Super-popular unnamed snack shop serving golden pan-fried dumplings with fresh daily pork filling

Text and photos byXiao Sheng

This humble pan-fried dumpling shop on Nan Yuan Street in North District, Tainan, has no official name but enjoys widespread fame for its dumplings. Their thick, generous portions with rich flavors leave a lasting impression.

The Nan Yuan Street pan-fried dumpling shop is located at the entrance of Lane 162, where Nan Yuan Street meets itself. Though tucked away in a quiet alley, it still draws a steady stream of customers. The menu is simple—just pan-fried dumplings, boiled dumplings, and spicy sour soup. The shop prides itself on using only the freshest pork of the day, never leftovers. I believe this commitment to freshness is the secret behind their delicious dumplings.

The shop also has seating for dine-in, though when I visited on a weekday afternoon after peak dining hours, there were fewer people. Still, I spotted others coming to Nan Yuan Street to enjoy these famous dumplings. Just tell the auntie how many dumplings or boiled dumplings you want, take a seat, and before long, the fragrant, delicious pan-fried dumplings arrive at your table.

Since my appetite was limited, I only ordered six pan-fried dumplings and a bowl of spicy sour soup to try. The bottoms of the dumplings were fried to a golden crisp, making them look irresistibly crunchy.

Pan-fried Dumplings (NT$6 each)The price used to be just NT$5, but it’s now NT$6. However, with everything getting more expensive these days, I’d rather pay a bit more than see the shop cut corners or use questionable ingredients to save costs.

The dumplings are decently sized, with incredibly generous fillings. The fresh pork used that day was flavorful, and with each bite, juicy meat dripped out—a truly delightful experience. The golden, slightly crispy fried exterior was also wonderfully crunchy, making the combination of crispy outside and juicy inside absolutely irresistible.

Spicy Sour Soup (NT$25)The price of the spicy sour soup is about average, but the portion size is incredibly satisfying—I was surprised by just how much was in the bowl.

In the past, I’ve had spicy sour soups with very sparse ingredients, and I assumed this one would be the same, just served in a bigger bowl. But when I ladled it up, it was packed with meat strips, shredded bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, and carrots. The flavor was excellent too. Getting such a generously filled, reasonably priced spicy sour soup at this pan-fried dumpling shop was fantastic.

The pan-fried dumplings at Nan Yuan Street are truly excellent. I’ve had more well-known dumplings in East District before, but friends said they’ve lost their original flavor. This time, I found another shop that won me over even more. Whenever I’m craving pan-fried dumplings, I find myself coming back here from time to time.
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Nan Yuan Street Pan-fried Dumplings
Address: No. 160, Nan Yuan Street, North District, Tainan City
Business Hours: 10:30 AM–5:00 PM (Closed on Sundays)
Phone: (06)2346668

Xiao Sheng’s Wandering Journey
Every journey, every trip is a quest—though I’m not always sure what I’m searching for, what I gain in the end often exceeds my expectations. And so, my wandering journey will continue unabated.