Delicacies at the Changhua Market: Fragrant grilled corn, classic tofu pudding, and Dongshan duck heads

Text & Photos /San Gao Eats Han

Leaving Changhua City marks a fresh start. In the past, my visits to Yuanlin were mainly about buying chicken claw jelly, but this time I decided to "stay overnight," and that evening I explored the night market near the First Market.

The First Market is open from morning till night, making it a great local spot for food. By evening, the surrounding area is lined with stalls, including several I had read about online before my trip—like Tsung Fu La Za Mian, Horseshoe Shell Fried Oyster Noodles, Nanmen BBQ, and Asia BBQ, among others. But my stomach had its limits—I started with a big portion of roast goose, then could only manage a bowl of tofu pudding before picking up some Dongshan duck heads and walking a bit further to get some classic grilled corn.

There are two Wang Lai Tofu Pudding shops nearby. The one I went to is closer to the First Market, more like a small stall run by young people. I only discovered the larger storefront when I later went to buy grilled corn.

I only ordered the cold peanut tofu pudding, topped with a chunk of crushed ice and drizzled with classic sweet syrup. The crushed ice was fine and fluffy, and together with the peanuts and tofu pudding, each element had its own smooth texture—pretty nice~

There are several Dongshan duck head stalls in the area. Since the one next to Wang Lai, “A A Duck Heads,” had a lot of customers, I chose it, thinking that if so many people were buying it, there must be a reason it’s tasty.

When I was picking out the ingredients, I noticed that a few items were already sold out. The selection wasn’t huge~ I got fish balls, dried tofu, duck skin, duck tongue, and one duck head.

I don’t know why the boss was so thoughtful, but they packed it in a paper box for me. Usually, Dongshan duck heads come in a paper bag, right?

As for what’s special about it—if I’m being honest, I couldn’t quite put my finger on it after eating it back at the hotel. Overall, it was delicious—slightly sweet but not overly rich, quite fragrant and not greasy.

I liked the chewy duck skin, the irregularly halved dried tofu and fish balls were good too, though the duck head’s beak wasn’t very crispy. Maybe it had been sitting for a while before I ate it.


I turned from Zhongzheng Road onto Nanchang Road to get my grilled corn. On the way, I passed Yuanlin Film City, which has a strong old-time vibe. Not far next door is Lu Rou Bing. This trip to Yuanlin wasn’t for their pork rice~

After walking a little further, I reached the Super Ji Classic Charcoal Grilled Corn stall. The air was filled with the aroma of charcoal-grilled corn and sauce—it was really tempting. In front of the stall, there were pre-roasted corn cobs for you to choose from and weigh. The one I picked cost 65 NT~

Then came a wait of about 5–10 minutes while the boss grilled the corn. During grilling, any blackened parts on the surface are brushed off with an iron brush, and the brushed areas absorb the sauce even better—so waiting there was seriously aromatic...

The Super Ji charcoal grilled corn was a hit with both of us. Back at the hotel, as soon as we opened the bag, the super fragrant smell hit us. The slightly spicy, thick sauce had soaked right in, and paired with the mildly firm yet chewy corn kernels—it was so moreish !

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Wang Lai Traditional Tofu Pudding
Address: No. 340, Zhongzheng Road, Yuanlin Town, Changhua County
Business Hours: 4:30 PM – 12:30 AM

A A Duck Heads
Address: Next to No. 340, Zhongzheng Road, Yuanlin Town, Changhua County
Super Ji Classic Charcoal Grilled Corn (Former Zhongzheng Post Office Corn Stall)
Address: No. 5, Lane 41, Nanchang Road, Yuanlin Town, Changhua County
Business Hours: 2:00 PM – 12:00 AM
 

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