Hidden Snacks in Minsheng Community: Spring Rolls, Mixed Meatball Soup, and Cold Noodles

Text & Photos byPaperclip · Culinary Photography Delight

Two consecutive food reviews set in Minsheng Community. The more I visit this place, the more I come to love everything about it—especially when you avoid the bustling noise of Minsheng East Road and wander into the alleys, it’s incredibly relaxing. The section of Minsheng East Road 5th beyond the roundabout, known as Xin Dong Street, almost feels like a small night market. Many snack stalls only set up in the evening, but if you’re looking for lighter flavors here, you might be out of luck. Personally, I really enjoy spring rolls—the portion is just right for a satisfying meal, and because they’re filled with boiled vegetables like cabbage or bean sprouts, they’re not as greasy or heavy as other street snacks.

Near the intersection of Minsheng East Road, there’s also a spring roll stall in the evening. However, I personally don’t care for theirs: the owner adds a lot of crispy egg, making the rolls look big and rolled-up, but for some reason, they just don’t taste very fragrant—they’re just not to my taste.

Later, I stumbled upon another “Jia Xiang Spring Roll Shop” near the alley by Yan Shou Street, right beside Xiao Lin Hair Salon, but I never had the chance to try it. Finally, I got the opportunity to take one to go, and after one bite, I was hooked. Ever since, whenever I pass by during meal times, I’ll pop in for a roll. Most spring roll stands are just that—stalls or carts where you take your food to go. But Jia Xiang also has a few seats where customers can sit down. The first time I ate in, I got the original flavor spring roll paired with a mixed meatball soup combo. I’ve also tried their spicy cold noodles, but compared to those, my favorite is still the original spring roll.

The owner of Jia Xiang is an incredibly kind person who loves chatting with customers. The shop is also kept spotlessly clean, which is very reassuring. After you order, you wait about five minutes while the owner makes your spring roll fresh on the spot.

The spring roll wrappers aren’t overly white—they have a natural light beige color. Their thickness and size are about the same as your average spring roll.

What I love most about Jia Xiang’s spring rolls is how the owner uses a generous amount of cabbage and bean sprouts—they taste naturally sweet and have a nice crunch. I really dislike spring rolls stuffed with too much crispy egg, since fried foods just aren’t as good as veggies.

And in the end, you still get plenty of veggies. Oh, and the owner will ask if you want cilantro added when making the roll. If you like spicy food, you can also ask for extra chili powder—the flavor can be fully customized to your liking.

This is the mixed meatball soup that turns the meal into a combo for an extra 20 NT. It comes in an iron bowl about the size of a rice bowl, with four small meatballs, plus celery, scallions, and pepper—a very simple, traditional old-school flavor. The owner said she was worried that a meatball soup with just one type of meatball would be boring, so she includes three different kinds. She really puts her heart into running her business.

Once, I switched things up and tried the spicy cold noodles. The addition of three slices of char siu pork made it look a bit more substantial than your average cold noodle dish. This char siu is the same as what’s used in the spring rolls—lightly colored, not the unnaturally bright red you often see at other places. Also, the spicy sauce for the noodles is stir-fried by the owner herself, and it has a flavor somewhat similar to XO sauce, though I found it a bit oily by the end. The shredded radish and cucumber are also freshly sliced after you order, which is much more hygienic than the pre-cut kind sitting out.

The portion of noodles is quite generous too. When you’re not feeling very hungry in the summer, this is probably enough for a girl to feel full. Here’s a little tip for eating the spicy cold noodles: you can ask the owner to add a bit of black vinegar and white vinegar—it really enhances the flavor and layers of the dish. This tip didn’t come from me—it’s something the owner herself told me to try. And wow, it really does taste better that way.

So this is what hidden gems are all about. The owner happily tends to her little shop every day, and the customers who come seem to be mostly neighbors. Watching her greet everyone with a smile as they enjoy the spring rolls she made herself—it’s truly a heartwarming sight.

Jia Xiang Spring Roll Shop
Facebook Page
No. 4, Lane 3, Xin Dong Street, Taipei City
0915881588
12:30 PM – 8:00 PM, Closed on Sundays

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