Taipei City - 施家麻油腰花 XinYi Sesame oil chicken

Value for money: 8/10

Cleanliness: 7/10

Service: 9/10

Quality of food: 9/10

Overall: 8/10

I've never been to this area out near MRT Elephant Mountain station in the XinYi area, but this place is definitely worth a look!

Organs splayed out on an ice slab isn't the nicest thing to see...

You can opt for a normal soup 清湯 sesame oil soup 麻油湯.

What we ordered:

1. 麻油豬肝湯 má yóu zhū gān tāng Sesame oil soup with liver $70

2. 麻油腰花湯 má yóu yāo huā tāng Sesame oil soup with kidneys $120

3. 滷肉飯 lǔ ròu fàn Braised pork over rice $30

1. 麻油豬肝湯 má yóu zhū gān tāng Sesame oil soup with liver $70

It's been a while since I have eaten liver, but I won't be leaving it so long now I know this place exists. 

The portion of liver in the soup is really very plentiful. It's thinly sliced so it has only been flash cooked in the pan. This means that it remains really soft and retains its wonderfully silky texture.

Anyone new to sesame oil soup - this is what you're looking for. You don't want a huge amount of oiliness, but you should still expect some. A kind of rice wine is used during the cooking process which gives it an almost flowery and floral aroma and taste. It's got quite a 'thin' taste, if that makes sense? It looks like it's going to taste quite thick and heavy, but it doesn't.

2. 麻油腰花湯 má yóu yāo huā tāng Sesame oil soup with kidneys $120

This is a little bit more pricey, but still a solid choice.

Again, there is a more than ample portion of kidney going on in here. The kidney is quite clearly fresh and it has a wonderful taste. Kidney doesn't pack huge amounts of flavour, however it is cooked, but the texture is very good, too. 

3. 滷肉飯 lǔ ròu fàn Braised pork over rice $30

I've spoken about this numerous times before, but braised pork over rice is something that everybody should have in their lives, especially this one! The pork and fat melt in your mouth and allow the crunchiness of the pickled radish to contrast the softness (but not too soft) of the rice. It's perfect, really.

Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone - it is a true Taiwanese experience!

Best dish: 1. 麻油豬肝湯 má yóu zhū gān tāng Sesame oil soup with liver $70 - Awesome, on every level!

Dish I wouldn't order again: 2. 麻油腰花湯 má yóu yāo huā tāng Sesame oil soup with kidneys $120 - Only because the liver is so much more awesome, and also the braised pork over rice also is, too!


臺北市信義區松山路540巷538號

No. 538, Alley 540, SongShan Road, XinYi District, Taipei City

Happy Eating!