If it weren’t for someone leading the way, we would never have thought of walking down such a remote road, let alone finding this restaurant here. Even my relatives living in Gongguan, Miaoli, only knew about this place because their friends had brought them here once. This place is already off the main road, and the most recognizable landmark nearby should be Touwu Junior High School. Moreover, the restaurant’s sign is not very noticeable, showing signs of aging and wear. The customers here mostly seem to be local residents, and some of them even chat with the owners as if they know them.
The environment is typical of an old restaurant from the past, with no special decor. The tables and chairs are the kind commonly seen in older establishments, and they’ve been around for a while. Surprisingly, there are two private rooms, which have air conditioning—a nice touch. There’s practically no service, and the staff are very down-to-earth, direct, and straightforward in their communication.
Nowadays, it's getting harder to find stream shrimp and mullet, so when you see them on the menu, you’ve got to order a serving.
The menu mainly consists of noodles and stir-fried dishes. Besides classic Taiwanese stir-fries, they also serve Hakka cuisine. Since this is a Hakka area, not having Hakka dishes would make it hard for the restaurant to survive.
Their braised dishes are also quite good; the flavors have really soaked in, and you can pick and choose your favorites to be sliced.
The bamboo shoots with braised pork is another classic dish. The braised pork is well-cooked and flavorful, but it’s a bit oily. It would be even better if they could remove some of the excess fat. Of course, the oil comes from the pork belly, and eating too much can be overwhelming. However, since it’s been a while since I’ve had this kind of braised pork, I couldn’t resist having a few extra pieces.
The stir-fried large intestine with shredded ginger is also a classic; the sourness is just right. Without that sourness, it wouldn’t taste the same.
All the dishes here are heavily flavored, so you need to be prepared for that. There’s nothing light about the cuisine; it’s entirely in the style of traditional Hakka food—salty and heavily seasoned. Of course, these dishes go perfectly with rice, and you might end up eating several bowls. However, the food can be a bit heavy, so it’s best to indulge only occasionally. Back in the day, it might have been fine, but now, with a greater focus on health, it’s better to treat yourself to this kind of meal once in a while.
小娟麵食館
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