Taiwanese-style Goose Dishes: Hong Kong Hong-Shao Goose, Jinshan Goose Shop, Yi Xin Goose Restaurant, Wu's Goose

By Eunice Huang
Translated by Ann Lee

Hong Kong Hong-Shao Goose

(02) 2518-1802
53-4, XingAn St, 1F
Hours: 11 am-8:30 pm
Credit cards not accepted.
No service charge.
MRT: MuZh Line, between NanJing & Chungshan Middle School Station.

A Macau native, Hong Kong Hong-Shao Goose owner Huang Que-ming has been selling barbecued meat for over two decades. Huang knows the difference between charcoal and gas grilled meat and only uses the latter to make his well-liked goose dishes. The popular Grilled Goose (NT$200/small), served with an imported plum sauce, is made with Taiwanese geese that weigh around four kilos. The meat is roasted until the outer skin is crispy and the inside is juicy. Other popular choices on the menu include Crispy Pork (NT$100/small) and Three Treasure Rice (NT$80). The pork dish is made with meat slices and half-a-dozen spices that are roasted for two hours and then topped with a bit of the goose grease, soy sauce, and chili peppers. The rice, which is served with three vegetables, comes with roasted duck, oily chicken and honey-barbecued pork. With affordable prices and a convenient location, Hong-Shao Goose gets a steady flow of customers from nearby office workers nearby, taxi drivers and people living in the neighborhood.

Jinshan Goose Shop

88, JinShan S Rd, Sec 1
(02) 2358-7627
Hours: 11:30 am-11 pm
closed Sundays
Credit cards not accepted.
No service charge.

With more than a decade of experience, Jinshan Goose Shop knows that smoking its geese with brown sugar and other spices creates an irresistible flavor. The geese, which weigh about 4.5 kilos, are delivered daily from Xinwu Township in Taoyuan. The chefs slice the breast meat thinly, so that Jinshan's customers can really taste the tenderness and quality of the birds. A nice chili bean sauce accompanies the meat. One staple dish at the restaurant, the Ban Tiao Rice, is made with goose stock, giving it a great flavor. The dishes here are custom-made and the owner will ask you if you have any special requests, such as less sauce if you like the meat flavor, or a separate bag for sauce and ginger slices if you're going to be eating your take-out the next day. When foreigners visit Jinshan, the owner will go the extra mile and even remove the bones for them. A few of their signature dishes are Marinated Goose Gizzard (NT$70), Sliced Goose Liver (NT$50), and Goose Blood Cake Soup.

Yi Xin Goose Restaurant

98, GuangZhou St
(02) 2306-8838
Hours: 11 am-8:30 pm
Closed 2 days a month－call to find out
Credit cards not accepted.
No service charge.
MRT: BanNan Line, LongShan Temple

Yi Xin Goose Restaurant has been open for over 60 years; the owners have covered three generations in the same family and enjoy a great reputation among those who love to eat geese. They choose only female birds that are about five months old and weigh around 4.5 kilos. Chefs here cut the meat into thin slices and serve it with goose meat soup stock and a five-flavored sauce. Only through meticulous attention to detail can they create dishes like the juicy Salt Water Goose or the traditional Smokey Goose. Goose Meat with Rice Noodle Soup (NT$50) is most popular with tourists from Hong Kong and Japan and the Goose Palm (NT$60) is another signature dish. If you are not keen on the bones, chefs will be happy to remove them for you. Yi Xin has not raised their prices on food for over a decade, which makes favorites like Goose Intestines (NT$60), Goose Gizzard (NT$70), and Smoked Sharks delicious and affordable.

Wu's Goose

2, Alley 4, Lane 345, RenAi Rd, Sec 4
(02) 2771-2756
Hours: 12-10:30 pm
Credit cards not accepted.
No service charge.
MRT: ZhongXiao/DunHua Station, Exit 3

Wu's Goose is known for selling dishes that are cooked without adding any chemical additives. Located in the East District of the city, Wu's has been open for over 20 years, and has established a strong local following. All the goose meat here is cooked with salt water for a truly great flavor. The owner notes, "We only pick female geese that weigh over six kilos, so the meat is tender and sweet." But hurry--the chefs only make a limited amount of goose and then close up shop when they run out. At Wu's, you won't find any hot stir-fry dishes, but you will find favorites like Sliced Goose Plate (NT$130), which is custom-made to your taste and topped with soup stock and tender ginger slices. Goose Palm (NT$35/palm), which can be served hot or cold, is a very popular dish at the Wu's. It comes highly recommended from the nearby hospital's medical staff.