Remember to queue up if you want to try these — 6 local and tourist-favorite Chiayi rice ball shops

▲ Authentic Chiayi rice balls with seventy years of flavor passed down through four generations. (Photo／by Orange Dog Loves SweetsSugar)

Reported by Huang Shiyuan, Taipei

Chiayi rice balls became a trending search term after a real estate agent cut in line and caused a scene. The shop that voluntarily provided surveillance footage is called Zheng’s Chiayi Rice Balls, located right across from another popular spot, Old Dan Ah Zhang Rice Balls.When it comes to rice balls, Chiayi has many delicious options. Aside from Zheng’s Chiayi Rice Balls, Ah Zhang Rice Balls, Beimenkou Zhongzheng Road flagship store, and Minsheng Road branch are also popular spots where you’ll need to wait in line to get your hands on them.

There are many rice ball stalls in Chiayi City. With their soft, chewy outer layer and juicy, flavorful fillings, each shop offers its own unique sauce, creating a multi-layered taste that leaves you wanting more. Among them, Old Dan Ah Zhang Rice Balls gained popularity after being featured in the movie “You Are the Apple of My Eye,” and they even offer a delivery service so you can enjoy their rice balls at home.


▲ Beimenkou Rice Balls Zhongzheng Road flagship store. (Photo／by Reporter Huang Shiyuan)


▲ A-San Rice Balls. (Photo／Viviyu)

The three shops — Beimenkou, A-San, and others — basically share the same roots, so their signature style is deep-frying the steamed rice balls at high temperatures, resulting in a crispy outside and soft inside that sets them apart from other rice balls. As for the filling, they use pork thigh meat, mushrooms, and eggs. The Zhongzheng Road flagship store is run by

As for Zheng’s Chiayi Rice Balls, where this queue-jumping incident took place, blogger Orange Dog Loves Candy noted that the rice balls here have a firmer, chewier skin due to being lightly fried at a lower temperature.Compared to Ah Zhang Rice Balls and Beimenkou Rice Balls, the latter being softer and the former very chewy and firm, Zheng’s Chiayi Rice Balls strike a balance in texture right in between.

As for which one tastes better, everyone has their favorite. If we had to point out differences, it would be the slight variations in sauce recipes — for example, Minsheng Road North Gate Meatball adds black sesame for extra flavor.If you have the chance, why not try them all?

Chiayi Rice Balls
Address: No. 203, Chenleng Road, Changhua City, Changhua County
Phone: 04-7227868

Beimenkou Rice Balls (Zhongzheng Road flagship store)
Address: No. 494, Section 1, Zhongzheng Road, Changhua City, Changhua County
Phone: 04-722 9980

Beimenkou Rice Balls (Minsheng Road store)
Address: No. 315, Minsheng Road, Changhua City, Changhua County
Phone: 04-7227245

Beimenkou Rice Balls (Sanmin Road store)
Address: No. 34, Sanmin Road, Changhua City, Changhua County
Phone: 0921-788-494

A-San Rice Balls
Address: No. 242, Sanmin Road, Changhua City, Changhua County
Phone: 04-7240095

A-Zhang Rice Balls
Address: No. 144, Chang’an Street, Changhua City, Changhua County
Phone: 04 722 9517