Taipei | Ah Shui Shi Pigs Feet 阿水獅豬腳大王

Ah Shui Shi Pigs Feet 阿水獅豬腳大王
No. 235-1, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei, Taiwan
台北市忠孝東路四段235-1號
(02) 2752-1997
http://www.assfood.com.tw/  (WTF!!)

Price: $
Recommendation: 4 Stars

For more than 40 years, Ah Shui Shi Pigs Feet 阿水獅豬腳 is probably the most established pigs feet eateries in Taiwan. With the highest quality ingredients, Chef and owner Ah Shui Shi insisted following traditional recipe and techniques to prepare his pigs feet. The restaurant's popular pigs feet was even featured at the wedding banquet of the former Taiwan President Chen's daughter.

Ah Shui Shi 阿水獅豬腳大王

Pigs Feet 豬腳

Pigs feet are braised in traditional ceramic pots that can evenly heat the pigs feet as well as keep the cooking temperature at the perfect constant. The special luzhi 滷汁 ("master stock") has not been changed in years, and the sauce stains frighteningly covered all around the pots. Jon and I thought it was quite insane, but as the elders said, "the older [the luzhi], the more aromatic 愈老愈香," just like wine, which tastes better as it ages......

Braising Ceramic Pots 滷鍋

Lou Wei (Braising) Station 滷味

Tofu, Egg, Minced Pork, and etc. 滷豆腐, 滷蛋, 肉燥, and etc.

Pigs Feet 可口豬腳

The delicious pigs feet were delicate and soft. Without a knife, I could easily separate the meat with my chopsticks. My favorite part was the fatty skin, which was extremely tender but also chewy. Both the texture and aroma were excellent, but I wish the sauce was a bit heavier.

Pigs Feet 可口豬腳

Braised pigs feet would not be complete without a bowl of vermicelli with luzhi. Taiwanese believed that eating pigs feet vermicelli can bring good luck to life! It is also a common tradition to serve pigs feet vermicelli for birthday celebrations.

Vermicelli with Lu Zhi ("Master Stock") 滷汁麵線

As side dishes, the braised pork knuckle tendon and tofu were surprisingly good. I was totally amazed by the taste of the tendon and the texture of the tofu. Both of them are well-flavored and fully absorbed the essence of the luzhi. No extra sauce or seasonings were needed.

Pork Knuckle Tendon 可口蹄筋

Braised Tofu 滷豆腐

Ah Shui Shi also operates a pretty successful delivery and e-commerce business. Below are pigs feet waiting to be packaged.

for delivery 宅配

locals who look like tourists!

also in various locations in Taichung, Taiwan

Taipei | Tian Mu Goose 天母大頭鵝鵝肉專賣店

Tian Mu Goose 天母大頭鵝鵝肉專賣店

No. 23, Lane 8, Tian Mu East Road, Taipei, Taiwan

台北市士林區天母東路8巷23號

Price: $

Recommendation: 4 Star

Walking distance from my apartment in Taipei, Tian Mu Goose 天母大頭鵝鵝肉專賣店 is one of Tian Mu residents' favorites. As the name suggests, the restaurant specializes in Taiwanese goose cuisine. Tian Mu Goose opens at 3:00pm in the afternoon and will often be out of their famous geese by 7:00pm. Many have to rush to this busy street shop after work - a second late, you will have to come back tomorrow!

2 cooking stations

Geese!

All of their delicious geese are wrapped in plastic bags - it was quite a scene!

Tian Mu Goose prepares their geese in simply two ways: Salt Water Goose 鹹水鵝 and Tea Smoked Goose 煙薰茶鵝. Salt Water style keeps the original sweetness of goose meat; the poultry is only lightly salted. It is my preferred style! Similar to European smoked meats, the tea smoked goose has a strong smokey fragrance; however, with a hint of calming tea scent. Because of the smoking process, the aromatic meat is even more tender and juicier.

Since both styles are irresistible, I ordered the salt water goose and tea smoked goose combo. You can also pick which part of the goose you want: leg, chest, or wing. As an Asian, of course, I asked for the dark meat/ leg.

Goose Plate

Salt Water Goose & Tea Smoked Goose

鹹水鵝 & 煙薰茶鵝

The golden brown skin is tea smoked, while the white skinned meat is the salt water style.

It is pretty much required to have a bowl of noodle soup (whether traditional noodle, rice noodle, or vermicelli) when eating goose meat. The clear and refreshing soup washes out the saltiness of the goose meat, so that you can have another plate of it!

Flat Rice Noodle Soup 板條

finished the entire plate myself