Yeh San Stir-Fried Duck Thick Soup

Review

Yeh San Stir-Fried Duck Thick Soup is on Section 2 of Linsen Road in the East District, close to National Cheng Kung University, the Houjia roundabout and the Nanfang shopping mall. The owner previously sold stir-fried duck thick soup in Chiayi and brought the craft to Tainan in 2021; within a few years Michelin named it a Bib Gourmand, and it remains on the 2025 list.

The signature duck thick soup is stir-fried to order in small pots, so each bowl carries a light wok aroma along with garlic, duck and sweet strips of bamboo shoot. Michelin suggests adding a little Wu Yin vinegar and chili powder. The duck rice uses boneless duck that stays tender, and the sauce sits at the bottom of the bowl, so mix it before eating. The handmade duck blood rice cake is soft rather than dry, and fans order it on its own or add it to the soup.

Praise centres on the rich broth, tender duck and low prices, and some say it is the closest thing to Chiayi-style duck soup you can find in Tainan. On the downside, the dining room is small and you may wait at peak times, portions may feel light for big eaters, and some find it good but not stunning when compared with the old Chiayi shops.

Most sources list the hours as 10:30 to 19:00, though some say 19:30; it closes Wednesdays and Thursdays, so check before you go. Cash only, with self-service pick-up. The indoor room is air-conditioned and there are seats under the arcade too. There are car and scooter parking spaces on both sides of the road and in the lanes, and by bus you can get off at Chonghui Village stop and walk about two minutes.

It suits anyone craving Chiayi-style duck thick soup while around NCKU or the Nanfang mall, whether for lunch or an afternoon snack. Order the NT$70 duck thick soup with a NT$40 small duck rice; for a heartier meal choose the NT$80 duck soup with rice noodles and add a NT$40 handmade duck blood rice cake.