Must-try local snacks in Su’ao: Temple Entrance Rice Noodle Soup and Leng Yi Ice Cream

Text & Photos /Gui Xiaosun



When I spotted the 【2014 Green Expo】, I decided that for this spontaneous trip to Yilan, I’d head straight to Su’ao on the first day — partly to avoid the traffic jams and crowds in downtown Yilan and Jiaoxi during holidays, which would make the three-day break less stressful in terms of congestion. So I started looking up Su’ao’s snacks, found many options, and ended up having a bowl of Temple Entrance Rice Noodle Soup and then an old-school Leng Yi popsicle that same day.

Su’ao isn’t very big, so I naturally assumed there’d be less traffic — and indeed there was slightly less, but the speed limit dropped to 50–60 km/h, which suddenly made the 15-minute drive take much longer. Still, after passing Yilan Jiaoxi, traffic really thinned out noticeably. So if you’re planning a visit, it’s really worth thinking about how to avoid peak spots and rush hours.

On the way back this time, since we left around 2 p.m., we hit returning traffic, which added an extra hour to what should’ve been a three-hour drive from Taichung to Yilan. XD That’s all part of the experience — next time, we’ll come back earlier. I’ve also included the draft notes from this three-day Yilan trip here, and I hope you’ll enjoy them. ^_________^.










There are actually lots of hand-drawing bloggers out there, and I’ve always felt pretty inadequate in this area — the doodles in my notebook are just simple strokes, the best I can manage as quick records. But what I want to share is a way of enjoying life. I wonder if you still remember how our teachers used to say that things stick better when you read or write them out loud? I’ve always remembered that. So, somehow, I’ve developed the habit of writing and recording — even if my drawing skills are limited and my thoughts are few, it’s always rewarding to flip back through those notes after some time has passed.




We arrived in Su’ao at around 1 p.m. and followed the road to find Temple Entrance Rice Noodle Soup. The two of us simply each got a bowl for lunch. The shop isn’t big, and you can tell it gets both tourists and locals — there was even an elderly lady who came by herself to enjoy a bowl.






Looking at this rice noodle soup, my first instinct was that it must be heavy on vinegar and soy sauce. Interestingly, the texture in my mouth was unlike anything I’d ever had before in my life. The noodles here are noticeably thicker than usual, and the broth has a slightly sweet taste — though it’s hard to describe that flavor exactly.


The thickness of the starch thickener is quite sticky. If you ask me if it tastes good, honestly, I wouldn’t say it’s a must-try, but if you want to sample a different kind of rice noodle soup, give it a go. Adding some chili suits my personal taste better. XD.







The shop sells a lot of sweet items, but for savory dishes, it’s just this rice noodle soup. They also have peanut soup and eight-treasure congee, which I noticed many locals ordering — perhaps those are actually their signature dishes. For those who like to try something different, these are worth a shot.


I guess we either have too young stomachs or are just too old. XD Honestly, one bowl of rice noodle soup filled us up so much that we didn’t even think about looking for more food. We just walked out to Leng Yi Ice Cream and bought a popsicle. Okay, fine — the truth is I wanted to save room for something special at the Green Expo. Leng Yi has a long history in Su’ao. It originally started as a popsicle cart pushed around the streets, and later expanded into this storefront. The traditional-style popsicles look nothing like your average ice cream colors, and for just 35 NT$, you can get three flavors.








Just by looking at the traditional color shades, you can tell no artificial food coloring was added — the natural hues of the ingredients shine through. For example, the ones we got were: pumpkin, longan, and peanut (from top to bottom). Pumpkin was the boss’s recommendation, and if you like pumpkin flavor, you should try it. I personally preferred the ‘longan’ flavor, and you can actually taste bits of the longan flesh!! XD.




Right next to Leng Yi Ice Cream is the famous: Yizhenxiang, where you can buy your favorite snacks or even pick up some souvenirs to take home. Su’ao town isn’t big, but it’s just the right size for having a snack lunch and then heading off to explore the Green Expo. And if you have time, you could also plan a stop at the Zha’an Observation Deck to gaze at the beautiful blue sky and bay views of Waiao.

Author:[Enjoying Life Without Boredom. Gui Xiaosun]

[Temple Entrance Rice Noodle Soup, Leng Yi Ice Cream]