Let’s dig in on a food tour of Songjiang’s hidden gem: a beloved old-school pork ball stall loved by local office workers

Photos & Text / Scenic Spots Home Liao Weiren
 
Amidst the dense cluster of office buildings and fierce competition among eateries near Xingtian Temple, there lies an unassuming yet bustling old-school snack stall tucked away in a lane off Songjiang Road. Today, we’re taking you and our editor Jing on a taste adventure together!

This nameless snack stall is tucked away after exiting Exit 4 of Xingtian Temple MRT Station—take a right, then another right, walk straight to the second intersection, and make one more right. It’s an unmarked stall with just a small storefront and a simple menu sign.

When our editor Jing arrived, the place was packed with no seats available. The owner even said the pork balls were sold out and the new batch wasn’t ready yet. So we ordered dry noodles, rice vermicelli, and a few side dishes. But halfway through the meal, as soon as we heard the owner announce that the pork balls were ready, we immediately ordered an extra portion—we had to try them. And they did not disappoint: soft yet chewy, bursting with meaty flavor, paired with a sweet sauce that’s not overly salty. Just perfect. At 45 NT for two pieces, our editor Jing thinks it’s totally worth it in Taipei.

The rice vermicelli has a nice texture—just the right bite—with a straightforward but comforting broth, topped with some bean sprouts, scallions, and fried shallots. It’s classic old-school flavor.

The owner swiftly ladled the boiling fine noodles into a bowl, added some sauce, and served it up with flair. But don’t underestimate these simple dry noodles—the secret to their deliciousness lies in every detail: the noodles themselves, the boiling water, and the sauce and scallions. Within minutes, our editor Jing had polished them off.