Banqiao’s Heirloom “Tube Rice Cake” – A Mouthful of Sweet, Glutinous Delight!

Text & Photos byXiao Hu’s Dream Food Blog

Not long ago, I shared about a tube rice cake in Banqiao that I personally found quite delicious【Banqiao Foodies】【Jiangzicui Food】Located at No. 97, Lane 3, Xianmin Blvd., at the intersection of Fushan St., an unnamed pork rib soup shop with its signature Tube Rice Cake – 1st & 2nd visitsImmediately, I was challenged by fellow Banqiao foodies, and unable to let it slide, I headed there the very next day. After that bite… well, I have to admit, I lost (tearful).

To be honest, although I’ve lived in Jiangzicui for many years, I rarely come to this area for meals. The most I’ve done is visit that famous lamb shop that a few friends of mine absolutely love. Following the Google Maps address, I found the area nearby, and noticed that the alley on Huaide St. was a bit odd—or perhaps a bit messy.

But anyway, it’s right at the entrance of Lane 76, just across from this self-governed market. It’s the kind of place I’d walk past a hundred times without ever thinking of sitting down… so, these kinds of hidden gems really rely on word-of-mouth among locals. Good food is all about sharing, isn’t it? Isn’t it? Isn’t it?

I don’t know who decided this, but shops that sell tube rice cake also always have pork rib soup, and sometimes even chicken noodle soup—and if you’re selling chicken noodle soup, there’s always going to be an egg omelet. What’s that all about!

Enough chit-chat, let’s have a little “TALK TALK” with the signature tube rice cake itself. First off, they drizzle on a light sauce that seems like it’s thickened with a bit of starch—this made me wonder if the owner is from southern Taiwan... To be honest, I’m not a big fan of this sauce, but I have to say, this shop’s tube rice cake is really top-notch, and arguably the best I’ve had in Banqiao so far. For one, the texture is distinct grain by grain, yet not overly dry or hard. After a couple of chews, the sweetness and fragrance of the glutinous rice slowly come through. Most importantly, it’s not too “chewy” in the Taiwanese sense—this is the first time I’ve thought that even without the pork floss on top, this tube rice cake would still be insanely delicious. Also, the pork floss on top is mostly ground meat, slightly stir-fried, a bit dry but very fragrant, with a hint of dried shrimp flavor. It’s tasty, though I do prefer it a bit fattier XXD.

Since I’m not a huge fan of the sauce, I poured on the sweet chili sauce from the table. When I poured it, for a moment I thought I was eating pork ball soup... the taste really is quite similar. I’m not a big fan of either sauce in all honesty, but the texture and flavor of this rice cake are simply unbeatable!

Then this bitter melon pork rib dish came out, and I was surprised again—it’s so refreshing... looks refreshing, and tastes even more so. It’s so refreshing that I think it’s probably just pork ribs, bitter melon, and steamed together. The broth has the bitter-sweetness of the bitter melon with a hint of meaty flavor. To be honest, it’s not particularly amazing in flavor... but it’s definitely super healthy, no doubt about it XXD.

Halfway through drinking, the owner suddenly came over and asked if I wanted to add an egg. I was a bit puzzled, and he went on to say, adding an egg makes it tastier, so my soup got an egg omelet (10 NT$).

The half-boiled egg is great—the soft, runny yolk paired with the slightly chewy white makes for a simple yet delicious omelet.

The pork ribs, to be honest, taste like homemade—simple flavors and texture. The ribs themselves seem very clean, with no off-putting smells, and naturally no impurities making their way into the soup. The meat texture is good, but again, it’s not very flavorful XXD.

Since I saw a lot of people ordering the cuttlefish thick soup, I followed suit and ordered a bowl too. The broth has a garlic flavor and relatively light satay taste, with a slight hint of sweetness like preserved vegetables. It’s lightly thickened, but not overly so, and it’s pretty good overall.

The cuttlefish is fresh, sweet, and slightly chewy—it melts after just two or three bites. The flavor is simple, not complicated, yet incredibly tasty.

Banqiao Heirloom Tube Rice Cake
Address: No. 1, Lane 76, Huaide St., Banqiao City, New Taipei
Phone: 0935-062-035
Business Hours: 6:00 AM – 4:00 PM

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