38≠54！Fengyue Alley’s Beloved Old Shop “Rouyuan Po”

Text & Photography by Chi Binghui

The sign proudly declares “38-Year-Old Shop,” but given that a snack shop wouldn’t change its sign every year, this widely famed rice ball spot has actually been around for a full 54 years. The proprietress, “Rouyuan Po,” represents the second generation running the place, yet what remains unchanged is the chewy, filling-packed texture of the rice balls—delicious enough to keep you coming back for more.

This “Rouyuan Po” is an old shop well known to everyone in Wufeng, and also enjoys great fame online. The shop is located right across from the police station on Minquan Street, just a few hundred meters from the Wufeng Lin Family Mansion, so besides locals dropping by regularly, many out-of-town visitors flock here on holidays.

The shop doesn’t have many seats, and many customers take their food away. The skilled staff cutting up the rice balls are relatives who come to help out at “Rouyuan Po”—they don’t stop working from start to finish as they fry the rice balls and drizzle sauces. For just NT$30, a rice ball quickly arrives at your table. The ingredients might be affordably priced, but quality isn’t compromised: firm pork filling paired with chewy yet tender skin, then topped with two sauces—white sauce and soy paste. Those who like spice can try the homemade chili sauce. End it all with a bowl of “more ingredients than broth” mixed soup for a truly satisfying meal.