Unnamed snack stall at the corner of the night market – tender and not dry winter melon rice noodles

Photos and text byYingzi (Shadow)

After trying so many snacks in Kaohsiung, we rarely come across shops that sell winter melon rice noodles. This one is located at Xifeng Night Market, right across from Zhangji Pork Ribs Crispy. It has no signboard or name, looking quite unremarkable. What caught our attention was that they serve winter melon rice noodles — as someone who always enjoys eating rice noodles, I really wanted to give it a try.

The snack stall is run by an elderly man, who sets up shop under the corner arcade. He offers a wide variety of dishes — medicinal pork ribs, cold noodles, pig’s trotters, and duck dishes. Though it's not as bustling as Zhangji Pork Ribs Crispy, with only occasional diners, I think the old man has his own way of doing business. Perhaps running such a humble snack stall is enough to make a living — and he should be thankful for that.

A few tables and chairs are placed under the arcade. The dim lighting and quiet atmosphere give off a late-night diner vibe. We quickly ordered several dishes from the old man, and before long, he swiftly served everything we had ordered.

There was a jar of seasoning on the table — probably a chili sauce stir-fried by the shop owner himself. It smelled fragrant yet spicy, but we didn’t end up using it.

Pork floss rice – NT$20

Most southern-style pork floss rice tends to be sweet, but this bowl from the old man isn’t dominated by southern flavors. The pork floss sauce is rich and aromatic from being simmered for a long time with soy sauce, and it’s topped with small bits of fatty minced meat. It has a homey taste but is surprisingly delicious.

Winter melon rice noodles – NT$40

The first bite of these noodles won over Yingzi immediately. Let’s talk about the toppings first — the natural sweetness released by carrots and onions pairs perfectly with dried shrimp. By bringing out the best of each ingredient, they’ve created such tasty winter melon rice noodles.

The texture of the delicate noodles is just right — not too dry to the point of being choking. The light pumpkin flavor combined with the savory dried shrimp makes it truly delicious.

Medicinal Pork Ribs – NT$80

Don’t let the modest serving fool you — there’s actually a good amount of pork ribs in the bowl. Though it’s a medicinal broth, the herbal taste isn’t overpowering. Instead, it has a fragrant aroma and is very smooth to drink.

The pork ribs selected aren’t the kind with more bone than meat. Each piece has a decent proportion of meat. While the meat isn’t melt-in-your-mouth tender, it’s easy to separate from the bone. Finishing the bowl left us feeling very satisfied.

This isn’t a popular snack spot, but the dishes suit our taste. We thought to ourselves that we’d discovered yet another hidden gem. The winter melon rice noodles were amazing, and the medicinal pork ribs offer great value. Simple food that leaves you fully satisfied — we’re sure to come back often. This unnamed snack stall comes highly recommended.

[Unnamed Winter Melon Rice Noodles]
Address: Intersection of Harbin Street and Xifeng Street, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung (across from Zhangji Pork Ribs Crispy)

Yingzi specializes in introducing local snacks from Kaohsiung and Pingtung. He hopes that through sharing, more food enthusiasts can be found. Everyone is also welcome to share their hidden snack gems on the “Food Enthusiasts’ Wall” in the comments section, including address, shop name, and recommended dishes. A food review will be shared soon!
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