Superman Sea Bass Soup

Review

Superman Sea Bass Soup is on Section 1 of Beixin Road in Xindian, a few minutes' walk from Xindian District Office MRT Station. According to MICHELIN, it has operated for more than 20 years and is now run by the second generation, in a space that mixes old and new; an earlier Supertaste report says the shop moved here from near Cardinal Tien Hospital. Diners call it one of Xindian's signature fish soup spots. It made the Bib Gourmand list when MICHELIN first covered New Taipei in 2025 and remains in the 2026 edition.

The signature is sea bass soup, available as a whole fish or fillets, and you can pick the cut you like. MICHELIN notes the milkfish soup is simmered with milkfish, tomato and clams, and that the sea bass, raised in running water, shows its sweetness best when steamed. The other star is the wood-fired malt pork trotter, blanched then slowly braised with maltose and sauces, with springy skin, plenty of gelatin and meat that is not dry. The braised pork rice uses hand-cut pork belly strips, and sides include braised eggplant, braised cabbage and dried anchovies with tofu. When a 'fish soup of the day' sells out, its sign on the wall is flipped.

Praise centers on fresh fish soup with lots of clams, tender pork trotter and a wide choice of sides; many say it was one of their most satisfying meals in Taiwan. Critics find it pricey and not great value, and others mention queues at mealtimes, limited seating and many takeaway customers, with popular fish or cuts selling out for late arrivals.

Sources disagree on hours: Google and bloggers list 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7:30 p.m., closed Mondays; an older Supertaste article says closed Sundays and Mondays; MICHELIN lists different hours again, so phone before going. MICHELIN's payment info is also contradictory, so bring cash. Seating is mainly four-person tables and a counter, with benches outside for waiting; cutlery is self-serve and a small paper box is provided for fish bones. Parking nearby is hard, so the MRT is easiest.

It suits anyone wanting a bowl of fresh fish soup or Taiwanese-style pork trotter. On a first visit, order a sea bass soup with malt pork trotter and braised pork rice, and ask staff for a side dish or two. Groups of two or more can share a whole sea bass. If you want a specific fish soup, come early, because sold-out items are flipped off the board.