A Culinary Hunt Near Zhushan Mazu Temple: Chilled Tofu Dessert to Beat the Heat

Text & Photos /Shadow

Near Zhushan Mazu Temple, aside from delicious temple fair-style rice balls and rice cakes, there’s also a traditional old-school tofu dessert shop. The store is conveniently located right at the intersection, making it very easy to spot. After enjoying the rice balls and rice cakes, head here for a sweet treat. Dashun Old-School Traditional Tofu Shop looks no different from your average snack stand—it’s run by an elderly couple. Besides locals, travelers visiting the area also stop by this humble shop for a seat and a bowl of cool dessert before moving on.

They sell tofu pudding, shaved ice, and even classic old-school iced drinks. It’s a small family-run business without air conditioning, but there’s a shaded canopy in the hallway that keeps you out of direct sunlight. Either way, if you’re coming here for a bowl of ice, no AC isn’t a big deal.

After ordering your ice from the owner, find a seat. Since the space is limited, they can’t accommodate many diners indoors, so it can get crowded on weekends—but the turnover is fairly quick, so the wait isn’t too long.

The menu features familiar old-school flavors, with most items priced between NT$30 and NT$40. We opted for tofu pudding and shaved ice.

Red Bean Tofu Pudding – NT$30

The owner is generous with the red beans—not the tiny ones, but regular-sized pearls. Once the syrup is poured on top, it’s hard not to dig in right away.

The tofu pudding has a fragrant bean taste, but the texture is on the softer, fluffier side. It practically melts in your mouth with just a light bite. In fact, when scooping it with a spoon, you can clearly feel that the pudding is quite delicate. Stir it vigorously, and it quickly breaks apart—quite different from the firmer tofu puddings we’re more used to.

Pineapple Shaved Ice – NT$40

Pineapple is one of Shadow’s favorite fruits. Back in childhood, whenever we had clear-style shaved ice, pineapple flavor was always the choice. We were curious to see what this place’s pineapple shaved ice looked like—and it turns out they use pickled pineapple, which gives it a truly nostalgic vibe.

Look at how the sugar-soaked pickled pineapple offers a tangy-sweet flavor, paired with clear shaved ice—it instantly reminds you of the shaved ice treats from childhood. This refreshingly cool dessert is a great way to beat the heat.

Since the shop is run by just the elderly couple, you might need to wait patiently when it gets busy. But it’s rare to find such authentic old-school iced treats in Zhushan, and with so many food options around Mazu Temple, you can sample three different snacks all in one go. That alone makes the visit worthwhile. It’s perfect for a relaxing stroll to enjoy some street food—highly recommended.

[Dashun Old-School Traditional Tofu Shop]
Address: No. 58-7, Zhushan Rd., Zhushan Li., Zhushan Township, Nantou County
Phone: 049-2639797, 0981-001965
Business Hours: 09:00–22:00

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