Pork Overload at Fushi Co.

Pork Overload at Fushi Co.
Location
: 4186 Finch Avenue East, Scarborough
Website: https://fushi.co/

Fushi Co. mostly caught my eye thanks to the photos of the pork and rice they have posted in the window of their restaurant, which reminded me a lot of a mind-blowing pork dish I had in Taipei.  That was back in 2019, and I still occasionally think about it.  I’ll be sitting there minding my own business, and boom, I’m thinking about that pork.  It was magical.

Pork Overload at Fushi Co.

The dish I had here was a bit more deluxe — I could have had the one which just comes with braised pork knuckle, which I believe would have pretty much been identical to the one from Taiwan.  But the “Signature Four Happiness Pork” comes with pork knuckle, pork belly, a bone with a decent amount of meat attached, and intestines.  Why yes, I would like all the pork.

Pork Overload at Fushi Co.

Is it too much pork?  I think it’s too much pork.  Certainly, it’s more pork than any reasonable person should eat in one sitting.  But did I eat it all?  You bet I did.  Did I feel good about it after?  I sure didn’t!

Pork Overload at Fushi Co.

It’s quite tasty.  All the pork is reasonably tender (even the intestine, which has none of the chewiness or gaminess you might expect), and the deeply savoury flavour is very satisfying.  I wish there had been some kind of hot sauce or chili oil to kick things up, but such is life.

Pork Overload at Fushi Co.

It’s not even remotely as good as the Taiwanese pork of my dreams (that was legitimately one of the best things I’ve ever eaten), but it’s still an enjoyable dish.  Plus, at 15 bucks for enough rice and meat to comfortably feed two, it’s a great deal.

Satisfying Eats at Running Pig

Running PigLocation: 3636 Steeles Avenue East, Markham
Website: None

Running Pig is a no-frills take-out joint that serves various meat options and veggies on top of rice.  It’s not the best thing you’ll ever eat, but it’s a hefty amount of meat and rice for $7.50; it’s hard to go wrong there.

Running Pig

I got the pork knuckle bento, which comes with a generous pile of pork knuckles (one is missing from my photo — I dug right in then realized I forgot to take a picture), a hard-boiled egg, tofu skin, and a variety of veggies on rice.

Pork knuckles can be mostly collagen without a whole lot of meat (particularly the way they’re cut here); if it’s not properly rendered, it’s going to be rubbery.  And while these were mostly okay, they definitely could have braised for a little bit longer.

Running Pig

The various veggies and tofu were all tasty enough, and combined with the rice, it makes for a solid meal.  Nothing here particularly stands out, but it’s cheap, quick, and satisfying.  Sometimes that’s enough.