Tu Da's Charcoal-Grilled Jigula

Review

Tu Da's Jigula, often called the Handmade Charcoal-Grilled Jigula stall, sits on Zhengbin Road in Zhongzheng District near the rainbow houses of Zhengbin Fishing Port. Jigula is a common Keelung fish-paste product, and this stall keeps the traditional method: every dawn fish paste is wrapped by hand around bamboo sticks and slow-grilled over charcoal on a rotating roller track. Supertaste and Xinmedia often mention it when introducing Zhengbin Port as a local breakfast snack.

Straight off the grill the skin is lightly crisp with a toasty edge, while the inside is soft rather than dense, carrying sweet fish flavor and charcoal aroma; it is best eaten hot. A 2019 Supertaste roundup lists it at NT$20 per stick on site, and diners mention a six-stick takeaway pack that makes a good gift; check current prices on site.

Diners widely praise the freshly grilled texture, smoky aroma and low price, and eating it with the harbor view adds atmosphere, so many buy several sticks. Complaints center on the short hours, as it packs up around 11 a.m. and latecomers often miss out; output is limited, and in the past walk-in buyers without orders were limited per person.

Most sources list 7 to 11 a.m., closed Mondays and Tuesdays with irregular days off; online map listings differ slightly, so check the fan page before going. For large orders, reserve with the stall in advance. Parking nearby is limited, so consider taking a bus to the Zhengbin Port area and walking.

It suits anyone visiting Zhengbin Port in the morning to photograph the rainbow houses and grab a local snack, as well as travelers looking for a Keelung fish-paste gift. Buy one or two to eat hot, take a pack home if you like it, and set out early.