Night Market Snacks in Kaohsiung — Mini Soup Dumplings Bursting with Juice into a Whole Spoon

Text and photos byShadow

There are many delicious snacks at the well-known Ziqiang Night Market in Kaohsiung, such as Nanfeng Braised Pork Rice, White Sugar | Jun⑺? Quepozi, Lüyin Xianjiao, and Dianwei Yuxianggu, among others. And yet, it’s not just these that stand out — the mini shop run by Shao, famous for his Shanghai Soup Dumplings, is also not to be missed. During the day and evening rush, the place gets packed. We’ve even written about it online before, which shows just how appealing Master Shao’s Shanghai Soup Dumplings are.

It was quite a surprise to see how simple the shop’s equipment was — the tiny steamer baskets showed no signs of rising steam, seemingly only steaming the dumplings when ordered. Even so, the boss worked very efficiently and didn’t keep customers waiting too long.

In addition to their signature Shanghai Soup Dumplings, the shop also offers highly recommended thin-skinned pan-fried dumplings, and their stinky tofu pan-fried buns have a unique flavor — we just had to give them a try. Though the menu isn’t extensive, all the items are bestsellers, and you can enjoy them all for just pocket change.

Thin-skinned pan-fried dumplings are made by pan-frying raw soup dumplings until they turn golden brown. The shop’s dumplings are very small and adorable, much more miniature than regular soup dumplings.

The boss hands us a small dish with shredded ginger, and we can add soy sauce or vinegar to taste.

Spicy and Sour Soup — 10 TWD

This shop sells a bowl of spicy and sour soup for just ten TWD, which is really cheap. It’s packed with plenty of shredded bamboo shoots and tofu cubes. Shadow thought the soup had just the right level of acidity and didn’t need any extra seasoning.

Thin-skinned Pan-fried Dumplings — 60 TWD / 10 pieces

The raw soup dumplings are pan-fried, possibly with some batter drizzled on the bottom of the pan to create a crispy layer. Once cooked, they’re sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds, adding a nutty aroma to the plump little dumplings.

When placed on a spoon, they only take up half the space — you can imagine just how mini these dumplings are. Small as they are, they’re finely made and beautifully wrapped, and you can even see the pleats.

Be careful when eating, as these dumplings are known to burst and spurt juice. The filling contains fresh meat as well as deliciously savory broth — absolutely delicious.

Stinky Tofu Pan-fried Buns — 60 TWD / 10 pieces

Taiwan’s only stinky tofu pan-fried buns. You can smell the stink even before you take a bite. They’re also pan-fried until golden brown on the bottom before being served. To be honest, they really do smell as pungent as stinky tofu.

Inside is fermented stinky tofu, which smells and tastes just like the real thing. Mixed with some chopped scallions, it doesn’t feel like you’re eating a soup dumpling at all — and you might even find yourself smelling of stinky tofu afterward.

Bursting Soup Dumplings — 50 TWD / 10 pieces

Finally, we ordered more of the popular bursting soup dumplings. Made to order and steamed fresh, we didn’t have to wait long — perhaps because of their small size, they didn’t take long to cook. Just by looking at them, you could tell the dumplings were filled with rich, heavy broth.

One dumpling can pour out about a spoonful of broth. The soup is sweet, savory, and delicious, and the meat filling is fresh and tasty. The dumplings are just as good as the thin-skinned pan-fried ones — both are definitely worth trying.

The shop’s soup dumplings are of high quality, whether made into thin-skinned pan-fried versions or classic Shanghai-style. They’re all delicious. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the stinky tofu pan-fried buns for a unique kick. The Shanghai Soup Dumplings under the metal shack truly live up to their reputation — without flashy decorations, they offer humble, simple, and skillfully made delights. These street snacks are definitely worth recommending to everyone.

Address: No. 89-5, Lingya 2nd Rd., Kaohsiung City

Phone: 07-2695105, 0918962866

Business Hours: 11:00–22:30

Kaohsiung Food Adventure Blog　Kaohsiung Foodies FB Fan Page