It's no secret that I enjoy Taiwanese food, and I wrote here a few times that it started because of a small (now closed) eatery in Makati called Dang Dee. However, my introduction to the cuisine is quite limited to Popcorn Chicken, Taiwanese Sausage, and Fried Pork Chops, usually served with white rice, an egg, and pickled or steamed vegetables.
We went to TJ Fest in Burnaby today, and I got to enjoy all my favourite Taiwanese dishes.
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| Inside Tinjin Temple |
Tianjin Temple in Burnaby organizes annually a festival which showcases their culture with performances and food. It's smaller than the annual Taiwanfest in Downtown Vancouver during Labour Day weekend, but it's less crowded and has better food options.
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| TJ Fest Stage |
They sell many dishes, but we went with what we're familiar with, like the fried pork chop bento box, popcorn chicken bento box, a side of 2x Taiwanese sausage, and Taiwanese pork belly burger. This is our first meal for the day!
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| Popcorn Chicken Bento Box |
The chicken has a crispy, crunchy texture and is tender and juicy. It's savoury, and umami flavour is perfect with soft white rice. The pickled radish is the ideal palate cleanser, so you can take another bite without feeling heavy.
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| Deep-Fried Pork Chop Bento Box |
The deep-fried pork chop is as flavourful and fattier than the chicken popcorn, but it could be more crispy.
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| Taiwanese Pork Belly Burger |
It's folded soft steamed bun filled with a thick slice of braised pork belly, mustard greens, and fresh cilantro. The pork is tender, while the pickled mustard greens add a tangy crunch. It's surprisingly enjoyable.
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Taiwanese Pork Sausage |
Taiwanese Pork Sausage has the perfect balance between sweet and savoury flavour. Surprisingly, it's not as fatty and oily as I expect it to be. The pickled vegetables did help.
After enjoying our meal while enjoying the performances on stage. We walked around to see the different vendors and enjoyed ice cream from one of the food trucks. As soon as we finished our ice cream, we went to Costco nearby.
