Lu Rou Fan @ Da Pai Tang 105, Maizuru, Fukuoka

 

Sometimes, the simplest is the best. And you cannot get any simpler than braised pork and rice. Despite that, when it is this good, you will definitely be left wanting. 

Check out the lanterns!

Although there are a few Taiwanese joints in Fukuoka, they do the genre relatively well. The one that hits the spot is Da Pai Tang 105, located within the Tenjin area. Although I do admit it is a chain, they only have 2 outlets on this side of Kyushu. And the look and feel are still pretty humble and simple, similar to a hole in a wall in other parts. 

They serve the classics like spicy noodles, chicken rice, and of course, lu rou fan. Almost immediately I ordered that to be my lunch of the day along with a side of grilled xiao long pao, that goes without saying. The bowl that came was relatively unimpressive. It looks so simple and plain. But that is where the magic happens. 

Wait, how can this be so good?????

After a mouthful of that flavourful meat, you then start to question your judgment. How can this taste so good? Hints of various spices and herbs just come punching through. Cinnamon and anise were prevalent here. The meat was also ultra flaky and tender, going down well with the plain rice that came along. It was expertly braised and it definitely tasted like something that took a lot of time in making. This was some bombshell that had such an unassuming exterior. A total joy to eat.   

Literal bombshell

But what did look to impress was the grilled dumplings. They looked absolutely gorgeous and they taste as good as they looked. Golden brown on the outside, tender and delectable on the inside. The filling was also loaded with broth, to the extent that some of it escaped when I chewed down and squirted on my jacket. Well, time to go to the cleaners. Still, that was a small complaint. 

Also tastier than it looks

It should be noted that what made this meal pretty special was the traditional condiment of crispy chilli oil. This spicy concoction added more punch and heat to what is already a punchy meal. Adding a tablespoon of it to the rice elevated the meal very much. Thoroughly enjoyable. 

Front of the house. 

In addition to such a satisfying meal, this was pretty affordable as well. The rice bowl stood at a modest 619 yen and if you include a set of 3 dumplings via the set menu, it will be 950 yen. It was a serious bargain indeed. As mentioned, there are also other items on the menu that I think should be worth a revisit. So if this has sparked your interest, why not drop over, the address to the branch that I visited is as follows:

〒810-0073 Fukuoka, Chuo Ward, Maizuru, 1 Chome−8−34-1 エルヴェ Maizuru 1〜2F