Kaohsiung Yancheng Rice Cake City – Simple, Satisfying Nostalgic Flavors

Text & Photos byOrange Dog Loves Candy

Kaohsiung’s Yancheng District has witnessed the city’s rise and decline through the ages, but in recent years, thanks to the development of the creative industry and the growing tourism trend, it actually becomes bustling again on holidays...

In the past, this area was known for its prosperity in cuttlefish fishing and salt drying, until the completion of Kaohsiung Harbor, which used silt from the harbor to reclaim land. In 1928, the Kaohsiung City Government moved to this district’s Rongcheng area (the former site of the old Kaohsiung City Hall), and in the 1960s, Yancheng was once the most populous district in Kaohsiung. Though times have changed and the bustle has faded, many old-time snack shops from Kaohsiung’s past are still hidden here.

But the thing is, prices aren’t as wallet-friendly anymore, and this [Rice Cake City] is a place I’ve wanted to try for over a year. That Lunar New Year, I happened to pass by and was shocked to find an outrageously long line.


It just so happened to be during the Mid-Autumn holiday when I came to see the Yellow Duck, so at noon I walked over from Glory Pier to eat here.


Although the area around Glory Pier was packed with tourists, as Yancheng District is still a bit of a distance away, not as many people made the walk over. Arriving at Rice Cake City around 11 a.m., I was relieved to find it wasn’t too crowded despite it being a consecutive holiday. Opened since 1947, Rice Cake City serves up rich traditional Taiwanese flavors.


In the past, these kinds of rice cake stalls were only good for a small bite, not a full meal—simple, fragrant, chewy, and sticky rice cakes paired with rich braised sauce. A small bowl was a classic Taiwanese-style afternoon snack, though I’m not sure why it still remains more of a snack than a meal today.

Almost everywhere you go, from south to north, the portion size of rice cake is really only enough for a taste, not to fill you up. That always leaves me torn—eat one bowl and feel unsatisfied, eat two and it gets expensive. Then there’s this Rice Cake City in Kaohsiung, which offers the old-school charm of a traditional shop.


An elderly lady and a middle-aged auntie stand behind the counter preparing food, tidying up, taking orders, and serving. They don’t smile much, but they’ll still chat a bit if you talk to them.



I really like old snack shops that serve food in ceramic bowls—it just feels like it tastes better, psychologically speaking XD. But the aunty kept asking me why I was taking pictures of the empty bowls XDDD.


Wafts of aroma from the simmering braised sauce fill the air near the counter, and there are also bowls of chilled fish balls. Prices are pretty reasonable—everyone’s raising prices these days, so it’s nice to see them keeping things affordable.


The menu isn’t extensive, but it includes all my favorites, which is enough. After spending the whole morning taking photos of the duck, being able to dig into a steaming bowl of rice cake was a small moment of satisfaction.


[Signature Rice Cake / NT$30] – There are two types of rice cake here: one is tube rice cake, and the other is this steamed rice cake. I love both, so I also love zongzi, and basically any glutinous rice dish. But honestly, my perfect version is topped with shredded dried fish, cucumber, and meat sauce (though I have no idea why they switched to ginger slices today... did cucumber prices go up!?).

Chewy and elastic rice cake, each grain distinct, glossy and shiny with a hint of braised sauce aroma. Compared to Tainan’s Xiaonan Rice Cake, their sauce is a bit lighter, but still fragrant. The shredded dried fish is stir-fried by the owner, with a crispy, old-school flavor.


One small bowl warms the stomach and brings a little contentment—a tasty rice cake.


Oh, almost forgot I also ordered this [Braised Meatball / NT$5]—it’s actually really cheap. Nowadays, many places charge NT$7–8 for just one meatball.


Since I was eating with my junior that day, she has an inexplicable obsession with meatballs and insists on having two or she can’t enjoy her meal XD.

[Four-God Soup / NT$30] – My favorite kind of four-god soup, with a faint medicinal aroma. It would be even better with a drop or two of Shaoxing wine for extra fragrance, but most street vendors skip that due to cost.


Many places replace the original Chinese herbs with Job’s tears, but this one only has pork intestines. The soup itself is okay, but the intestines have a great texture and are very cleanly prepared. I heard they’re also simmered together in the herbal broth.


[Braised Fish Maw / NT$80] – Fish maw holds a special place in my heart as someone from Tainan. Now working away from home, just having a bowl of fish maw back in Tainan makes me feel like I’ve returned.


It’s just that prices are getting less and less friendly, so enjoying a taste of home doesn’t come cheap. The fish maw at Rice Cake City is quite substantial—the pieces are thick, well-braised and flavor-packed without any fishiness, and the bones have been meticulously removed.


The fresh fish has a firm texture without being chewy, and the fish maw part is rich and aromatic with its fatty layers. I’ll definitely order this again on my next visit.


I didn’t order too much today, but the menu also includes beef tendons and pig stomach soup, which I’m also curious about. This half-century-old Rice Cake City is probably one of the rare old shops that’s still reasonably priced. Aside from tourists, plenty of locals come here to eat too.

I can’t say if the taste has changed over the half-century of operation—handoffs between generations often mean some details get lost—but as an outsider, I quite enjoyed it. Strolling from the pier through this old neighborhood, wandering the quiet alleys, then settling down with a bowl of local rice cake—the simple, rich aroma gives a nostalgic sense of satisfaction. I’d definitely recommend giving it a try!!


[Rice Cake City]

Address::No. 107, Daren Road, Yancheng District, Kaohsiung City
Phone:07-5333168
Business Hours:09:30Am-10:30Pm
Nearby MRT Station:About a 10-minute walk from Exit 2 of Yanchengpu Station on the Orange Line
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