Zhengzong Agei

阿給 “ā gěi” (Ah-Gei), a speciality of Tamsui that consists of a fried tofu that has had the inside emptied out and filled with Green Bean Noodles, is a must-try if one is in the area! It can be found in many places around Tamsui, but three of the most well known places that provide Ah-Gei are the Original Ah-Gei (lǎo diàn ā gěi 老店阿給), the Three Sisters Ah-Gei ( sān zǐmèi ā gěi 三姊妹阿給) and Wenhua Ah-Gei ( Wénhuà ā gěi 文化阿給). They are actually neighbors of each other, all located on the same street, but each store has its own characteristic and method for preparing the dish.

The original creator of the Ah-Gei was the owner of the Original Ah-Gei, and is the shop covered in this article. It was created in 1965, and over these past 50 years, no recipe or ingredient has been changed or adjusted. It is the most authentic Ah-Gei one can find. The surimi, a fish paste mixture that is used to seal the top of the tofu, is combined with a carrot mixture, thus giving it an orange hue and making it more flavorful than the ones found in other locations. The stuffed tofu is then cooked in stewed ground pork and then drizzled in a plain soy-based sauce. Depending on one’s preference, a chili sauce can be added. Having tasted other Ah-Gei’s, the variety here does indeed live up to it’s 50 year history. The overall balance of the Ah-Gei was great. The ratio of the thickness of the tofu to the amount of fillings was just right, and the stewed pork sauce was really well absorbed by the tofu and the Green Bean noodles. It is no wonder that of the many Ah-Gei shops, this is the most famous and most authentic.
The shop also provides a few soups to go with the Ah-Gei, such as the steamed fish ball soup and the tempura combination soup. The most famous choice to go with the Ah-Gei, is usually the steamed fish ball soup or the cold soy milk, which the owner grounds from fresh soy beans every morning.
This Original Ah-Gei stall is located next to two attractions that are most worth visiting when in the Tamsui area: the Aletheia University, a beautiful university that has churches and western influenced architecture, and Fort San Domingo, which is a spectacular Spanish colonial era fortification built in the 1600s. So next time you come to visit, do remember to include all three in your agenda!