A nostalgic rice ball specialty mini-restaurant — a single rice ball, two ways to enjoy, double the flavor

Text and photos byAhmon

Recently, I heard that Yizhong Street's Yu Meiyu had changed its menu and the prices had gotten much cheaper, so I excitedly went to try it. But to my surprise, it wasn’t open during business hours and had closed before 2:30 in the afternoon. Unable to get in, after some thought, I ended up going to a friend’s place instead. The friend’s eatery is located next to Pingzheng Market — it’s a small restaurant converted from an old house. Just like the previously visited Momo Light Meals, the main dish here is Japanese-style rice balls, along with slushies and drinks. Since it’s an old house, it looks no different from the surrounding residences, and there’s no prominent signboard, so it’s very easy to miss — do keep an eye out.

Walking under the arcade, I took a look at this shop, which gave off the vibe of an old-fashioned candy store from my childhood.

There was even one of those old candy machines — back then you had to insert coins to turn it, and nowadays you might not even see them in the countryside. It really has a nostalgic feel to it.

Business hours are from 11 AM to 8:30 PM, with no breaks, so I guess you could call it a curry shop?

The big blackboard at the entrance, with its large white letters and cute illustrations, makes it clear that this is a rice ball shop — don’t go to the wrong place XD

The dining space inside is only on the first floor. Aside from 2–3 tables and chairs, there are only counter seats. It’s a small-scale operation, so it might be a bit difficult for groups to dine here. Also, the rice balls are made to order, so service can be a bit slower. Free Wi-Fi is available, but you’ll have to ask the owner for the password.

The space inside is a bit small, but the owner has put a lot of effort into creating the ambiance. You can spot all sorts of little decorations around — like this camera, which caught my interest. It looks so cute; I wonder if it can actually take photos. Maybe it’s a film camera?

There’s a cabinet in the store that displays some cultural and creative promotional materials. While waiting for your food, you can flip through them XD

Check in and you’ll get a free iron window sticker printed by the shop — it’s pretty unique, though limited in quantity. I forgot to ask that day if they were all gone.

The second floor is said to be a bridal stylist studio — it’s only open for viewing and you can’t dine there. The decor is very classic and traditional.

Let’s take a look at the MENU !

Rice Balls
There are 4 flavors, each served with a drink. You can swap the drink for another item at a $30 discount. Also, the portion size of the rice balls can be adjusted, which helps avoid leftovers.

Stir-fried Noodles

Desserts

Drinks

Slushies

Salmon flavor $180, Ginger Pork $160
Each flavor of rice ball comes as two pieces — one wrapped in seaweed, and the other soaked in soup. There are also two side dishes to go with it. The owner was really nice; seeing me take photos, he reminded me to eat it while it’s hot to fully enjoy the flavor.

The serving tray is wooden and even engraved with the words “Friend’s Place.” I’m guessing it’s custom-made too — they even put that much care into the tray @@

The rice is shaped into a ball using pressure, then lightly pan-fried to give the surface a slightly golden, crispy char. This adds a layer of texture and a fragrant aroma.

You can eat it wrapped up

Or soak it in the soup
The method of soaking it in soup is somewhat similar to ochazuke (tea-over-rice). The grains absorb the soup and become soft and plump, so don’t soak it for too long or the texture will deteriorate. The broth tastes a bit like bonito or pork bone soup — I forgot to ask the owner that day, but it’s quite delicious and pairs well with the rice balls.

Two small side dishes: curry and blanched vegetables
Both flavors are light, so they complement the fragrance of the rice without overpowering it.

Salmon flavor
The rice ball is filled with minced salmon. It has a slightly salty taste, and the fish meat is fairly tender. The texture of the rice is moist and not dry at all. The fragrance of the rice combined with the aroma of the salmon makes this the best one today.

Ginger Pork Flavor
When you take a big bite, you’ll find an intact slice of pork. However, the ginger flavor isn’t very strong. If you love meat, this option is more satisfying than the others.

Strawberry Slush $120
An upgrade slush made with fresh strawberries and the shop’s homemade jam. It has a lovely pink color that’s very appealing, sweet with a slight tanginess, and tastes much better than fruit tea. There’s also a blackberry slush made with banana and strawberry, but I didn’t dare to try that one XD.

Fruit Tea $130
It’s $10 more expensive than the strawberry slush. Made with the shop’s homemade jam and black tea, you can also eat slices of fruit such as apple and orange. It has a rather sour taste, which I didn’t particularly like.

Overall, the meal performed quite well. Two ways to enjoy one type of rice ball, and the slushes were pretty great too. Eating Japanese rice balls in an old house gives off a nostalgic vibe—it feels totally fitting. However, there are very few seats available, so it’s recommended to make a phone reservation in advance. The above is just my personal opinion for your reference.

Store Name: Friend’s House
Phone: 04-22069984 (Closed on Wednesdays)
Address: No. 80, Taiping Road, North District, Taichung City
Price: À la carte, no service charge
Dining Date: March 2014
 

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Amon Traveling Around Taiwan~Food, travel, photography, outdoor shoots
Walking around with a camera~ snapping photos casually~ unexpected moods