Flavored with the chef’s special chili sauce – Yuan Yuan Yuan’s stir-fried rice in Yuanlin has distinct, flavorful grains that pair perfectly with meals

Photos and text byMIKA’s Food Adventure Journal

It’s been a while since I wrote about the snacks in Yuanli. Today, I’d like to introduce a shop I personally love. I really enjoy the stir-fried rice and rice pudding (braised rice) from Yuan Yuan Yuan. I’m especially fond of the chili sauce cooked by their chef. I usually keep a jar at home for whenever I want a bite. It has a spicy yet savory taste, with a strong kick that’s not overly salty, and it goes well with both rice and noodles. The stir-fried rice here is perfectly cooked with distinct, evenly flavored grains and a rich aroma, while the portion of rice pudding is very generous and extremely satisfying. Other items like dry noodles, dumplings, and beef noodle soup are also quite popular, but I personally just love the stir-fried rice and rice pudding!

This Yuan Yuan Yuan location on Heping Road has actually been around in Yuanli for a long time. Though the storefront has changed, it’s considered one of the local snacks that many people in Yuanli have grown up eating.

The current shop is spacious and bright, with more systematic management.

There’s a dedicated staff member taking orders, who then uses a microphone to notify the kitchen to prepare the meals.

They offer a wide variety of items, though I’ve only tried a few.

They also have a selection of braised side dishes, but I find their braised offerings to be quite ordinary.

There are bone-in meat skewers, as well as cucumber, century egg tofu, and so on...

The condiments are well-stocked, even including pickled vegetables.

This is my favorite chili sauce. A jar costs 100 NT dollars, and it’s made by the chef. It tastes very different from store-bought versions.

I highly recommend their stir-fried rice. Although the portion isn’t very large, it’s definitely delicious. Honestly, at this price in the countryside, it’s not exactly cheap, but it’s not too expensive either. The cost of living in rural areas is pretty high these days—sigh...

I went out to eat with my mom, and she couldn’t resist their rice pudding!

We also ordered a side of fish ball soup. The fish balls in Yuanli are made with shark meat, giving them a unique texture with a hint of pepper aroma and a bouncy chew.

Pork rice pudding, 75 NT dollars. Their pork rice pudding is 75 NT per serving—not cheap—but it’s hearty, with plenty of ingredients and a big portion.

The thickened sauce has a satay aroma. People in Yuanli enjoy a stronger peppery flavor, and this rice pudding includes some satay, pepper, and a bit of fried shallots for seasoning, along with lots of vegetables and pork. It looks rich and tastes fragrant and full-bodied.

As for the braised side dishes, they’re not very flavorful, and the braising broth tastes rather ordinary. I didn’t particularly like them.

Shredded pork and egg stir-fried rice, 55 NT dollars. Compared to the rice pudding, the portion of stir-fried rice is indeed smaller, but it’s enough for me.

Just add a spoonful of chili sauce, stir it up, and you’ve got my favorite spicy egg fried rice.

Their stir-fried rice has a scallion aroma, with distinct, fluffy grains where every rice kernel is evenly coated with egg. It’s packed with fragrance, plus tender shredded pork. Toss it all together with the chili sauce, and you get a slightly spicy, moist, and savory bite—that’s my absolute favorite. Everyone has their own preference for stir-fried rice texture, but theirs is aromatic, moist, and savory, with just the right amount of stir-frying strength. It might not be the best ever, but in this small town, it’s a nostalgic flavor for me!

[Yuan Yuan Yuan Beef Noodle Soup, Dumplings, and Rice Pudding Specialty Shop]
Address: No. 185, Heping Road, Yuanli Township, Miaoli County
Phone: (037) 861-250 (037) 853-358

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MIKA’s Food Adventure Journal