The popular fried rice ball at the Fu Jen Garden Night Market – crispy on the outside, never soggy

Text & Photos /BearMoo Rudy

The must-queue food at the Fu Jen Garden Night Market is this one – the Japanese-style fried rice ball from Kin Hon Maru, great for first-timers to try.

 
BearMoo and a group of four friends came to explore the snacks at the Fu Jen Garden Night Market. Not long after entering, a friend said they wanted to try the roast duck sandwich, so they stopped at this stall.


There are three flavors in total: original, spicy, and garlic, each for 40 NT$.


Next to the stall were roast duck fillings and various condiments. After ordering, they started wrapping the duck meat and toppings into the flatbread.

BearMoo didn’t elaborate much on this stall because the roast duck meat was pre-prepared, so when you bite into it, it feels a bit cold. It would be better if the temperature could be maintained. Also, although the sauces tasted okay, the filling was a bit on the light side, which was a slight pity.


Now onto this next stall – the Japanese-style fried rice ball from Kin Hon Maru, a super popular snack at the Fu Jen Garden Night Market. When BearMoo visited, there was a huge line at the stall. Although there’s no close-up shot, the female boss here is really pretty – wonder if people are here for the beauty or the food? Haha...

The photo clearly shows that there are a total of 16 flavors of fried rice balls, quite a variety to choose from. BearMoo went with the pickled pork flavor, each for 45 NT$.


The rice balls are fried in oil until golden and crispy, each turning a beautiful golden yellow.


Rows of golden rice balls await sauce drizzling and topping addition. Though the method seems simple, who knows how it tastes? BearMoo is quite looking forward to it.


Here’s what it looks like when it comes off the fryer. Thoughtfully wrapped in paper so your hands don’t get greasy, and there’s also a layer of seaweed on the outside, making it feel like a fried onigiri.

Actually, the method for making Japanese-style fried rice balls is to pan-fry the rice ball until golden, resulting in a crispy outer layer that has a bit of a rice crust texture. So those who love the texture of crispy rice will probably enjoy it. Because the fried outer layer is very fragrant, plus the pickled pork flavor with its tangy and spicy taste, it actually goes quite well together. The only downside is that the filling is a bit on the light side.


Here’s a cross-section after taking a bite. The rice grains inside are also chewy rather than soft or mushy.

BearMoo thinks this popular Japanese-style fried rice ball is quite creative. If you haven’t tried it before, it’s worth a try when you’re here. But in terms of texture, it’s probably just as you’d imagine, so next time BearMoo would like to try some other snacks.

Author: BearMoo RudyA couple who are passionate about food, occasionally go wild spending big on eating, drinking, and playing, but generally stick to the principle of “limited money, endless appetite.” Their blog of the same nameBearMoo Eats the World to Ruinis being updated simultaneously.

[Kin Hon Maru Japanese Fried Rice Ball]

Address: No. 666, Section 2, Zhongshan Road, Taishan District, New Taipei City
Phone: N/A
Business hours: Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM

[Roast Duck Sandwich]

Address: No. 666, Section 2, Zhongshan Road, Taishan District, New Taipei City
Phone: N/A
Business hours: Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM