Sunday, November 08, 2015

chinese: i strongly recommend QIN JIA BING DIAN


QIN JIA BING DIAN 秦家餅店
No. 12, Lane 6, Siwei Rd.
台北市大安區四維路6巷12號
(02)2705-7255

MRT: ZhongXiao/ DunHua

website: Qin Jia Bing Dian's FB page 

Hours: 11:30AM - 7PM

Visit reviewed: 11/6/2015


I was walking around the lanes behind Renai circle after lunch when I found a little shop that specializes in handmade chinese leek boxes, or  jiu cai he zi, that are cooked on a griddle without oil, as they are typically fried. At first glance when I was peering into the window, I couldn't tell what was in the steamer when the solitary white haired woman lifted the bamboo lid for another customer- they almost looked like handmade tortillas or empanadas- so I had to come in the shop to try it. 


As I was trying to decipher the signs for what the shop was selling, I observed to see what the people in front of me were ordering so I could gauge what was the popular item here. One customer asked the auntie, "what did you make yourself? I  only want to try things you made herself." She mentioned she still personally makes the braised beef as well as the dumplings which you have to preorder. Their Facebook page has a few videos of her inspecting a table full of chinese leeks as well as explaining how to steam one of their frozen items when the customer got home, with a real Taitung rice cooker. 



I've had chinese chive pie or chinese leek box before, but this shop's version is griddled without oil, and is a revelation. The wrapper is supple and chewy, like a doughier pita pocket or handmade naan, while the contents inside are still moist. Some online googling revealed that the secret in the dough is that they use cold water with the flour when making it.

I folded the flat pie in half as advised and demonstrated by the owner when she was packing it for me, so the chopped #chineseleek and glass noodles were bundled on one side. 


The portion is just right for a snack and it's not as greasy as the usual fried #chinesechivepie. I almost devoured the whole thing before remembering to take a photo (NT$45) 





5 comments:

Unknown said...

This place looks great! I don't eat these much anymore due to them being so greasy. But I miss the flavour, so I'll definitely be checking this place out. Ash.

Anonymous said...

My grandma made this kind of chive pie without grease in south Taiwan. I've had the fried kind at restaurants, and it takes what was originally a healthy breakfast or snack food and transforms it into a heavy fast food monstrosity.

Anonymous said...

These chive boxes are made by the most traditional method....I really despise the half-fried one. However, I think that $45 for these chive boxes is quite high. There are a couple of stands in the Tonghua morning market that are only $25 and $30 each and are cooked in the same method and is def worth trying.

Anonymous said...

Are these vegetarian?

Janice Liao Shiao said...

On my top fav things to eat is the chive pockets. Can't wait to visit this place next week!

:)