Light Rail's Kaisyuan Jhonghua and Dream Mall Stations Multitude of Local Delicacies／午後漫遊 ─C4凱旋中華站～C5夢時代站
Light Rail's Kaisyuan Jhonghua and Dream Mall Stations Multitude of Local Delicacies
◎English translation: Hou Ya-ting
◎Photos by Lan Ciou-huei
The neighborhood surrounding Kaohsiung's Light Rail station Kaisyuan Jhonghua (C4) is well-known for its variety of eateries. Jiou Jiou Pork Jerky (address: No. 15, Ln. 138, Jhenhua St.,) is located in Cianjhen's Second Public Retail Market. Its specialties include handmade traditional pork jerky and pork floss, which contain no artificial favoring. Cianjhen Street also has a cluster of popular lunchtime eateries, including Cai's Checkered Dried Rice Noodles (address: No. 231, Cianjhen St., Cianjhen Dist.) and Hong Kong-style roasted meats. Another popular eatery is Cianjhen Fired Rice (address: No. 272, Cianjhen St.), which is located near Cianjhen Police Station. Cianjhen Fired Rice uses the popular Taitung, Chihshang Rice. When the rice is fried, it comes out fluffy and golden but not oily.
Visitors are encouraged to try out Kaohsiung's new light rail system in order to get to the Dream Mall Station, where the next recommended restaurant is located. Head toward Duck Village (address: No. 34, Kuojian 1st Rd.), located at the intersection of Chenggong and Kuojian Roads. It has a large customer base and features three types of duck dishes, including shaved roasted duck, stir fried leftover bones and crispy fried leftover bones. Young customers are especially fond of crunchy crispy fried leftover bones. Duck Village is meticulous about its preparation, including cleaning and marinating the ducks, drying them thoroughly and finally roasting them. The succulent roasted duck comes from a marinade of Thai basil, fried ginger slices and a generous sprinkle of pepper and salt. This can also be customized for each customer's taste preference and is best enjoyed with alcoholic beverages.
Cianjhen Night Market is a great place to sample many types of inexpensive tasty local cuisines. These include fried seafood, wet fried eel noodles, squid pottage soup, cuttlefish noodles, stinky tofu, oyster omelets and shaved ice etc. One of its specialties includes a variety of types duck dishes. Its most famous is duck vermicelli which is served in a slightly sweet soup.
Another highlight of Cianjhen Night Market is Chen's Eight Treasure Ice stall, at the intersection between Kuojian Rd. and Chenggong Rd.). This desert restaurant was established 43 years ago. Its ingredients are always very fresh and meticulously prepared. Its signature is a dish with chewy, handmade rice-flour balls. The owner also recommends, A-syue Tofu Pudding next door. A-syue features the great summer treat of iced taro. Another popular desert is Cianjhen's Old QQ Noodles (address: No. 134-2, Cianjhen Lane., Cianjhen District). The famous noodles are much loved by local residents.
There is an abundance of local delicacies to be discovered in Kaohsiung. With Kaohsiung's new Light Rail's Kaisyuan Jhonghua and Dream Mall Stations, it is convenient for visitors to explore the area and provides an opportunity to experience these restaurants and night markets. Take some time to visit this area that is full of culinary delights and sample the local food. It also provides a great chance to get to know local residents and their culture.
午後漫遊 ─C4凱旋中華站～C5夢時代站
◎文．攝影／藍秋惠
輕軌C4凱旋中華站附近，有許多值得探訪之處。前鎮第二公有市場屬於早市，中午過後店家幾乎都打烊了。高雄九九肉干食品隱身市場中，店家希望保留肉乾、肉鬆傳統滋味，每天手工限量製作，不加人工香料，適合作伴手禮。前鎮街有許多傳承已久的老店，如蔡家米苔目、還有許多港式燒臘的店家，是附近居民中午用餐首選。前鎮街派出所旁的前鎮炒飯，店內可以享用當歸熬煮的清湯，炒飯選用台東池上米，顆粒分明的炒飯色澤金黃，飽滿光潤不油膩。
繼續到C5夢時代站，出站就看見夢時代，車水馬龍的馬路旁，倒置的「鹽酥鴨」招牌是鴨家庄，一般北平烤鴨店都是「一鴨兩吃」，採取片鴨加炒鴨骨或鹽酥鴨作法，而老闆娘自豪地說，鴨家庄應該是前鎮區第一家「一鴨三吃」，「一鴨三吃」意指片鴨、骨炒、鹽酥三種料理方式，鴨家庄最特別的是片鴨骨鹽酥作法，把鴨骨拿去炸，營造酥脆口感，可以咬碎品嘗，十分受年輕人歡迎。從鴨肉清洗、醃料、烘乾到現場烘烤，都由店家自己經手，除控管品質，更能依照客人需求調整口味，佐以胡椒鹽、九層塔與炸薑片調味，讓人忍不住一口接一口，非常適合當下酒菜。往前走是農會前規劃整齊的前鎮夜市，有海鮮熱炒、鱔魚麵、魷魚羹、花枝意麵、臭豆腐、蚵仔煎等多樣化的台灣傳統小吃攤位及甜點冰品，不僅平價，店家用料也十分實在。夜市裡還有許多鴨肉料理，像是鴨肉冬粉清爽略帶甜味的湯頭，無論四季都很適合品嘗。
陳家八寶冰是整趟前鎮之旅，最讓人印象深刻的店家，「吃的東西是良心事業！」第一代老闆開店距今43年，堅持備料當天現煮，不用化工原料。純手工製作的糯米湯圓呈四方形，與市面上加糯米粉、機械作成的湯圓截然不同，軟Q富嚼勁。第二代老闆娘熱情地介紹前鎮區日常美食，她推薦攤位旁的阿雪傳統豆花，這攤有販售前鎮常見的冷凍芋，冰涼入口即化的芋頭，相當適合炎炎夏日；而夜市附近的前鎮巷內，則有在地人熟悉的味道─前鎮老店QQ麵，許多前鎮人都是吃這家麵長大的。
透過在地日常美食，感受前鎮人用心而低調的生活態度。當你來到輕軌C4、C5站，不妨放慢腳步，從前鎮周邊日常美食中，重拾味蕾最真實的感動。