A no-name humble snack shop: 10 NT$ rice balls with timeless flavor

Text and photos byShadow

After enjoying Huang’s pork rice and Grandma’s curry tuna soup, we continued our quest for lesser-known street food along the old street. We noticed that many shops here have been operating for over 60 years, indicating that vendors have gathered in this area since early times. Near the end of the old street, by the temple entrance, we spotted this nameless 10 NT$ rice ball shop. Right across from it is the post office—we wondered if it might be one of those snacks recommended by fellow foodies. Well, since we were there, we decided to give it a try!

It’s a very traditional snack shop that only sells two items. The dining environment inside is quite clean. The owner was curious about us taking photos and kept asking why we were photographing. He’s quite old and hasn’t caught up with the trends—nowadays, most people “feed” their phones or cameras before eating.

Rice Balls – 30 NT$
The shop steams their rice balls, which are similar in size to those from Li’s Rice Balls in Fengshan. Though not quite bite-sized, they’re pretty close. More interestingly, they serve the rice balls on stainless steel plates—which seemed a bit odd—but considering they’re reusable, it’s way better than melamine tableware that may release chemicals when heated.

The rice ball wrappers are quite soft, differing from the typical chewy texture. Topped with a slightly thick sauce and minced garlic, the taste is still quite good.

The filling inside the rice balls seems to be seasoned lightly with five-spice powder. Since the balls are smaller than those from Pingtung and cost the same, you might feel they’re a little pricey.

Skipjack Tuna Ball Soup – 15 NT$
The fish ball soup is made with a bone broth, flavored only with celery bits and pepper. The three small fish balls are tender yet slightly bouncy, with a deliciously sweet and fresh taste—much tastier than the fish balls sold at many other shops.

The owner and his wife are simple country folks. Although we’re not sure how long the shop has been open, some locals say they’ve been eating here since childhood. Having traveled all over Taiwan, we know rice balls vary in preparation and taste by region. Perhaps these rice balls aren’t the best value in our eyes, but for the locals, the childhood taste remains unchanged—a rare treasure. If you ever explore Qiaotou Old Street for its delicacies, be sure to check out this 10 NT$ rice ball shop.

Address: No. 116, Qiaotou Road, Qiaotou District, Kaohsiung City
Business Hours: 07:00–18:00
 

Kaohsiung Food Adventure Blog　Kaohsiung Gourmet Enthusiasts FB Fan Page