When visiting Hsinchu Hukou Old Street, besides admiring the quaint architecture and rich Hakka culture, don't forget to seek out the hidden culinary gems! Today, I'm recommending "Xiao Wo Kou," a wood-fired pizza place that combines local ingredients with creative culinary flair.
這家店就位在湖口天主堂旁， 由年輕老闆經營， 他們不僅用心製作美味
的披薩， 也積極推廣湖口的地方文化和歷史， 讓更多人認識這個美麗的
小鎮。
This restaurant, located right next to Hukou Catholic Church, is run by a young entrepreneur. Not only are they passionate about creating delicious pizzas, but they're also actively involved in promoting the local culture and history of Hukou, introducing more people to this charming town.
Cruising down the West Coast Expressway, enjoying the sea breeze and the beautiful scenery... but what happens when hunger strikes? No worries! There's a super popular roadside stall in Hsinchu's Xiangshan District called "Liúshuǐ Xiāngcháng" that will definitely satisfy your taste buds! This nameless sausage stall is hidden right by the West Coast Expressway. It has a small red sign that simply says "Charcoal-Grilled Liúshuǐ Xiāngcháng" . It's easy to miss if you're not paying attention. But don't underestimate this unassuming stall - their sausages attract customers from all over! Locals, tourists, and especially truck drivers traveling north and south all love this flavor!
When you've lived in a place, there are always those familiar flavors you crave every now and then. Because of my studies, I had the opportunity to live in Hsinchu for a decent amount of time.
Since the cost of living in Hsinchu City is high, I usually cooked at home with my sister. Because we didn't eat out often, and I wasn't a picky foodie like I am now, I have vivid memories of a few particular restaurants. Yuan Ye Shi Duck Meat Noodles is one of them.
The history of smoked duck in Hsinchu can be traced back to the 1950s, when there were many duck noodle stalls in the Central Market night market (Zhongzhengtai). After years of development, Hsinchu smoked duck has become an important part of the local food culture and an indispensable flavor in the memories of many Hsinchu people.
Unlike other regions where the whole duck is cooked into a salt-water duck and then smoked directly, the smoked duck in Hsinchu is made by first using bamboo to stretch the duck meat open, similar to how Nanjing pressed duck is made, before it is smoked in the oven. That's why when you go to a smoked duck shop in Hsinchu, you often see the smoked duck as a square piece like in the photo, waiting for you to order.
While there's no shortage of famous duck restaurants in Hsinchu, when it comes to origins, I think the actual situation might be similar to our Taichung Qingshui rice cakes, where they all originate from the same source, Wang Ta, even though it's not easy to verify. Anyway, eating is subjective, and the most important thing is to enjoy what you eat!
The history of Yuan Ye Shi Duck Meat Noodles can be traced back to the 1950s when the founder, Mr. Xu, set up a stall selling duck meat noodles in the Central Market night market (Zhongzhengtai) in downtown Hsinchu. Because Mr. Xu's duck meat noodles used quality ingredients and were affordably priced, coupled with his unique smoked duck flavor, he quickly built a good reputation and became a popular stall in the night market.
In the 1980s, with the decline of the Central Market night market, Mr. Xu moved his stall to Zhongyang Road and officially named it "Yuan Ye Shi Duck Meat Noodles," continuing to pass on his delicious legacy. Today, Yuan Ye Shi Duck Meat Noodles has been passed down to the third generation, still insisting on using traditional smoking techniques to process the duck meat and maintaining affordable prices.
The first time I had their duck meat noodles in Hsinchu, they were already at their current location. My most recent visit was in 2013, and when I went back again in 2024, it felt like stepping into a time machine. Everything was exactly the same, even the way the tables and chairs were arranged hadn't changed a bit.
Duck Meat Noodles: A small bowl is 65 NTD. The delicious broth, made from simmering duck bones, has a fresh and sweet taste without excessive seasoning. The broth gets its milky white color from a large number of duck bones simmered over a long period. This also means their broth is richer, full of collagen and the nutritional essence of duck meat.
They use thick yellow noodles that have a chewy and springy texture, making them perfect for soaking up the flavorful broth. It's getting harder and harder to find these kinds of thick yellow noodles these days.
Stir-fried Duck Blood: The stir-fried duck blood is 85 NTD. The shop's use of black vinegar is incredibly precise, creating a sour yet fragrant flavor, and the duck blood still has that smooth and slippery texture. Honestly, if I want to relive that taste, it's more realistic to just make a trip to Hsinchu and let the professionals handle it!
Smoked Duck: The smoked duck is priced at market value. This 1/4 duck for 210 NTD is actually quite a good deal. Because of the steaming and then smoking process, most of the fat is rendered out during cooking. Compared to regular salt-water duck or smoked duck, the version at Yuan Ye Shi is perfect for enjoying cold. You won't have the issue of the meat hardening in cold weather or the juices and fat congealing.
* 菜單品項價格如因物價波動等因素有做調整，以店家公布為主，僅供參考！
* The prices of menu items may be adjusted due to factors such as fluctuations in commodity prices, and the prices posted by the restaurant shall prevail. The prices listed are for reference only.
* 本文照片以 iPhone 13 Pro 拍攝
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