Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Highly Recommended)
Address: No. 2號, Alley 3, Lane 120, Yongji Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ynP68yyY4bD63yC29
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
🤢 招牌炸臭豆腐 (Signature Fried Stinky Tofu) = TWD75 (2 Pieces Minimum)
🤢 凉拌臭豆腐 (Cold Plate Stinky Tofu) = TWD40 (1 Bowl)
🤢 清蒸臭豆腐 (Steamed Stinky Tofu) = TWD65 (1 Bowl)
No Service Charges
Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.
Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.
No Service Charges
Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.
Important Disclaimer:
Taiwanese Stinky Tofu 台湾臭豆腐 is considered as a National Dish of Taiwan that has been Eaten by Generations of Taiwanese. 🇹🇼 If you are a Taiwanese reading this, please note that this Review will contain Unflattering Descriptions of this Dish. 😅 My Intention is only to Describe my Personal Thoughts and Opinions on it. 🤔 I have No Malicious Intentions to make fun of your National Dish so I seek your Kind Understanding. 🙏 Thank You.
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What is Stinky Tofu? 臭豆腐 🤔
According to Legends, this was originally invented by a Scholar named Wang Zhihe 王致和 in the China Anhui Province during the Qing Dynasty.
It was so Popular, that it was even served in the Imperial Qing Dynasty Royal Palace 👑 and was apparently even a Favourite Dish of the Infamous Empress Dowager Cixi 慈禧太后. 😳
Somehow it reached Taiwan and became Extremely Popular. 🇹🇼 (Info and Image Source: Wikipedia and Various Other Sources) I won't go into the Deeper History of this Dish as you can easily Google it if you are interested.
Really Very Popular in Taiwan especially in Night Markets you can have Several Stalls specializing in this. 🇹🇼 Everywhere you go in Taiwan, you will surely get a Whiff of it in one way or another. 😅
The Dish itself is Basically Chinese Tofu that is Fermented in a Brine with Vegetables and Meat. 🥬🍖 Due to its Fermented Nature, Stinky Tofu is considered to be a Very Healthy Superfood with Plenty of Vitamins and Minerals that are Very Important for Healthy Good Bacteria for your Gut Health. 👨⚕️👩⚕️👍
Check out this Stinky Tofu Video Documentary by Youtube Channel Origins of Food
It was so Popular, that it was even served in the Imperial Qing Dynasty Royal Palace 👑 and was apparently even a Favourite Dish of the Infamous Empress Dowager Cixi 慈禧太后. 😳
Somehow it reached Taiwan and became Extremely Popular. 🇹🇼 (Info and Image Source: Wikipedia and Various Other Sources) I won't go into the Deeper History of this Dish as you can easily Google it if you are interested.
Really Very Popular in Taiwan especially in Night Markets you can have Several Stalls specializing in this. 🇹🇼 Everywhere you go in Taiwan, you will surely get a Whiff of it in one way or another. 😅
The Dish itself is Basically Chinese Tofu that is Fermented in a Brine with Vegetables and Meat. 🥬🍖 Due to its Fermented Nature, Stinky Tofu is considered to be a Very Healthy Superfood with Plenty of Vitamins and Minerals that are Very Important for Healthy Good Bacteria for your Gut Health. 👨⚕️👩⚕️👍
Check out this Stinky Tofu Video Documentary by Youtube Channel Origins of Food
Having said that, as Positive or as Good as this Dish is, its the Aroma of this Dish is So Distinct and Pungent 🤢 which has been described as Rotten Garbage, Smelly Feet, or just Straight Up Sewage Water. 🤢 For me, it smells like all that, and EVEN WORSE. 🤢 It really lives up to its Infamous Name. It's Chinese Name also literally translates to "Stinky Tofu". 🤢
This Dish is so Bad Smelling, that it can make one lose their Appetite when you even smell it especially in a Night Market. 🤢 Its so Bad Smelling, that according to an Uber Driver, even some Local Taiwanese hate it so much, some of them actually write in to complain to their Local Municipal whenever a New Stinky Tofu Stall operates in their Neighbourhood. 🤢😳
Ok back to this Eatery. This one that I'm at actually Specializes in this Dish. 🤔
Check out this Video by Youtube Channel Great Big Story featuring this Eatery.
Check out this Video by Youtube Channel Great Big Story featuring this Eatery.
