Bitan residents concerned, cautiously optimistic as controversial stinky tofu shop move

Bitan residents concerned, cautiously optimistic as controversial stinky tofu shop move

2026-04-23

Over a year ago, a famous stinky tofu restaurant from Hualien opened a location in Taipei’s Dazhi, eliciting complaints from nearby residents who said the smell was unbearable. It was repeatedly reported to authorities and one person even said they were losing their hair from the stress. Now the shop seems to be opening another location in New Taipei’s Bitan, with residents taking note of the sign already hung outside. Some are concerned about the stench, but other shopkeepers are hopeful that having a famous restaurant in Bitan could bring the crowds back.

Yang Ssu-min
FTV reporter
People love to come here to Bitan for its beautiful natural scenery and fresh air. But that peace was broken recently by a sign that went up for a restaurant from Hualien infamous for its stinky tofu.

Just seeing the sign has sparked intense debate. That’s because the residents near its other location in Dazhi couldn’t stand the smell, with one person even claiming they were going bald because of the stress. The residents filed over 100 complaints with the city, resulting in NT$580,000 in fines.

Member of public
Stinky tofu is naturally smelly. Those who like it, like it. Those who don’t, don’t.

Member of public
It isn’t that close to any homes. The smell might not reach them.

Member of public
I think it’ll be really difficult for the people living around here. For those who don’t live nearby, they’ll just think it’s nice to have another option.

Some people are worried about the smell, but others say it won’t be a problem since it’s a standalone building next to the bridge and far away from residences. At the moment, the shop is still under renovation, with construction materials and large ventilation pipes propped up by the entrance.

Neighboring business owner
There’s been pretty active construction across the street. They’ll likely put in ventilation, since the nearby businesses like us and neighbors will complain. But a new business coming in could attract more visitors.

Neighboring business owner
No one’s been there for a while. Over the past 10 years it’s changed owners a bunch of times. Even when the landlord tried running it, it didn’t go well. It closed pretty quickly. It’s too expensive. The rent is at least NT$100,000.

Nearby shop owners say that the crowds in Bitan aren’t what they used to be, while rents are also expensive. The building has gone through four or five owners, but none could sustain the business. It remains to be seen whether this well-known stinky tofu shop will be able to bring in the crowds, or just a chorus of complaints from the neighbors.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#stinkytofu #Bitan #stinky #NewTaipei #conflict #restaurant #smellcomplaint #newbusiness #streetfood

曾臭到住戶拔光頭髮“臭豆腐名店插旗碧潭"部分居民憂心

2026-04-23

花蓮知名臭豆腐店在一年多前，在台北大直開店，引發居民抱怨，臭得嚇人，照三餐檢舉，還有人焦慮到拔光頭髮。最近就有網友發現，疑似在新北碧潭要開新分店，已掛出招牌，引起熱議，有的人擔心臭氣熏天，但也有店家認為，名店進駐，或許能為碧潭帶來人潮。

[[民視記者楊思敏]]
“許多人來到碧潭，喜歡感受一下美麗的風景和清新的空氣，不過最近有人發現，花蓮那家臭到有名的臭豆腐店，即將進駐，引起熱烈討論”

只是掛出招牌，就引發熱議。因為之前大直店，附近居民無法忍受臭味，甚至有人焦慮到快拔光頭髮，鄰居檢舉了上百次，最終環保局開罰58萬元。

[[民眾]]
“臭豆腐本來就很臭，喜歡的人喜歡，不喜歡的人就是不喜歡”

[[民眾]]
“這邊離住宅不是很近，味道可能吹不到”

[[民眾]]
“我相信附近住戶，應該是很困擾，對於不是住附近的，可能覺得說，有多一個小吃可以吃”

有的擔心很臭，也有人認為，碧潭店是獨立一棟，位在吊橋旁，與其他住家有段距離，臭氣應該散的掉。目前臭豆腐店還在裝修，門口有施工材料和大型通風管。

[[附近店家]]
“對面最近有在施工，還蠻積極的，應該是會做排風，因為我們附近的店，住戶也會反應嘛，有新的店家進駐進來，其實也是可以刺激買氣觀光”

[[附近店家]]
“現在都一直沒有人，(10年)換了好幾個老闆了，連屋主自己做都不好，沒有多久就倒下去，太貴了，(租金)至少10萬以上”

附近店家透露，因為碧潭人潮不如以往，租金又貴，原本同個位置開的餐廳，換過4、5個老闆，生意都做不起來。就看臭豆腐名店進駐，是會帶來人潮和錢潮，還是居民的抱怨聲。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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Kaohsiung library renovations reveal Japanese-era township office

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Chen Kun-yi
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Lin Chih-hung
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Our priority at this stage is the seismic strengthening work. Once the building is completed, it will continue to function as a library. We will also work together to continue promoting local historical and cultural initiatives.

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Member of public
Would keep going
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Member of public
Would go around
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This road next to the highway in Toucheng really tests drivers’ skills. The driver who took the video was on their way to a famous scallion pancake shop when they took the wrong exit off the highway, taking the right ramp instead of the left. Their GPS sent them down this 3-meter-wide road, with a wall on one side and field on the other.

Member of public
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What makes this year even more special is that we made a prop after newspaper job ads. Good thing that chimpanzees are illiterate. If they were and could understand the job ads, we’re afraid they might all want to quit.

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