Taipei’s “Popping Ice Flower Pan-Fried Dumplings” That Burst in Your Mouth — Choose from 7 Flavors!

Text & Photos /Lao K

I headed to this area near Nanjing Sanmin Station for lunch around 2 p.m.

Riding along Baoqing Street, I originally planned to grab a bowl of udon at Moumou Udon, a place I’d eaten at before. But then I spotted a newly opened Da Gao Ice Flower Pan-Fried Dumplings right next door. I vaguely remembered having ice flower pan-fried dumplings before, but couldn’t recall where. It’s pretty rare to see them sold in Taipei, so I immediately decided to give this new spot a try instead — XD

There’s a sign at the entrance listing three flavors, and they’re said to burst in your mouth too.

You can tell it hasn’t been open long — after asking the owner, I learned they just started business in mid-February.

Aside from the three flavors listed outside, there are also three seasonal specials, plus today’s special Tsa-su (basil) flavor, making a total of seven flavors. Since it was my first time here, I went with the leek flavor — the safest choice, according to Lao K — XD. And, as always, I got a bowl of the classic spicy and sour soup.

The dumplings are fried to order, one pan per order, which seems like quite the effort.

Looks like they’re almost ready. The pan-fried dumplings are pretty big.

First, I grabbed some dipping sauces and utensils from the condiment station.

Leek Flavor Ice Flower Pan-Fried Dumplings (NT$70), Spicy & Sour Soup (NT$35)

Before serving, the ice flower pan-fried dumplings are transferred onto another pan, so the crispy bottom ends up facing up. You can see there are eight dumplings in total.

I’ve had Shanghai Chef Shao’s soup dumplings before — their crispy little buns are also pan-fried like this, though not as large and with a different style.

When I poked them with chopsticks, the very bottom layer was noticeably different from the typical potstickers I’m used to. The skin isn’t super thin, and only has a mildly crispy texture, but on the upside, it’s not greasy at all.

Their leek flavor is quite unique — aside from the usual leek and pork filling, they’ve actually included vermicelli too, so it feels a bit like eating a meat-filled leek pancake, XD. The dumpling wrappers are fairly elastic, and the filling isn’t overly seasoned, letting the savory taste of the pork shine through. Lao K found these pan-fried dumplings to be refreshing and really enjoyable. Just be careful, though — there’s quite a bit of juice inside that really bursts out when you bite, and it could definitely burn you if you’re not careful.

Their chili sauce has a bit of a numbing-spicy kick, which Lao K thought was quite distinctive and pairs really well with the dumplings.

The spicy and sour soup is also generously filled, and follows a lighter flavor profile. If you want something heavier, you can always adjust the seasoning to your taste!

Tsa-su (Basil) Flavor Ice Flower Pan-Fried Dumplings (NT$70)

These Tsa-su (basil) flavor ice flower pan-fried dumplings were recommended by the owner. Tsa-su refers to the basil flavor — specifically Thai basil. But just one serving wasn’t enough for me, XD.

They look pretty similar to the leek ones on the outside.

But the flavor is completely different. I was expecting the Thai basil flavor to be really strong, but it turned out to be surprisingly subtle — just a fragrant hint of basil paired with the sweetness of the pork. Actually, the sweet flavor was even more pronounced than the leek version. I asked the owner if there was anything else added inside, and she said they also include eggplant. No wonder — the sweetness of the eggplant makes it even more special. No wonder the owner recommended it. This Tsa-su flavor has more personality than the leek one, and Lao K really loves it!

Lao K’s Little Tips: You really don’t see ice flower pan-fried dumplings like these very often in Taipei, so it’s really a treat to get to eat them. And the flavors here are really well thought out. If you’re a fan of dumplings or potstickers, you’ll probably want to give them a try. But because they’re made to order, the wait time can be a bit longer, so please have a little patience — we highly recommend this place.

Lao K’s Personal Rating (out of 10, higher is better)
Taste: 8.2
Value for Money: 8
Dining Ambience: 5.5
Price: 7

Da Gao Ice Flower Pan-Fried Dumplings
Fan Page:Large Crispy Ice Flower Pan-Fried Dumplings
Address: No. 73, Baoqing Street, Songshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2765-4899
Business Hours: 11:00–20:00 (until 14:30 on Thursdays) (Closed from 14:30 to 17:00 with a half-closed gate; you can ask if you want to dine during that time)

Old K
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