Jingan food pick | 我們與雞肉飯的距離: design-conscious chicken rice for dinner or late-night eating
There is no shortage of food around Zhonghe and Yonghe, and if you often look for meals near Jingan, it is hard to miss the memorably named 我們與雞肉飯的距離 (Women Yu Ji Rou Fan De Ju Li). It is about a 5-minute walk from Jingan, next door to Bao Ma Gan Ban Mian, and has become one of the much-discussed chicken-rice spots around the station.
The menu centers on chicken rice, soups, blanched greens and side dishes, and the shop stays open until 11 at night, useful for people who finish work late. If you need dinner in Zhonghe, late-night food near Jingan, or a bowl of chicken rice with fried-shallot aroma and a full set of sides, it is worth keeping in mind.
Location and getting there
我們與雞肉飯的距離 is near Jingan in Zhonghe, about a 5-minute walk from the station. Jingan is served by both the Zhonghe-Xinlu Line and Circular Line, so transport is convenient and the surrounding neighborhood has plenty of everyday amenities.
There are many small restaurants nearby, and dinner time brings a clear flow of people. It feels like a classic everyday Zhonghe food neighborhood. If you arrive by metro, you can also walk around Jingan afterward or continue toward Nanshijiao or Yongan Market for more food.
Inside and atmosphere
The storefront looks fresh and slightly design-conscious, not much like a traditional chicken-rice stall at first glance. The visual style is clean and simple, very different from an old-school chicken-rice shop, which is one reason it catches attention online.
The inside, however, is small, with about 7～8 tables and limited seats. If a seat is free, sit down before ordering; when full, wait for staff to arrange one. Lines are common at meal times, especially dinner, with both dine-in and takeaway traffic.
There is a side-dish case beside the counter, so check the day’s braised egg, bamboo shoots, tofu and other options while ordering. Free unsweetened iced black tea is also available, a small bonus if you like a drink with rice.
After ordering you receive a slip. Wait for your number, then collect the food yourself at the counter. The flow is simple and closer to a self-service snack shop.
Menu and ordering
Chicken rice is naturally the main event, with the most talked-about version called “Girlfriend Chicken Rice.” Along with the chicken and rice, it comes with tofu, vegetables and egg, making it look more complete than a plain bowl.
Soups, blanched greens and small dishes can also be added. Prices are not especially low; the total for a full meal is higher than at a typical traditional snack shop, though the portions and side-dish completeness are also more substantial.
For a first visit, if you do not want to think too hard, simply order Girlfriend Chicken Rice with either Milkfish Ball Soup or Blanched Greens for a complete meal.
Girlfriend Chicken Rice NT$95
Girlfriend Chicken Rice is one of the signatures and a commonly recommended online item. Even the name is memorable. If you do not have a girlfriend, at least you can still order a bowl of Girlfriend Chicken Rice and give lunch or dinner a little emotional consolation.
When it arrives, the bowl looks generous. Along with chicken rice there is tofu, some vegetables and an egg. Visually it feels much more substantial than a plain bowl, and the portion is genuinely filling rather than leaving you hungry afterward.
Shredded chicken sits on hot rice with a clear fried-shallot aroma. Once mixed, the chicken, shallots and rice come together, giving each bite a savory-sweet fragrance. The chicken stays tender rather than dry and works smoothly with steaming rice, the kind of simple flavor that keeps you taking another bite.
The tofu is seasoned lightly. If you prefer stronger flavors, add more seasoning yourself. The cabbage is simply blanched and topped with soy sauce, mainly adding some vegetables so the bowl is not only meat and rice.
The more disappointing part this time was the egg. I expected a runny center after cutting it open, but the yolk was relatively solid, falling short of the soft-centered egg I had imagined. It still tasted fine with rice, but judged as a “lava soft-boiled egg,” it lacked some surprise.
Overall, the core of Girlfriend Chicken Rice works well: enough aroma, complete sides and good satisfaction. If the soft-boiled egg were more consistent, the bowl would be even more memorable.
Milkfish Ball Soup NT$45
Milkfish Ball Soup is an easy pairing with chicken rice. Chopped celery adds a fresh aroma and helps balance the fried-shallot fragrance of the rice.
The fish balls have good springiness without much fishiness, a safe and dependable supporting dish. A bowl of soup makes the whole meal feel more complete than eating chicken rice alone, especially at dinner or in cooler weather.
Blanched Greens NT$40
The blanched vegetable depends on what is bought that day and may be cabbage, romaine-like lettuce or sweet-potato leaves. This time it was romaine-like lettuce, topped with fried-shallot sauce.
The fried-shallot aroma here really stands out: crisp and savory without becoming overly greasy, giving the simple blanched greens much more flavor. The vegetables themselves stay fresh and crunchy, helping the meal feel more balanced. After all, a meal of only meat and rice always feels as if it is missing the reassurance of some greens.
Who it suits
我們與雞肉飯的距離 suits people looking for food near Jingan, meals in Zhonghe, dinner or late-night food around the station. It is especially practical for people getting off work late who do not want something too greasy but still want a filling bowl of hot rice.
It also suits people who like slightly design-conscious snack shops. It is neither as plain as a traditional chicken-rice old shop nor purely an Instagram-style café: it sits between the two, with a clean storefront and food that genuinely fills you up.
If price matters a lot, though, a full meal here does cost more than at an average chicken-rice snack shop. Start with the signature chicken rice, then add soup or greens according to your appetite.
Shop information
我們與雞肉飯的距離
Address: near Jingan in Zhonghe
Getting there: about a 5-minute walk from Jingan
Hours: open until 11 at night
Afterthoughts
There is a reason 我們與雞肉飯的距離 became popular. It gives familiar chicken rice a clearer identity through the fresh-looking shop, complete meal setup and appealing fried-shallot aroma. Girlfriend Chicken Rice is filling, and the savory-sweet mix of shredded chicken and white rice is uncomplicated but very easy to finish.
The main disappointment this time was the firmer-than-expected soft-boiled egg, which did not match the “lava egg” image. The overall meal is also not especially cheap. Still, for food around Jingan, the convenient transport, opening until 11 at night and consistently solid dishes make it useful for both Zhonghe dinner and late-night lists.
If you happen to be walking around Jingan and want somewhere clean, distinctive and filling, try this much-discussed chicken rice. On a first visit, Girlfriend Chicken Rice plus a soup or blanched greens makes the meal more complete and satisfying.
