Fu Tai Shandong Steamed Dumpling King福大山東蒸餃大王, Taipei
Hot and Sour soup is about personal preference, as is food. We, each, like to believe that we maintain some sort of high respectable palette when it comes to food.Yet, society, friends, or other food bloggers, will come to some sort of a consensus about a standard of quality that is commonly accepted.
This brings use to Fu Tai. (Almost) Universally accepted to have the best hot and sour soup around. Whilst, with the name inclusive of their steam dumplings, they are arguably more known for this soup. My friend would have two, sometimes, three bowls of their soup, in one sitting. Then would go on to bring four more orders home to have later. Friends would would be calling in, to have them bring more orders back.
The front of the shop, with their small kitchen features the noodle making and the soup cauldrons. Then just a few feet away, a small band is producing these hand made and fresh dumplings, only to be steamed immediately. Once inside the small restaurant, the slurping sounds are heard all around, while others stand around waiting for a stool to open on the shared commune tables.
With my order on the way, I waited patiently and even decided to try their steam dumplings and noodles. The dumplings, looking like large water ones, is full of pork and vegetables. The Chinese version of a Pirogi, these dumplings need soy sauce and little hot sauce. Mild in initial flavor, the soy sauce enhances the profiles. Best while hot, these little goodies, could be meal in itself – one bamboo steamer per person. The noodle, Za Jiang Mein (炸酱面), I had, were the simple dry ones, with ground pork and tofu. Dry meaning without soup. I prefer these type of noodles, since I know the soup ones are too hot for me. The noodle texture was actually really good. Not to chewy – undercooked, and not too soft – overcooked. The pork and tofu sauce, with the right amount, is a common theme.
And lastly we have the soup – the Hot & Sour Soup ( 酸辣湯). This particular soup is different from the Chinese one, in a couple of ways. First, the color of this soup is much lighter. This subtle difference paints the story of the dark murky soups that scare kids away. This style features a thick mixture with tofu, sprouts, all in thick dark brown soup. This Fu Tai version – lighter, can be tasted with this lightness. The traditional one is spicier and sour at the same time. Flavors don’t jump out, but its bold heartiness does. While not as hearty, this one has all the flavor and more than you didn’t know about – in Hot & Sour soups. You can taste the tofu, the bamboo shoots, and even the mushrooms. Heck, I never knew about these flavors before.
If you want a soup that hearty and spicy and without lots of flavor, then don’t come here. If you want taste the nuances of a hot & sour soup for a little over 2 US bucks a bowl, then come here.
What to Order: Hot & Sour Soup What not to Order: Maybe everything else on the menu. But all kidding aside, the steam dumplings and noodles are good, too.
Rating 2 Pigs NT$
