Dan Dan Hamburger is a southern Taiwanese fast food chain with locations in Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Pingtung. I was shocked at how much I enjoyed it.
Their menu mostly features fried chicken and fried chicken sandwiches, along with stuff like noodle soup and rice porridge. I got a combo that came with a fried chicken sandwich and a side of noodle soup.
The experience was the polar opposite of my recent visit to McDonald’s, which couldn’t have been more grim. Everything was so good — it was easily one of the best fast food meals I’ve ever had.
The fried chicken sandwich was outstanding. The crunchy exterior was ridiculously satisfying — the texture was perfect and the seasoning was just right. And the meat itself (dark meat, of course) was profoundly juicy. It was so damn good.
The dressing was tangy and a little bit spicy, and the bun was soft and fresh. It was one of the better fried chicken sandwiches I’ve had in a while.
The soup was quite tasty, too. It was quite similar to a street food dish I had in Taipei. The broth was sweet and a little bit fishy, and was thickened just enough to give it heft, but without it ever feeling overly thick or sludgy. The chunks on top were some kind of fish cake, and they complimented the soup quite well.
It even comes with a little packet of chili sauce; a nice touch.
I’m honestly a little bit bummed that I discovered this place with so little time left in Taiwan. It’s great.
Location: No. 224號, Qixian 2nd Road, Qianjin District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 801
How to find it: There’s no English on the sign, but look for their mascot, a cartoon pelican wearing a hat.