Inheriting the legacy of the old shop: Yunlin’s classic-style fresh milk and rock sugar lotus seed soup

Text and photos by /San Gao Eats Chinese

After finishing our meal at Ichiro, just across the street no more than ten meters away, we spotted a light in the darkness—“Shengwen… oh no, it’s Shenglin, right?” Once again, a regret from my previous visit to Beigang was about to be remedied. I’d long heard about their delicious lotus seed soup, so I hurried over to try it~

At first glance, Shenglin looks like any ordinary fast-food joint, nothing particularly special. It seems the original Shenglin location used to be somewhere else, and this one is likely run by the next generation. Either way, they’ve inherited the old shop’s craftsmanship.

I heard their wontons are also quite good, but since I had another stop planned, I only ordered a simple lotus seed soup (NT$30) and a fresh milk lotus seed soup (NT$40). The lotus seeds are cooling and help reduce internal heat—perfect served cold.

To be honest, I’ve never been a big fan of lotus seeds, but my opinion changed today. It turns out that rock sugar lotus seeds, simmered over low heat for a long time, can have such a texture—sort of like well-stewed peanuts… And though the lotus seeds appear whole, they easily melt into a soft, mushy texture in your mouth. Although the initial sweetness is fairly strong, the delicate fragrance of the lotus seeds really shines through. Absolutely delightful !

The version with fresh milk added offers a whole different flavor, and it’s equally amazing—sweet, rich, and creamy. Both are definitely worth trying. The regular lotus seed soup is comparatively lighter and fresher, but personally, I prefer the fresh milk lotus seed soup more~ After the sweet treat, it’s time to dive back into savory dishes and head to the next stop !

P.S. There’s also a Shenglin Snack Shop on the second floor of Taipei’s Nanmen Market. It’s probably also run by descendants of the original Shenglin shop.

Shenglin Food & Beverage
Address: No. 22, Renhe Road, Beigang Town, Yunlin County
Business hours: 11:00 AM–2:30 PM, 4:30 PM–8:00 PM (Closed on Mondays)
 

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