East Lake isn’t just about good-looking guys—it’s also home to an unbranded, ultra-popular dumpling spot!

Text & Photos byOld K

This dumpling shop in East Lake was one I found online last time, and it has great reviews on the web. As a local from Neihu, I was shocked that I’d never heard of it, not even AnTai Street (the place is tucked away in a lane off AnTai Street)! That was a major facepalm moment—I had to go check it out right away.

There it is—another unbranded shop. No sign? Basically means it’s gonna be delicious, no explanation needed XD. Seriously, this place isn’t easy to find. AnTai Street is in the alley across from East Lake Junior High School, and the inner lanes even have one-way streets. Just keep going down Lane 65 and you’ll find it. At first, I wasn’t even sure if it was the right place, so I asked, “Do you sell dumplings?” Once they confirmed they did, I walked right in. I showed up around 2 p.m., so there weren’t many customers.

Looks like they’re making dumpling wrappers or noodles or something in there?

I checked the menu—dumplings at 5 NTD each, which is pretty reasonable. I went with 15. But the small bowl of sour and spicy soup at 50 NTD? A bit steep. Still, I ordered a small one XD. After ordering, I saw a guy next to me eating beef noodle soup—it looked amazing. Should’ve gone with 10 dumplings and beef noodles instead XD.

When I saw the side dishes, of course I had to order some.

The sides and soup came out first.

Braised beef shin (60 NTD), pig skin head (35 NTD)
The color of these braised meats alone told me they’d be good.

The pig skin head was sliced super thin. The skin part was super chewy—almost bouncy—and the meat part was tender yet springy. I stacked a few slices together in one bite, enjoying the different textures. What impressed me most about this pig skin head was how it was chewy but not tough, tender yet with a bit of bite. Paired with a sweet, not salty, sauce, it was seriously delicious.

For those who love spice, you can also dip it in their homemade chili oil—fragrant, slightly numbing, and spicy, a perfect match!

The beef shin was also incredibly tasty. The gelatinous parts were super bouncy, and the beef itself was soft yet firm with a nice bite, without needing too much effort to chew. The flavor was also perfectly braised. You could eat it with the pig skin head too—different textures of bounce, tenderness, and chewiness, like a multi-layered texture symphony. I’m all about this kind of richly varied deliciousness!

Chive dumplings (5 NTD each)
These dumplings were a little smaller in size, but given the price, it’s fine. The wrappers were a bit thicker than ideal, with a soft yet slightly chewy texture—pretty decent dumpling skins overall. I got chive dumplings, and the filling had a relatively high proportion of chives, so the chive flavor was a bit stronger. Naturally, I compared it to Wang Family Dumplings, another popular dumpling spot in East Lake. Wang’s has a higher meat ratio, so someone like me, who prefers more meat, would lean toward Wang’s. But the downside of more meat is that it gets greasy after a while. Since these have more chives, I didn’t feel gross even after eating 15 dumplings!

Small sour and spicy soup (50 NTD)
The moment the sour and spicy soup arrived, I thought, “Not expensive at all”—it came in a huge bowl. The broth was smooth and rich, made with bone stock, with a strong peppercorn flavor. The sourness was just right, and the thickening wasn’t too heavy. It was actually really tasty. The most surprising part? The shredded meat was incredibly soft, tender, and still had bounce—it must’ve been cooked separately. Those meat shreds were so good. My only tiny complaint? This is a massive bowl for one person. I almost couldn’t finish it. Maybe they could offer a smaller portion next time XD.

Old K’s Tips: Who knew East Lake was hiding such a great hidden gem? The dumplings, sides, and soup were all excellent. It’s just a bit hard to find, and it’s far from the MRT station. The alleys are super narrow, so driving isn’t convenient—riding a scooter is better, but prepare to possibly get lost XD. Business hours are long, open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and they don’t close in the afternoon. After eating, you can even stroll over to DaHu Park. How could dumpling lovers miss this?

Old K’s Personal Rating (Out of 10, Higher is Better) (Dumplings Only)

Taste: 8.4
Value: 7
Dining Environment: 5
Price: 7

Old K
Keep eating, Old K!

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