Zaozhuang Garden Restaurant

Review

Zaozhuang Garden Restaurant is in Fuxing Village, Gongguan Township, with signposts all the way from the Gongguan freeway exit. Gongguan is one of Taiwan's main red date growing areas, and the restaurant takes its name and much of its menu from the fruit. Reports say it held a Hakka cuisine certification for eight straight years, and in 2023 it was named in Supertaste's 500 Dishes list. It is one of the Hakka restaurants in Miaoli most often chosen by tour groups and family gatherings.

The best-known pairing is braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens served with red date steamed buns; the meat is thinly sliced and tender, and you tuck it into the lightly date-scented bun. Other signatures include salt-and-pepper pork intestines, red date drunken chicken, red date chicken soup and golden tofu. Even the rice is cooked with red dates, and coverage says refills are available. There is a vegetarian menu, plus red date products, kumquat sauce and fermented tofu to take home.

Fans like the homestyle, authentic dishes, generous portions and the setting with a garden and koi pond, comfortable for elders and children, with a small animal area to wander. Critics find the food leans sweet, with dates even in the rice, and some dishes such as taro duck pricey; the crispy pork knuckle is not actually crisp, and service gets hectic when tour buses arrive.

Hours are about 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, closing a little later on weekends; sources list different dinner closing times, so check before you go. The building has two floors, and most seats upstairs are reached by stairs. The car park is large, but weekends and mealtimes often fill up, so phone ahead to book. Set menus are priced by party size, and reports say there is no service charge.

Good for family gatherings, outings with older relatives or anyone wanting to taste Miaoli's red dates in one meal. Larger groups get the best value from set menus; smaller parties can order the braised pork with red date buns, the drunken chicken and a seasonal vegetable, then stroll the grounds and pick up kumquat sauce or red date goods on the way out.