Taiwan Travelogue 3 – Jiu Fen 九份老街 – Celine Chiam | Singapore Lifestyle, Beauty and Travel Blogger
The next place that I want to bring you readers through is this seemingly small but actually a very long stretch of street called 九份 (Jiu Fen or Chiufen) in the mountain area in the Ruifang District of New Taipei City. It may looks like nothing in the above photo but there’s actually more than a hundred shops inside and of course, hidden within are the precious local taiwanese food that are really famous.
As mentioned, 九份 Jiu Fen street sells a lot of taiwanese food and even delicacies for you to bring back home. Here’s some of the snapshots I took while at the same time eating and eating the street food non-stop!
 |
| Souvenirs |
Buying of local delicacies for relatives back home:
Since we’re here, we can’t miss the most famous (that’s what I’ve observed) shop that sells you the popular local tidbits that tourists usually buy home – 阿信的店. What you can find here are common things like almond biscuit, mochi (assorted flavours!), peanuts (black in color), jellies and so on.
The best thing is that because this shop is so used to tourists patronizing them, they always prepared testers and they are readily available as long as your tour group arrives at the shop. You probably won’t be entertained much if you come alone, unless you request for the tester yourself.
 |
| These are the testers I’m referring to. The mochi are cut in bite size for quick testing. |
The mochi are great! They aren’t too soft nor hard, and cost only S$4 per pack. Comes in assorted flavours in a packet, or just a specific flavor, like yam for example. It’s my favourite ^_^
So yes this is the black peanuts I’m referring to.
Where to eat Braised Pork Rice, 卤肉饭 ?
Right here at Jiu Fen 九份, there is exactly one small eatery which seats about 50 people. But this small humble eatery actually sell one of the most moist and fragrant Braised Pork Rice I’ve tried in Taiwan. Give it a try if you’re here!
This is how packed it gets!
The eatery is also famous for their drunken chicken. This plate costs NT160 (~$7), which isn’t really that cheap. It’s cold and the amount of alcohol in it is definitely tolerable.
And this bowl of Braised Pork Rice (胡须张 卤肉饭) costs only NT25 (S$1) !!!
Though it is indeed a small bowl only, who really cares where the mission here is not to fill your stomach with just only one type of food? I’m here to try out everything, and a small petite bowl is perfect.
 |
| That’s my nephew and brother photo-bombing me |
This TARO puff was really good as well. No matter how thick the outer crust layer may look, it still managed to give a very crispy texture for its multi-layered crust.
Ice cream popiah
The street has this popiah that wraps the icecream inside. It’s only NT35, which is about S$1.50!
It was undoubtedly unique and refreshing.
Cute cartoon shaped 麦芽糖 for S$1 only.
This stall sells the fried squid. Why is it different from the rest is because of the seasonings the stall sprinkle over the fried squid. It taste a little salty but that’s really what that added taste to the normal fried squid.
 |
| NT100 adorable pencil box. I bought the mario one for myself haahha. |
 |
| 九份老街 |
My mum got a bitter-gourd juice and…….. oh my it was awfully bitter.
But it also serves as a drink that reduces heat, especially when all of us are eating so much fried food in Taiwan.
 |
| 九份老街 |
If you see this small humble store, you should stop and grab a few packets! I bought the normal peanut flavour and wasabi flavor, and it’s pretty good! It was so soft that it melts in your mouth. 
Another stall to recommend is this stall that sells beancurd dessert.
They have several kinds of dessert that has to do with bean curd.
This is actually 芋园西米露豆花, Taro and beancurd with sago.
The taro was sweet enough and the bean curd was extremely smooth. Better than Lao Ban bean curd in Singapore!
The other famous eatery is none other than the beef noodles.
A bowl of beef noodles 牛肉面 cost NT100, about S$4.
For such a price, they gave a generous amount of beef meat. The soup is even more authentic as it really taste like broth that has been boiling with the beef meat/bones for a very long time, giving it the taste that is obviously not resulting from MSG, but authentic ingredients.
So hope you’ve liked Jiu Fen 九份老街!
Taiwan has so many good food that I absolutely have not enough time to share them with you!
But nonetheless, next post will be on:
Gao Xiong Liu He Night Market.
This night market has even more good food coming up for you.
Meanwhile, stay hungry! 😉
Previous posts on my Taiwan travelogue:
2. Wu Fen Pu 五分埔 and Raohe Night Market 饒河街觀光夜市
Hui Yan
