Kaohsiung Xiaobao Rice Vermicelli Q? 60 Years of Delicious Flavor in Zuoying

▲ The signature “Rice Vermicelli Q?” at “Xiaobao Rice Vermicelli Q?” is the shop’s specialty dish.

Text & Photos /Shadow

I wonder if you've noticed that many popular traditional shops often face the fate of splitting up. Regardless of the reasons behind it, as food lovers, as long as the food is delicious, we don't really mind whether it's the so-called authentic original shop.

Today, the Xiaobao Rice Vermicelli Q? we’re introducing to you has a similar situation. Though there’s a lot of debate online, I don’t think that’s what we should focus on. Let’s keep our eyes on the delicious food instead.

The flagship store is located in the Zuoying Public Second Market. We ate here a few years ago, and looking back at my food notes from that time, I also remember that experience. It wasn’t as delicious as we had expected, which made us want to have a proper “PK” with the flagship store this time.


Compared to the cramped space of the flagship store, the Cuihua branch is much more spacious, and the best part is that parking is easy. Unexpectedly, both of the most popular food shows right now have sent crews to interview them, which makes us even more confident about this 60-year-old shop.


You can choose your seat freely inside the shop. While my husband was ordering, I noticed some drinks in the corner of the fridge. Aside from Sarsaparilla and beer, the drinks without clearly marked prices were all 10 NT each. We also tried a cup of black tea. The 10 NT black tea had a rather mild tea flavor, with the sweetness of syrup being more prominent. I guess you get what you pay for, so there’s nothing to complain about at this price.


There’s no menu to order from—you just tell the staff what you’d like to eat. There are noodles, cold cuts, and soups, all very affordable. The prices are very budget-friendly.

Black and white cold cuts – 70 NT. Among these, the pork tail is probably the most expensive item. We also ordered marinated eggs, kelp, and dried tofu. They were drizzled with soy paste and mashed garlic—the sweet and salty flavors paired really well with these side dishes.

Rice Vermicelli Q? – 35 NT / small. The rice vermicelli Q? is supposedly the shop’s specialty. The broth is quite unique, as it’s cooked with vegetables. It leaves a refreshing and sweet vegetable taste in the mouth. As for the meatballs, they’re soft and smooth, and you can hardly tell it’s meat. Since the broth steals the show, we actually prefer the taste at the Cuihua branch.


Fried Rice – 50 NT / small. The generously portioned fried rice got my husband excited. The grains were distinct and evenly coated with an amber glaze, paired with yellow fried egg bits and green scallions—it was visually enticing and made our mouths water. Then, the aroma of egg and soy sauce in the air created an indescribably delicious smell that really stimulated our appetites.

Traditional fried rice with the aroma of eggs and soy sauce, plus the perfect level of saltiness, creates an ideal-tasting egg fried rice. To add texture, shredded pork was also added. At fifty NT a plate, it’s definitely filling.


Fried Rice Vermicelli – 35 NT / small. The best fried rice vermicelli in Zuoying is arguably from Auntie Wu’s Rice Vermicelli Soup. When we saw that Xiaobao also offered fried rice vermicelli, we were eager to try it. When it was served, it didn’t really look like it was stir-fried—more like the style of fried rice vermicelli from Pingtung night markets, simply drizzled with minced pork sauce and topped with a bit of chives or bean sprouts.


Fried Rice Vermicelli – 45 NT / large. Even though it’s not stir-fried, since we enjoyed it during our first visit, we ordered a large portion the second time for a satisfying treat. The minced pork sauce was very fine, and after mixing, it blended well with the rice vermicelli, giving off a savory aroma.

Fine rice vermicelli pairs very well with minced pork sauce. The meat juice adds moisture to the noodles, preventing them from being too dry.


Sesame Sauce Dry Noodles – 40 NT / small. Unlike other mainland-style sesame sauce noodles that only have plain sesame sauce, the seasoning here is quite rich. Aside from the minced pork sauce used in the fried rice, mashed garlic is also included. The sesame sauce is not very visible until you mix the noodles—the aroma gradually wafts out as you stir.


The thin flat noodles carry the aroma and flavor of sesame sauce, and the minced pork sauce and mashed garlic add great flavor without making it overly greasy.

Bone Meat Soup – 35 NT. Most of the meat here is bone or cartilage meat, especially the cartilage meat, which is very chewy and delicious. As for the broth, it’s probably made from big bones, but the bone flavor isn’t very strong—the taste is light and refreshing.




We became regulars after one try. My husband even keeps asking to come here every day. We’ve been here twice now, and the taste really suits us. Especially the fried rice—though it’s not as good as Auntie Wu’s, Auntie Wu only sells it until noon. In comparison, this shop has long operating hours, so we can come and eat whenever we want, which is very convenient.

If you’ve tried the flagship store in the market, you can also give the Cuihua branch a try. Recommended to everyone.


[Xiaobao Rice Vermicelli Q?]

Address:No. 62, Chengfeng Rd., Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City
Phone:07-5885222
Business Hours:06:30～21:00 (Closed on Mondays)

ShadowDedicated to introducing local snacks in Kaohsiung and Pingtung. We hope that through sharing, we can find more food enthusiasts. Everyone is also welcome to share their hidden local snack gems on the “Food Enthusiasts’ Community” graffiti wall by leaving a message with the address, store name, and recommended dishes. A food review will be shared with everyone soon!

==============================================
Kaohsiung Food Adventure Blog 　Kaohsiung Food Enthusiasts’ Community Facebook Fan Page