The Actual Eatery is a Fairly Small Place, with not more than 6 Tables. Not Air-Conditioned, it was Warm within but luckily still Comfortable due to the Cooling 18C Weather outside. ❄️ Like Most Eateries in Taiwan, there are No Restroom Facilities. 🚻
The Place is Very Simply Renovated and has Walls of Framed Up Chinese Calligraphies adorning Every Part of their Walls. 🤔 From the looks of it, it looked like it has been around for Many Years Already. Obviously because they're Selling Stinky Tofus, the Ever Present Distinct Pungent Stink is Everywhere, 🤢 and Totally Smells like Rotten Garbage, but I thought it was surprisingly Not as Stinky as I'd Imagine. 🤔
Although there weren't Much Customers at Around 1.00pm on a Friday Afternoon, the Stream of Customers were Quite Regular and kept Coming and Going. 🤔 There were No Foreign Tourists from what I see. Other than me, their Main Customers are really Local Taiwanese Folks. 🇹🇼
The Stoic Looking Stall Lady that Never Smiles
The Whole Eatery is run by a Single Lady who looked like in her 40s (Not the Same Person in that Attached Video). 🤔 She is Polite and Friendly in her Demeanor but the Google Reviewers are right in that she does not Smile. 🤔
Among all the Eatery Owners that I've met in Taiwan, she is probably the Only One that actually Don't Smile to Customers. 🤔 This doesn't mean she is Unfriendly or Rude however because she is Busy. As I observed her, she seems to be the More Introverted Type that doesn't really like to make Small Talk with Customers. Totally Understand Why Many Google Reviewers found her to be abit Aloof and Unfriendly. 😅
Among all the Eatery Owners that I've met in Taiwan, she is probably the Only One that actually Don't Smile to Customers. 🤔 This doesn't mean she is Unfriendly or Rude however because she is Busy. As I observed her, she seems to be the More Introverted Type that doesn't really like to make Small Talk with Customers. Totally Understand Why Many Google Reviewers found her to be abit Aloof and Unfriendly. 😅
When I was there, there was another Older Lady who I think is her Old Personal Friend and they had alot of Fun and Laughter between them. 🤔 So she is the type that does Smile, but only to People that she is Familiar with, and not to Customers. 🤔 For Customers or People that she is Not Familiar with, she adopts a Friendly, Polite but Never Smiling Fascade. 😐
As I further observed her, whenever any Customers step into the Place, she will always use the Same Mechanical Greeting and Pi Li Pa La speak in a Very Fast Manner in Mandarin. 🗣️😅 After listening closely for awhile, what she is saying is actually:
"Hello, Menu and Pencil are at the Entrance. 📝 Write down what you want and hand it to me".
"Hello, Menu and Pencil are at the Entrance. 📝 Write down what you want and hand it to me".
1) Grab a Paper Menu and Pencil from the Entrance. 📝 This is where you can also locate the Chopsticks or Spoons. 🥢🥄
2) Mark out whatever you want on the Menu (No English Version), 📝 and hand it to her while Paying First. 💵
3) Once ready, she will serve it up to your Table accordingly. 👍
Amusingly, they have 3 Signature Dishes here Collectively known as 獨臭三寶 (The Three Stinky Treasures) 😅 so of course I ordered them to give them a Try.
Interestingly in the Menu, you can even choose to pay more to 加臭 Add Even More Stinkiness! 😅 Hahaha OMG Of Course I didn't choose that! 🤢 Also Indicate "内用" if you are going to Dine-In. You can see how I marked them in the Paper Menu if you would like a Reference. 📝
Anyway, it took 3 Mins for the 凉拌臭豆腐, 6 Mins for the 招牌炸臭豆腐 and 7 Mins for the 清蒸臭豆腐. Everything were Served Up in 7 Mins which was Quite Impressive considering she's the Only Person Cooking and Managing the Whole Shop. 👍
🤢 招牌炸臭豆腐 (Signature Fried Stinky Tofu) = TWD75 (2 Pieces Minimum)
This is the Most Common Type of Stinky Tofu that we know of in Malaysia and Singapore. 🤔 The Deep Fried Variety. 2 Pieces Minimum in this case comes in 4 Triangle Quarters. The Presentation is Very Expected for a Stinky Tofu of this Type. Served on a Bed of Taiwanese 台湾泡菜 🥬 and a Side of Chilli Condiment. 🌶️
