Heard about the opening of DuDu Rice and NiuNiu Tea at Whampoa Makan Place (i.e. Blk 90 Whampoa Drive) β having opened just earlier this week, the stall is run by a couple; the husband being Taiwanese while his spouse being Korean, which is the reason why this stall serves up both Taiwanese and Korean cuisine on its menu. Their colourful signboard stands out from their neighbours pretty boldly; patrons can expect both Korean and Taiwanese mains and sides here β some examples of the mains being served at DuDu Rice and NiuNiu Tea includes Lu Rou Fan, Taiwanese Mee Sua and the Dakdoritang, whilst side dishes include the Taiwanese Crispy Chicken Cutlet and the QQ Cheesy Tteokbokki.
We were especially intrigued by the Dakdoritang whilst skimming through the menu at DuDu Rice and NiuNiu Tea β perhaps this is being due to the fact that there are more Taiwanese dishes dominating the menu here as opposed to the selection of Korean food available here; also particularly intriguing is how Dakdoritang is one of the items that seems to be rarely found in Korean establishments here, let alone a hawker stall. Dakdoritang is essentially a Korean Spicy Chicken Stew β the Dakdoritang at DuDu Rice and NiuNiu Tea is described to come with root vegetables and rice on the menu. Being cooked to order, there wasnβt too long a wait for the Dakdoritang to be served; in fact, most other hawker dishes may take a longer preparation time in retrospect. Was expecting something similar in terms of flavour profile to the Andong-jjimdak (i.e. Korean Braised Chicken), which was indeed what it seemed to be. That being said, we note that the flavours of the Dakdoritang is significantly less jelak than Andong-jjimdak β whilst Andong-jjimdak is usually flavourful from the reduction of the braised sauce, the Dakdoritang felt like a homely rendition of the same that is lighter to the taste buds, but also carries just a light tinge of spiciness for that extra kick; pretty mild and would work well for those whom have a lower tolerance to spiciness. The chicken is especially tender; the meat doesnβt require much effort to come off from the bones, while the chunks of root vegetables (i.e. carrots and potatoes) that came along are soft to chew on. We especially enjoyed the bed of rice beneath tho; said to be Taiwanese short-grain pearl rice, we really liked that consistency of which it was cooked to β fluffy and sufficiently moist, it absorbed those lightly savoury notes of the Dakdoritang for a good flavour.
One thing we cannot deny about the food at DuDu Rice and NiuNiu Tea is how homely it feels β dine-in patrons are also entitled to complimentary serving of banchan as well; speaks loads on how they strive to serve their patrons well by ensuring that they get their fill. Considering how Whampoa has always been sort of an enclave for local fare, DuDu Rice and NiuNiu Tea is a pretty refreshing change to the norm in this neighbourhood β an interesting option that is surprisingly hearty and comforting to have!
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