火鸡肉饭 + 卤肉饭 (NT$100): Taipei turkey rice & lu rou fan!
A Taipei lunch: Chiayi-style turkey rice and lu rou fan with a braised egg, blanched greens and fried tofu. NT$100.
A Taipei lunch with BB, two of Taiwan’s most iconic rice bowls in one go: 火鸡肉饭 (turkey rice) and 卤肉饭 (lu rou fan) for NT$100 (around SGD$4.50). 🇹🇼😋
What we had:
- Turkey rice (火鸡肉饭): shredded turkey over rice with pickled radish
- Lu rou fan (卤肉饭): braised pork belly over rice
- A braised egg, blanched spinach, cabbage and fried tofu on the side
Turkey rice is the Chiayi specialty you do not really get back home, so it was top of the list. Hand-shredded turkey laid over rice, the grains glossed with a savoury turkey-fat and shallot-oil drizzle. Turkey is leaner than chicken so it tastes lighter, but that fragrant oil carries all the flavour, with a slice of pickled yellow radish for a sweet, crunchy lift.
The lu rou fan was the rich counterpart: finely chopped pork belly braised in dark soy and five-spice until the fat turns silky, spooned over rice that has drunk up the braising sauce. Savoury, a touch sweet, melt-in-the-mouth, the comfort food of Taiwan.
The little sides rounded it into a proper meal: a soy-braised egg, garlicky spinach, cabbage and golden fried tofu. Two classic bowls plus sides for about SGD$4.50, the kind of value that makes eating your way around Taipei such a joy.
Overall: 4.5 / 5. 😋👍🏼 Fragrant shredded turkey rice and silky lu rou fan, two Taiwan classics done right. Would re-order any trip.