The Chilli Condiment and the Veggie Component
The Chilli Condiment and the Veggie Component
The Chilli Condiment 🌶️ has an Intense Salty Sourish and Spicy Taucheo Base. 🫘 Watery in Consistency, the Spiciness is Not Super Fierce Spicy but it does Gently Linger abit on your Tongue. 🌶️
The Veggie Component at the Bottom of the Stinky Tofu are actually 泡菜 Kimchi. 🥬 Crunchy and Nicely Sourish but Never Too Sourish. 👍
The Unique Stinky and Salted Peppery Aroma of the Fried Stinky Tofu
As for the Stinky Tofu itself, the Outer Look is Very Similar to the Type you'd find in Malaysia and Singapore, a Hard Light Brown Crunchy Crust. 🤔 I'm surprised that while it has the Regular Pungent Stinky Aroma that you'd expect from a Stinky Tofu, it actually does not smell Super Stinky. 😳 In fact I thought it smelled Slightly Less Stinky than what we have in SG and Malaysia. 😳
Not only that, I thought there was even an Additional Salted Peppery Aroma that you normally Smell from a Typical Taiwanese Styled Fried Chicken Cutlet! 😳 This was Very Unique, as I've never smelt a Stinky Tofu that smells like this, because Regular Stinky Tofus just Focus 100% Only on the Stink. 🤢🤔
When you bite into it, the Skin has a Nice Crispy Bite and a Noticeable Presence of Salt and Pepper. 😋 The Distinct Stink is Hidden inside the Tofu Meat and surprisingly I thought the Level of Stink is Actually Very Subdued. 🤔 If you can Tahan Singapore and Malaysia version of Stinky Tofu, you might actually find the Stink Level in this One to be Noticeably Lower. 😳
Personally I can actually accept this Level of Stinkiness. 👍 Although to be fair, this is the "Less Stink" Version I ordered. 🤔 I reckon the "加臭" version of this will probably bring the Stink Level up to or even exceed the Versions we have in Singapore and Malaysia? 🤢😅
What I enjoy was the Unique Salt and Pepper Taste of this Crispy Tofu Skin that I never find in our Local Versions. 😋 This Salted Peppery Fried Stinky Tofu Skin was an Absolute Game Changer. I never knew that such a Version Exists. 👍
Eating Everything Together was a Mix of Saltish Peppery from the Crispy Tofu Skin 😋 followed by a Veggie Crunch from the Sourness of the Kimchi 🥬 and if you dip it in some of that Chilli Condiment you will also get a Slight Spicy Salty Hit too. 🌶️
The Distinct Stinky of the Tofu comes in as an Aftertaste to remind you that this is still a Stinky Tofu. 🤢😅 Still not a Fan of Stinky Tofu, but this Complex Compliment of Multiple Flavours certainly was a Very Unique Culinary Taste. 👍
🤢 清蒸臭豆腐 (Steamed Stinky Tofu) = TWD65 (1 Bowl)
I was Impressed when this was served up. 👍 Served in a Beautiful Black Stone Bowl with an Additional White Plate at the Bottom, Its Very Nicely Presented would actually not look out of place at a Higher End Restaurant. ♥️
Made out of a Thick Block of White Tofu ◻️ with Enoki Mushrooms, 🍄 Shitake, Slices of Scallion Spring Onion and what looks like Stinky Bean Petai? 🫘 The Broth looks like a Braised 卤水. The Stinky Aroma wafting out from this smelled Exceptionally Deep, Robust and Pungent. 🤢 This is the First Time I'm seeing this Version of Stinky Tofu. 😳
The Braised Soup Broth tasted Savoury Sweetish with Saltish Braised Mushroom Taste 🍄 almost like how you'd expect it to taste but it never reaches there because of the Ever Presence of Unique Pungent Stinkiness. 🤢
Its not Overly Stinky in your Face but it does let its Stinky Presence felt Strongly. 🤢
The Tofu itself does not Smell or Taste Stinky Surprisingly, 🤔 and has a Firmish Gritty Texture. Same with all the Mushrooms, they are Soft, Chewy and are Not Stinky themselves. 🍄 The Stink really only comes from the Broth. 🍲
Eating Everything Together was a Mix of Firmish Softness from the Tofu, ◻️ Chewiness from the Mushrooms 🍄 and all Soaked in that Mushroom Pungent Stink Broth. 🍲 Try to imagine eating a Braised Tofu Mushroom Based Braised Broth with a Gentle yet also Robust Stinky Aftertaste 🤢 as you will get an Idea how this tastes like. I thought it was Clever of them to use Mushroom 🍄 as a Base for their Soup Broth due to its Earthy Nature.
