Xingang Duck Thick Soup

Review

Xingang Duck Thick Soup occupies the ground floor of the Fengtian Building on Zhongshan Road in front of Fengtian Temple, and almost everyone who comes to pray to Mazu stops for a bowl. Several Xingang food roundups put it first on their lists. Two large woks at the entrance fire from morning to evening, the aroma drifts all the way to the temple, and queues form on weekends and during festivals.

The signature is stir-fried duck thick soup. Duck slices and shredded bamboo shoots are flash-fried over high heat, then a broth simmered from duck bones is added and lightly thickened. The result is smooth and noticeably sweet, a classic southern Taiwanese flavour. Black vinegar on the table adds a tangy edge to the sweet soup. Portions are generous with plenty of bamboo shoots, and a bowl plus a rice dumpling or another snack makes a full meal. Frozen packs are sold for reheating at home.

Most diners praise the speed, the wok aroma, the crunchy bamboo shoots and the well-seasoned duck, calling it the must-eat taste of Xingang; foreign visitors often note the lively scene of two woks firing in turn. Complaints centre on the broth being too sweet for some palates, and a few say the duck can be tough or not very fresh. Sweetness is a matter of taste, so try it plain first and then adjust with vinegar.

Sources broadly agree on hours: about 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily, with one report saying it opens a little later on Wednesdays, so check before you go. Peak times are lunch and weekends; turnover is fast, but you may still wait, and weekday mornings are easiest. The shop is on the main street in front of the temple, parking nearby is limited, and it is best to use a nearby car park and walk. Diners describe prices as pocket-change level.

It suits visitors to Fengtian Temple and Xingang's old streets, and anyone who enjoys sweet southern-style thick soups. First-timers can order a bowl with a splash of vinegar and pair it with a nearby rice dumpling or frozen taro dessert; if you like it, buy a frozen pack to take home. If your companions do not like sweet flavours, share a small bowl and save room for other Xingang snacks.