Rare thin-skinned, juicy steamed rice balls in Kaohsiung draw long queues

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Fengshan is an area we often visit on weekends. That day, we happened to pass by and saw people queuing up. When we noticed the sign for our favorite rice balls, we decided to give it a try.


Most of the people in line were getting takeout. Though there’s no queue for dine-in, you still have to wait until those ordering takeout are served. In short, whether you’re dining in or taking out, queuing is part of the experience.

The rice balls are made fresh on-site. Sometimes when customers order too many at once, they can’t all be steamed in time, so patience is key. The first time I saw the staff wrapping the rice balls using ice cream scoops was quite an eye-opener.


Rice balls: NT$12 each
Steamed rice balls are not common in Kaohsiung, and this place makes them by steaming. The outer skin is fairly soft, with just the right thickness. The sauce seems to be homemade, slightly sweet with mashed garlic — it’s quite tasty.


The filling is made from minced meat shaped into balls, well-seasoned and flavorful, though the rice skin is a bit on the softer side.


Four Treasures Soup: NT$30
The broth has a darker color compared to the usual milky-white soup, and the flavor is much lighter. It contains only intestines, which are well-prepared and have a softer texture.


Fish Ball Soup: NT$20
The fish balls are not perfectly round but rather flat and oval with slits. They don’t have a very bouncy texture — they’re on the softer side. The broth seems to be plain soup with chopped greens.


Steamed rice balls are rare in Kaohsiung, and even rarer to find ones that taste good. This shop’s flavor, both in the sauce and the rice balls themselves, is quite good. No wonder so many locals line up to buy them. If the dining environment were improved, it would definitely be even better.

[Chishan Rice Balls]

Address:No. 161, Wenheng Road, Fongshan District, Kaohsiung City
Phone:07-7773259

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