Without the Stink, this Dish tastes like how you would imagine it to taste actually. 🤔 Its the Stink that gives it its Distinct Taste. 🤢 Again, not something I particularly would try again, but I thought this was Designed Very Well. 👍 Again, if you can tahan our Singapore Malaysia Level of Stinky Tofu Stinkiness, you will definitely have no issues with this, 👍 as I feel the Stinkiness is actually significantly reduced if you don't order their "加臭" Version. 👍
🤢 凉拌臭豆腐 (Cold Plate Stinky Tofu) = TWD40 (1 Bowl)
So after eating the Above 2 Dishes and finding the Stinkiness to actually be Very Bearable, 🤔 I started becoming Confident and thought that I would have no troubles with this one too. 😄
Oh Dear Goodness...I would Very Quickly find out HOW WRONG I was!!! 😱😱😱
The Dish is Beautifully Presented like a Cold Block of Tofu Chinese Style. 👍 The Word "凉拌" is actually a Chinese Culinary Term which in its Simplest Form is a Form of Raw Salad mixed with a Complex Mix of Sauces. 🥬
The Sauce they have drizzled in here is a Sweetish Saltish Oyster Sauce with a Green Sprinkling of Power that tastes like Seaweed and a Haebee Looking Thing thats not actually Haebee. 🤔
I can't tell what this is made of but it is Crispy. Maybe some type of Savoury Fried Flour? 🤔 Everything is then topped off with Coriander Leaves. 🌿
It was when I took my First Bite of the Tofu that I realized I had Completely F*cked Up. 🤢🤢🤢
The Bite Texture of this Tofu tastes Exactly like Cream Cheese. 🧀 Thick and Creamy with a VERY STRONG STINK FERMENTATION 🤢 that actually Not Only Stink, but somehow tastes ROTTEN! 🤢😱 This Stinky Tofu feels like it is at a Very Much Advanced Stage of Fermentation compared to all the others that I've eaten before this. 😱
The Bite Texture of this Tofu tastes Exactly like Cream Cheese. 🧀 Thick and Creamy with a VERY STRONG STINK FERMENTATION 🤢 that actually Not Only Stink, but somehow tastes ROTTEN! 🤢😱 This Stinky Tofu feels like it is at a Very Much Advanced Stage of Fermentation compared to all the others that I've eaten before this. 😱
Imagine leaving a Piece of Cream Cheese to Rot and Grow Moldy in the Sun until it Stinks, 🤢 then imagine shoveling it right into your Mouth and eating it. 🤢 OMG! I'm so sorry but this is the only thing that slammed in my Brain as I ate this. 🤢 OMG OMG OMG this tasted SO AWFUL!!! 😭😭😭
Jeez!! I actually Physically Struggled to Keep this Down 🤢 and Not Violently Puke all over the Place! 🤮🤮🤮 The Salty Oyster Sauce REALLY helped alot, because the Mushy Rotten Stinky Texture is EXTREMELY HARDCORE. 🤢🤢🤢
Even for People who are used to eating Stinky Tofus, I reckon even YOU might not be able to accept this level. 🤢 And THIS isn't even the Extra Stink "加臭" Version! 😳
Protip: Once you've taken a Bite of this in your Mouth, QUICKLY SWALLOW IT and don't attempt to chew for too long. 😅 I realized the More you attempt to Chew, the More you will Gag and want to Puke it out even more.🤢🤢🤢
Oh my God, this Tasted So Bad, I covered my Face 🫣 and Really Physically Forced myself to Swallow every time I took a Bite. 🤢 I tried very hard not to show my Obviously Distressed Face to the Rest of the Customers in this Eatery. 🤢 Oh how I wish I had a Mug of Ice-Cold Beer to wash away this Awfulness!! 🍺 (They don't sell Alcohol here btw)
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
If you are someone who have eaten our Version of Stinky Tofus, you will probably find the Default Version here to actually be Less Stinky to your taste. 😅 In that case, I would recommend to pay a little extra for their Extra Stinky "加臭" Version. 🤢 Not for me, this Default Version is good enough for me, thank you very much! 🤢
I wished that this was Not Stinky 🤢 but that would make it taste like a Regular Mushroom Broth Tofu 🍄 and defeat the Purpose of coming here to eat in the First Place. 😅 Again, the Stinkiness for the Default Level is probably considered Mild for Stinky Tofu Fans, so go ahead and 加臭 if you want yours to be Extra Stinky. 😅🤢
I cannot emphasize how Bad and Rotten tasting this tasted. 🤢 NEVER IN MY LIFE have I ever tasted anything so Vile even for a Stinky Tofu. 🤢 Even if you are a Fan of Stinky Tofu, I would still advise that You Approach this Dish with Extreme Caution. 🙅♂️ This is NOTHING like anything ever found in Singapore and Malaysia. 🙅♂️
This is like the Final Boss of Stinky Tofu, and its not even the 加臭 Extra Stinky Version! 😅🤢
