A serendipitous "taro" delight: Buddha Jumps Over the Wall meatball aroma wafts through the market

Reported by Tsai Meng-hsiu / Taipei

There are countless types of meatballs sold in markets, butBuddha Jumps Over the Wall meatballsare a rare find. They say great food is often hidden in alleyway markets, and sure enough, around Banqiao’s Xinpuyi Market, there’s a small stall selling “Buddha Jumps Over the Wall meatballs.” Soft-boiled taro, paired with marinated pork, and wrapped in chewy meatball skin, makes for an absolutely unique dish.

▲ This unnamed snack stall only sells a few specialty items, among which the taro-flavored &...meatball with its rich aroma is the main highlight. Local diners say the taro meatball is especially delicious (Photo / Reported by Tsai Meng-hsiu)

This vendor, located near Banqiao’s Xinpuyi Market, has no eye-catching signboard, let alone a widely known store name. However, the boss lady Ma Lingling’s name is catchy and easy to remember, becoming an alternative living signboard. Ma’s stall has just 2 tables, 3 dishes, and 4 soups — a simple “2-3-4 philosophy” that still wins over the taste buds of locals.

The so-called 3 dishes refer to the 3 snacks listed on the signboard: taro-flavored &...meatball, ...meatball, and ...meatball. As soon as you enter, you’ll smell the aroma of taro filling the air. The taro meatball is especially popular. When you take a bite, you’ll taste tender, soft-boiled taro mixed with marinated pork and then wrapped with chewy meatball skin. After steaming, it gives off a rich fragrance. The taro also has a slightly sweet taste, making the overall flavor very unique. (Photo / Reported by Tsai Meng-hsiu)

▲ The taro-flavored &...meatball has a rich purple color that stands out sharply (Photo / Reported by Tsai Meng-hsiu)

▲ The taro-flavored &...meatball has a very distinct color that differs from other meatballs (Photo / Reported by Tsai Meng-hsiu)

▲ The taro-flavored &...meatball has a very chewy skin, so it must be eaten while hot to enjoy its best texture (Photo / Reported by Tsai Meng-hsiu)

The &...meatball is a traditional Taiwanese snack, but nowadays it’s more common to see meatballs with added taro fillings. However, the flavor varies. The &...meatball, with its thick pork slices and very chewy skin, is very popular. There are also many variations of the &...meatball, some with added taro, and some with pork floss. All are delicious, and the chewy texture along with the taro and pork floss filling makes them very popular among students and office workers. The most popular item here is the taro meatball. Most of the compliments the vendor hears are about how delicious and unique the taro meatball tastes.

But the star of the show is actually the Changhua meatball and the taro meatball. Since the only difference between these two snacks is the taro filling, let’s start with the taro meatball. The taro meatball looks no different from a regular meatball from the outside, but once you cut into the skin, you’ll find there’s quite a lot going on inside.

The taro meatball filling is made up of four ingredients: pork marinated for 4 days, dried bamboo shoots, taro, and quail eggs — giving it a unique twist compared to regular meatballs. Keen observers might notice that these are the main ingredients of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. But this combination came about by coincidence, and under fortuitous circumstances, it became what Ma calls the “Buddha Jumps Over the Wall meatball.”

▲ You can clearly see from the photo that the pork is very thick, and there’s even a quail egg. The ingredients are quite special, and the left image shows the taro meatball before the sauce is added. The blocky pieces in the photo are taro — the filling is really rich. (Photo / Reported by Tsai Meng-hsiu)

▲ The star taro meatball is what the boss lady calls the “Buddha Jumps Over the Wall meatball,” featuring marinated pork, dried bamboo shoots, taro, and quail eggs — four ingredients with a uniquely rich taste. (Photo / Reported by Tsai Meng-hsiu)

Boss Ma Lingling explained that she originally added quail eggs and taro to differentiate her meatballs from those of other vendors. To her surprise, customers found the taste similar to that of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. Because of its unique flavor, it became a must-try market food for locals. Both students and office workers have become fans of the taro meatball.

Additionally, Ma Lingling also reminds customers that taro is key to the three signature items. In the past, she used to buy taro from the market herself, cut it into chunks, and add it to the meatballs. But the result was that the taro lacked fluffiness and was often too watery, ending up mushy with inconsistent quality. Later, she switched to using taro specifically made for hot pot — block-shaped taro that’s been cooked and then refrigerated. This type of taro is of better quality and effectively solved the previous issues, although it’s also more costly.

Sometimes, the best flavors in life are the result of happy accidents, just like Ma’s “Buddha Jumps Over the Wall meatball.” But if you want to try this snack at Xinpuyi Market, you don’t need to rely on luck. Just go to Exit 1 of Xinpuyi Metro Station, walk toward the market entrance, follow the market path to the end, and you’ll find Ma’s little stall. Next time you’re at Xinpuyi Market doing your grocery shopping, don’t forget to check out this local delicacy.

Shop information:

Shop name: None

Address: No. 55, Ziyou Road, Banqiao District, New Taipei City

Business hours: Monday to Saturday, 4:30 PM – 10:00 PM   Closed on Sundays

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