselves. The name says Nantun but the shop is in Beitun, so check the address on a first visit.

To order, take a menu at the door, mark it yourself and queue to pay; dine-in customers get a number card, sit down and wait for staff to bring the food, answering when the number is called. Dine-in and takeaway share one line, but food comes out fast and most people take away, so seats free up quickly. If you want pickles with takeaway, say so when paying. The shop posts updates on its social media pages; none of the articles mention parking.

It suits late-night cravings for a filling Taiwanese bento: order the three-layer braised pork belly bento and, if eating in, help yourself to extra pickles and chili for the best value.