I apologize to any Taiwanese who may actually have grown up eating this Level of Stinky Tofu, and I have absolutely No Malicious Intent to make fun of your National Dish, 🙏 but this right here..I really cannot take it lah. 🤢
This is like the Final Boss of Stinky Tofu, and its not even the 加臭 Extra Stinky Version! 😅🤢
I apologize to any Taiwanese who may actually have grown up eating this Level of Stinky Tofu, and I have absolutely No Malicious Intent to make fun of your National Dish, 🙏 but this right here..I really cannot take it lah. 🤢
All the 3 Dishes here were Very Unique and Culinarily Complex. 👍 Even in Taiwan, I have yet to see Stinky Tofu being made at such a High Level as these. 👍 Most of the Ones even in Taiwan (especially in the Night Markets) are of the Common Deep-Fried Variety that we all know of. 🔥 This is the Only Place that I know of that does Stinky Tofu like this. 🤔 As I read thru the Google Reviews of this Place, it seems that even Local Taiwanese themselves are Impresssed with this Place. 👍
Despite the Stall Owner being probably the Only One in this Trip that Never Smiled, 🤔 It is not because she is Unfriendly or Rude. Its really just her Very Introverted Nature and the fact she's the Only Person running this Place so obviously she is Busy. 🤔 I have no issues with her Service-Wise as she did display the Necessary Level of Customer Service. I do wish she smiled a little though. 😅
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Fermentation is a Unique Culinary Science and it actually takes a Certain Amount of Skill to be able to do it. 👍 You're basically flirting the Line between Fermentation 🤔 and Rotten 🤢 when you're doing this. Its really Amazing how someone can make something So Awful Smelling 🤢 and yet somehow make it a Country's National Dish. 😅
Even though Stinky Tofu is not something that I'm a Fan of, 🙅♂️ and I am Truly Horrified by their 凉拌臭豆腐, 😱😱😱 Believe it or not, I still want to give this Place my Highest Top Score 🏆 because of how Utterly Unique Tasting the Versions of Stinky Tofus in here were. 👍 Never in my Life have I ever tasted Stinky Tofus of this High Caliber as strange as it may sound. 😅 5 Hours after the Meal, my Burps were Still Stinky and Smelt like Rotten Death. 💀
If you do not like Stinky Tofu, this place will not convince you otherwise. 😅🤢 This place is truly only for People who have eaten Stinky Tofu before and is Prepared for it. That said, DO NOT Underestimate their 凉拌臭豆腐 even if you think you're a Fan. You have been Warned. 😅🤢
Bonus Story:
Sharing a Super Funny 哭笑不得 Stinky Tofu Experience I had in Taiwan back in 2019. 😅
Sharing a Super Funny 哭笑不得 Stinky Tofu Experience I had in Taiwan back in 2019. 😅
My 1st Experience of Stinky Tofu was actually in 2019 when I first visited Taiwan. 👍 I know this Dish is actually available in Singapore Pasar Malams, but I refrained myself from giving it a Try because I want my First Impression of this Dish to be the Original Version from Taiwan. 🇹🇼
So when I was in Taiwan, I came across this Stinky Tofu Shop with the Most Adorable Name called "臭美". 😅 (It has since Ceased its Operations Unfortunately) Ordered a Plate of Fried Stinky Tofu and after the 1st Bite, I immediately dislike this Dish 🤢 and thought to myself. "Yea This is REALLY Stinky and Very Hard to Eat. 🤢 After this Plate, I am NEVER going to order Stinky Tofu Ever Again". 🙅♂️
At the Same Time, it just so happens that there was an English Tourist in the Same Shop I was in who was having Alot of Troubles communicating in Mandarin with the Stall Owner. 🗣️ Being the Helpful Guy that I was, I stepped forward to help translate and they were so happy! 😄 In fact the Stall Owner was So Happy and Grateful...
HE GIFTED ME A FREE SECOND PLATE OF STINKY TOFU!!! 😱😱😱
AHHhhhhhH!! 😱😱😱 Here I was already thinking of leaving after my Initial Plate of Stinky Tofu, 🤢 and because of my Kind Act, I got GIFTED with a 2nd Plate of it! 🤢🤢🤢 So of course I tried hard to reject but he really insisted. 😱 What to do? End Up I sat there with them eating EVEN MORE STINKY TOFU!! 🤢 Hahaha! Really 哭笑不得. 😅 Dunno whether to Laugh or to Cry. I was literally Smiling on My Face 😄 and yet Crying in my Heart 😭 while eating this 2nd Plate of Stinky Tofus! Hahahaha! 😅
Moral of Story: Its always a Good Thing to be Helpful to Others, 👍 but it doesn't pay to be Helpful if you're in a Stinky Tofu Eatery! 😅🤢 真的是做好人没好报. Really 笑死人 Lor! Hahaha!!
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