Fukuro: Lu Rou Noodles Down a Taiwanese Alley, Loaded With Braised Pork | Yokohama Chinatown

Hi everyone, it's Boss.

Braised pork, well soaked in flavour, piled on. Today it's Fukuro on Tainan Alley, and their lu rou noodles.

Taiwan's soul food is actually the rice version

When people talk about Taiwanese soul food they mean lu rou fan — minced pork braised sweet and savoury, spooned over white rice.

Here, that same pork goes on noodles instead.

I looked into it, and there actually isn't a dish called "lu rou noodles" in Taiwan. The way of eating exists, but over there it's called rou zao mian. It's the lu rou fan pork served over noodles — the difference is simply the bowl. In Tainan it's usually served dry, without broth.

The pork comes in chunks

The pork first. The flavour has properly gone into it. Rather than fine mince, it arrives in chunks.

On top of that, crisp bean sprouts and garlic chives. They work with the pork.

The noodles are thin. Eating it, it's close to danzai noodles.

Danzai noodles carry the same braised pork, but there the prawn stock is the main event and the bowl is tiny — a couple of mouthfuls. This is a different thing, and it's a proper meal.

Deep in Tainan Alley

It's on Tainan Alley — a narrow lane lined with Taiwanese flags, quite far into Chinatown.

Walk under the red lanterns and you'll see a wooden sign. Inside, the walls are covered in handwritten menus.

On the wall I spotted dry lu rou noodles, Taiwanese mixed noodles and chicken rice. Those are for next time.

Apparently there's an owl

They're said to keep a live owl here. His name is Fuku-chan.

I didn't get to meet him. Apparently he sleeps about twenty hours a day, so he was probably asleep. The restaurant's name came first, and the owl followed — the name means "bringing good fortune."

Next time I'll go while he's awake.

Before you go

🔴Cash only. No cards, no electronic payment.

The weekday lunch is 800 yen and comes with a dim sum item. There's no lunch service at weekends or on public holidays.

Watch the video

Fukuro is a short walk from ROUROU. If you're stopping by our shop, give it a try.

The videos are on Instagram @y.chinatown_boss and YouTube @bossmeshi.

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