Standing meals are all the rage, and now even pan-fried dumplings are being eaten standing up—crispy wrappers without being greasy, and juicy fillings inside

Text and photos by /Orange Dog Loves Candy

It’s common to order Japanese pan-fried dumplings with ramen, or handmade dumplings with beef noodle soup, and at a dumpling specialty shop, well, there’s no need to explain. I really don’t know what karmic connection I had with dumplings in my past life, but whenever I hear about good dumplings somewhere, I just have to try them. I still remember two years ago when I spontaneously gathered some friends for a dumpling-eating competition at Shangshang Dumplings—the owner actually had an extra-large plate that could hold 80 dumplings, and we each got one XD. One day while passing through the Wuzhong Road area, I noticed this [Imperial Dumplings Pan-Fried Dumpling Specialty Shop] was under renovation. Honestly, I don’t usually go out of my way to look around while riding my bike, but anything with the word “dumplings” always catches my eye. That afternoon, I went to try Jinbu Ice Cream and happened to find that f-tech... yue shan... had already... (Jinbu Ice Cream Specialty Shop Review)

Although it’s near Taiwan Boulevard, it’s actually located in a not-so-conspicuous triangular corner. To be honest, the storefront here is a bit messy, with the shop’s own flags and a bunch of advertisement banners everywhere. It was a little after three in the afternoon, and there weren’t many customers. When I walked closer, I couldn’t even find the entrance, and just as I was looking around...

Auntie suddenly came out from the counter up front to greet us, and I realized it was a standing eatery setup, imitating Japan’s standing dining culture—mostly designed for busy office workers to grab a quick meal in the shortest time possible.

Standing food stalls mostly sell quick dishes like sushi or ramen, meant to be eaten standing up and then leaving, so the stalls don’t need to be big, and the prices are relatively cheaper and more cost-effective. But when this foreign culture came to Taiwan, it became a selling point. So far, I’ve tried standing-style dumplings in Tainan at Zhengyi Dumplings—the prices were high, the experience was tough, and it didn’t feel worth it. In comparison, this Imperial Dumplings is also a standing eatery, and the prices are a bit higher than regular dumpling shops. I guess the so-called ‘standing dining culture,’ when transplanted to Taiwan, has basically just become a selling point for foreign culture.

The MENU has three types of dumplings: [Imperial Signature, Taro Sticky Rice, and Spicy Sichuan Pepper], each priced at 6 dollars per piece. The comforting thought is telling myself it’s not more expensive than Wenxin Road’s Ruan Laoman Beijing Dumplings, but the unique flavors made me want to try each one. There’s no limit on the number of pieces, they’re made to order and fried fresh. I didn’t try anything else today—after all, I ordered 20 dumplings just for the dumplings.

[Imperial Signature / 6 dollars each / 10 pcs] When it was served, I was actually a bit shocked because it came in a very simple paper lunchbox. I felt that while their storefront decor and variety of dumpling types were appealing, this casual paper box somewhat diminished the appeal of a 6-dollar dumpling. Though I know the taste is what really matters, the presentation also adds to the atmosphere.

But the dumplings were shaped quite delicately, with neatly uniform pleats. They were fried just right—the wrappers were thin yet elastic, with a golden crispy layer that wasn’t greasy. The pork filling was sweet, paired with crisp and refreshing cabbage.

There was also a little bit of mysterious red seasoning inside, giving it a unique flavor. I have to admit, it was pretty delicious！

[Taro Sticky Rice / 6 dollars each / 5 pcs]
The shape was long and slender, and the wrapper was slightly thin and translucent but still elastic.

Inside was sticky rice wrapped with steamed taro cubes—it perfectly matched my love for oily rice cakes. The flavors weren’t too heavy, with the rice having a nice sticky chewiness and the taro cubes being soft and tender.

This one was also pretty good, though not particularly special.

[Spicy Sichuan Pepper / 6 dollars each / 5 pcs]
The shape was cute and triangular—I don’t often see dumplings in this shape, which makes it easier to identify the flavor. With a light bite, the slightly crispy wrapper revealed a juicy, spicy, and flavorful filling.

And the more you chewed, the spicier it got—such a refreshing kick!! Though the signature pan-fried dumplings were good too, just one bite of this one instantly put it at the top of the three for me.

I originally thought they might have been a stall vendor before, but no—it’s their first-ever pan-fried dumpling specialty shop. But the dumplings they serve are definitely memorable in taste. If I really had to point out a flaw, it’s the price. For someone like me who eats 20–30 dumplings in a single meal no matter the size, I really can’t eat here often, not to mention the unimpressive paper boxes. I’m not really into extravagance, but I do think pricier food should have more eye-catching packaging. But aside from those external factors, the dumplings themselves—both the wrappers and the filling flavors—live up to my expectations. If you’re in the area looking for food, it’s worth checking out. Grab some golden pan-fried dumplings to take home！

=========================================
[Imperial Dumplings Pan-Fried Dumpling Specialty Shop, Wuzhong Road]
Address: No. 171, Wuzhong Road, West District, Taichung City
Contact: 04-22060488
Business Hours: 10:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Tip: No limit on the number of dumplings you can order; mixing flavors is recommended
=========================================

Orange Dog Loves Candy Blog Orange Dog Loves Candy FB Fan Page