Monday, May 22, 2017

Jiakeduo -- traditional noodle and dumpling shop off Yongkang St.

This one of a few traditional eateries still surviving in the touristy Yongkang St. area. Just a few steps from Yongkang MRT Station Exit 5., it is a typical Taipei noodle and dumpling shop where you can get a seat without waiting in line even at noon on a Saturday.

Jiakeduo roughly means 'Many Good Guests'. In addition to home-style noodles (jiāchángmiàn), it also specializes in tāngjiǎo or dumplings in broth, which are simply pork dumplings (shuǐjiǎo) in a mildly spicy broth. Perfect for a damp winter day or after a night on the town.



Pork dumplings were one of my first big food discoveries in Taipei. Typically, they are either stuffed with pork and cabbage or pork and garlic chives (jiǔcài). They are usually served 'dry' and eaten with  a sauce that you concoct yourself out of the condiments on the table. These will typically include vinegar, soy sauce, chili sauce, and sesame oil. I personally prefer plenty of vinegar with just a dash of soy sauce and a little chili sauce.

The pork dumplings at  Jiakeduo  are by no means the best in Taipei, but they are better than average and do well in Jiakeduo's mildly spiced beef broth. The 'dry' noodles (gānmiàn) are also a good choice.



Jiakeduo
No. 5 Lane 4, Yongkang Street, Da’an District, Taipei City
台北市大安區永康街4巷5號
$ (less than NT$200 per person)



gānmiàn (乾麵) dry noodles (noodles in sauce rather than soup)
jiāchángmiàn (家常麵)  Home style noodles (typically thick cut)
jiǔcài (韭菜) 'Garlic chives' or Chinese leeks (Allium tuberosum)
shuǐjiǎo (水餃pork dumplings
tāngjiǎo (湯餃) dumplings in broth