Tiantianxian Pork Chop Rice

Review

Tiantianxian Pork Chop Rice is tucked into a small alley off Xiao 3rd Road in Keelung, just a few minutes' walk from Keelung Station, and Supertaste says it has a 40-year history. The shop is small with an easy-to-miss sign, yet it is a lunchtime favourite for Keelung locals. Reports say the queue starts at 11 a.m. and grows longer toward noon, and many people opt for takeaway.

Mains include pork chop, shrimp, chicken leg and fish fillet, all fried to order. The pork chop is coated and fried golden, then dusted with minced garlic and pepper for a bold savoury hit. The most popular combo is pork chop with shrimp topped with a runny fried egg whose yolk enriches the rice. The rice is covered with cabbage and pickled mustard greens, and dine-in meals include soup. Two Supertaste articles list the pork chop and shrimp rice at NT$120 and NT$140 respectively, so sources differ and you should check before you go.

Praise centres on the juicy, freshly fried pork chop with plenty of garlic and pepper, the runny yolk that lifts the rice, and generous portions. Criticisms include bland chicken leg, a sense that it is just a home-style lunch box whose fame exceeds the food, and fried items going soggy under the sauce, so some suggest asking for the sauce on the side. Seating is limited, table sharing is common, and there is no English menu.

Hours are roughly 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with slight variations between sources, and closures are irregular and posted on the shop's fan page. The lunch peak has the longest wait, so come around 2 or 3 p.m. to queue less. The alley is narrow and parking is hard, so walking from the station is easiest.

It suits train travellers wanting a solid lunch in Keelung and anyone who loves Taiwanese fried pork chops. First-timers should order the pork chop and shrimp rice with egg, or choose the fish fillet for something lighter; for takeaway, ask for the sauce separately to keep the coating crisp.