Zhu Zhu Zai 猪猪仔 (Chinatown)

If you walk around the Chinatown Complex food stalls, you probably found this Taiwanese food stalls at the another side of this food centre.

Zhu Zhu Zai is one that serves affordable Taiwanese foods. Their braised pork rice comes with delicious and tasty braised pork that tastes more locally, as compared to those you find in Taiwan.

I added tau pok ($1) and cabbage ($1.50). They used pearl rice. The portion was also big and value for money. The lu rou was fragrant and not too salty. I would recommend to try this! The price is also very affordable.

Was scrolling through social media some time back and came to know about Zhu Zhu Zai 猪猪仔’s opening at Chinatown Complex Food Centre. Zhu Zhu Zai is a name that first started off as a home-based business; the brand having first started off as Taste of Memories which serves up a variety of cuisines, though was re-branded to Zhu Zhu Zai with a focus on serving up braised pork dishes instead. Zhu Zhu Zai is located at the green zone of Chinatown Complex Food Centre; the previously more “secluded” zone in the food centre had recently become a little more buzzy of the late, considering how there are a number of new stalls such as Jiakali and Sandakan Food 山打根美食 which had recently moved into the stall units within the zone. This is their first time venturing into a brick-and-mortar operation; the facade of the stall unit is one that is more associated to that of stalls that are run by hawkerpreneurs rather than that of old-school hawkers — the signboard being one that features geometrical designs with the use of black and white, as well as gold for its logo in the middle which is pretty eye-catching. One can also find planks of wood etched with some of the names of the menu offerings alongside the price hanging from the top of the stall; otherwise, the stall does have a rather simple set-up overall. Zhu Zhu Zai mentions on their social media pages that their braised pork dishes are home-style; done specifically in their own way and is not based on a specific style that is in accordance to a particular country or dialect group. Food items in the menu of Zhu Zhu Zai includes rice bowls such as the Braised Pork Rice and the Braised Pork Belly Rice, as well as a couple of items listed in the Signatures section which comprises of meat-only dishes such as Braised Pork Jowl and Braised Pork Knuckle — just to name a few. Daily Specials includes a Soup of the Day and Fried Nan Ru Pork, while there are also a number of Side Dishes being offered as well.

Since we visited Zhu Zhu Zai on a weekday during lunch hours, we were looking for an item that comes default with rice — this pretty much left us with the option of either going for the Braised Pork Rice or the Braised Pork Belly Rice that are both listed in the “Mains” section of the menu; we went for the latter, which was being described as “Braised thick sliced pork belly served with pickled cucumbers over Taiwan Pearl Rice” on the menu. It is noted that the Braised Pork Belly Rice is pretty plain Jane by default if no sides are being opted to go along with it — it simply features the rice and the braised pork belly rice, and is priced at $4.50. For us, we had decided to opt for one side — this would be the Seasoned Molten Egg, while they were also giving a free Side with an order of a Main as part of their opening promotion during the period where we made our visit. This other side which we had opted for would by the Stewed Cabbage. The items on the plate are carefully plated by the owner before being served up, which includes the slicing of the Seasoned Marinated Egg at the point of ordering.

Digging in to the Braised Pork Belly first, we really like the consistency and flavours here; the Braised Pork Belly was all melt-in-the-mouth tender and gelatinous especially around the areas where the fatty parts are. The meat had also pretty absorbed the flavours of the braising liquid; absolutely savoury and comes with no undesirable porky stench. The Taiwan pearl rice was fluffy and slightly sticky; this was drenched with a little bit of the braised liquid that the braised pork belly was prepared with and it turns out that the braised liquid here is actually rather light to the palate — provides a good contrast against the heavier notes from the braised pork belly. There was also a distinct garlicky note that seems to have come along with the braising liquid; this kept things fairly easy to eat for this particular bowl of Braised Pork Belly Rice — a balance of light and heavier-tasting elements that did not make the dish appear too flat where flavour is of concern.

The Stewed Cabbage was definitely well-executed — a Side which we definitely will recommend as an add-on to the rice bowl dishes here since the rice bowls only comes with the braised pork / braised pork belly and the rice by default; the Stewed Cabbage also comes with other ingredients like black fungus and carrots, and was a very homey dish that is sufficiently moist, slightly sweet and comes with a soft bite having been stewed for long enough. The Seasoned Molten Egg is actually marinated soy sauce for a savoury note; does come with a creamy egg yolk typical of Hanjuku Ajitama that one can find being served with Japanese Ramen. Overall, Zhu Zhu Zai does seem to be a spot where the folks know their stuff; despite being a braised pork dish with no distinct roots to any classic variant, they have managed to impress with how incredibly comforting and homey their offerings are — this is also not forgetting how they keep things affordable for their Mains with the two items listed in the section being priced under $5 to suit the demographics of those who dine at Chinatown Complex Food Centre. Yet another stall which we would consider dining at again when we are around Chinatown Complex Food Centre!