程味珍意麵滷味 Cheng Wei Zhen

 Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Average)

Address: No. 65號, Xining Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qk7gfLE1uTF4Y38HA
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

招牌乾意麵 (Signature Noodle) Soup, Small = TWD125

米血糕 (Rice Blood Cake) = TWD30 each

鸭心 (Duck Heart) = TWD50 for 3

No Service Charges

 Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.
Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.

卤味 or Braised Cuisines are a Type of Food that is Very Commonly Found in Taiwan. 🇹🇼 Like what its Name suggests, the Cuisine consists of Various Meats and Innards (Most Commonly Duck 🦆 or Pork 🐷) braised in a Soy Suace Based Gravy and usually Paired with Rice or Noodles. 🍚🍜

This was one such Eatery I randomly went into, and is also One of the Rare Ones that have Restroom Facilities within. 🚻 For some reason, many Taiwanese Eateries don't have Restrooms within. 😅

Its a Fairly Large Eatery run by a Couple of Very Friendly Auntie 大姐 and a Young Lad who looks like the Main Cook. 👨‍🍳  Compared to the Friendly 大姐 though, this Young Lad gives of a More Serious Stoic Vibe and Less Friendly but that was also perhaps he was Busy. 🤔

There are No Paper Menus here, everything available are listed on the Stall Signs complete with Prices as you can see in the Photos. 📷 Everything is Written in Chinese so you do need to use Google Translate if you are a Non-Mandarin Speaker. 🤔 Not a Very Crowded Place, there were nevertheless a Constant Stream of Local Customers at around 10.45am on a Weekday Morning. 🕑

Just go up to the Cashier, order whatever you want, pay up and go back to your Seat to wait for your Food. 🍽️
It took 2 Mins for the Signature Noodle Soup and 7 Mins for the Rest of the Braised Items. In Total, it took 7 Mins for Everything to be up.

Review of the Condiment Sauce

The Chilli Condiment 🌶️ they have here had a Deep Earthy Sweet and Salty Taste that is powered by Taucheo. 🫘 As I ate more in Taiwan, I realize this Taucheo is a Very Common Condiment comparable to the Garlic Chilli used in Malaysia JB. 🤔

This Sauce itself is Unique Tasting and is not a Taste that you'd find in Malaysia or Singapore. 🤔 It doesn't taste Too Wierd though, and I reckon will probably be an Acceptable Taste for Most People. 👍

招牌乾意麵 (Signature Noodle) Soup, Small = TWD125

Even for the Small I ordered, this felt like a Large Bowl. 👍 Not Salty at all, the Soup Broth had a Very Light Braised Taste that tasted like it had Shallots pre-fried within for Flavouring. 🤔

There were 6 Small Wantons. Not as Big and Fat as Hong Kong Type, 🤔 but also not Baby Small like the ones in Malaysia and Singapore. 😅 It sits right in the Middle.

The Skin is Smooth and Melt in Mouth. Surprisingly the Pork Filling 🐷  within didn't have much Taste, also Not Meaty, doesn't taste like its Actually Seasoned but also No Porkiness at all. 🤔 Its not even Salty but leans more on the Peppery Side.

The 2 Big Fat Meatballs were Fat, Bouncy and Delightfully Juicy. 😋
Biting into them felt like my Teeth were tearing through Layers of Meat as I bit down.

Very Similar to the Chaoshan Meatballs I had at CMJ Kitchen 潮满记老潮汕饭店 at Malaysia JB R&F Mall. 😋
The Meatballs themselves have a Beefy Taste 🐮 but also Not Overly Beefy. These tasted good. 👍

The Noodles looked like a Slightly Thicker Version of our Singapore-Styled Mee Pok. 🍜 Not Super QQ and had a Nice Softened Texture. The Amount of Noodles felt Acceptable and Filling. When eating everything together though, I felt the Whole Dish tasted Very Light, almost Bland even, 🤔 and tasted like it needed more Soy Sauce. 🤔

米血糕 (Rice Blood Cake) = TWD30 each

鸭心 (Duck Heart) = TWD50 for 3

I do have to give points for the Presentation. 👍 I picked out the items from the Braised Rack like a Typical YTF and they processed and presented it Beautifully. Nicely Done. 👍

米血糕 is a Sticky Rice Pudding that is binded using Coagulated Pork Blood. 🐷🩸 A Very Unique Taiwanese Dish, although it looks Super Dark and Thick, there is No 血腥味 or Anything that tastes like Blood about it. 🤔 Not even abit.

It has a Chewy Texture. The Closest Way I can describe how this taste is like Slightly Firmer and Chewy Version of a Black Colour Lor Mai Kai with a Sweetish Braised Taste. 🤔 I reckon for Braised Dishes, this one is probably considered as a "Carb" among them? 🤔

鸭心 is literally Duck's Heart. 🦆🫀 Not a Common Ingredient that we have in Singapore and Malaysia. 🤔 The Meat looks Dry but has a Firmish and Chewy Texture. The Gaminess of a Duck is quite Prominent. 🦆 In fact the more I chew on this, the More I felt like I was eating Actual Duck Meat instead of its Heart. Not Bad Tasting. 👍

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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

At TWD125 (S$5.10) for the Signature Noodles, I'm honestly not a Fan. 🤔 I thought the Overall Dish tasted Too Light and 清淡 for me. 🤔

The Only Component I really enjoyed were the 2 Fat Meatballs because of their Delightful Bite Texture. 😋 If this Noodles were Cheaper, I would probably be able to accept it more. But at the Price of S$5.10, No I don't feel its really that Special to try.

The 米血糕 Rice Blood Cake at TWD30 (S$1.30) per piece was worth to try especially if you have never eaten before. 🤔

Having said that, don't expect this to taste really special. As I described. this tastes like a Black Colour Lor Mai Gai for me. 😅

鸭心 Duck Hearts at TWD50 (S$2.10) for 3 of Them were worth the Money if you've never eaten before. 👍 Eating this feels like I"m eating Regular Duck Meat Actually. 🦆

If you have never eaten a Duck's Heart before, I can recommend to give this a try if you're not Squeamish that is. 🫀😅

Overall, other than the Few Dishes that I've never eaten before, nothing else really excited me. 🤔 Maybe I'm not really a Fan of such Braised Dishes. 🤔 Don't let my Average Score deter you. If you do like such Braised Dishes however, feel free to give them a try if you're around the Area.