Popular Yilan Delicacies: Juice-Squirting Xiao Long Bao & Hellfire Ramen!

Text & Photos bySan Gao Chi Han

Zheng Zheng Zhen Chang is a split from a brother-owned business, and there’s actually a Zhen Chang branch in Taipei too. I bought from them on Lanzhou Street a few years ago—it was pretty good. This time I came to Yilan planning to eat at Zheng Zheng, but they said the wait would be over an hour in the afternoon, so I gave up and bought Qian Jin Scallion Pancakes from across the street instead. They were quite to my taste—delicious. This time, it was Saturday and I arrived before noon. Lucky me, just as I got there, some customers left and a table freed up.

One basket (10 pieces) for NT$70. The ordering area notes that one basket is one portion, so bring your own utensils if sharing. Maybe I looked friendly, because when I ordered one basket, they gave me two sets of chopsticks and spoons. In a good mood, I added a bowl of spicy hot soup and a black tea. They asked if I wanted it spicy—adding a bit of chili oil sounded pretty good.

The freshly made wrappers are slightly chewy and thin, with the green of Sanxing scallions visible in the center. The dumplings are juicy, giving them a plump appearance.

The pork and scallion filling isn’t overly generous, about half and half with the juice. But this balance is quite pleasant. I especially liked the sweet, non-greasy scallion broth. Dipping it in chili oil was also quite satisfying. Sometimes it’s just like that with food—you haven’t had a certain flavor in ages, and suddenly it tastes especially delicious.

A few xiao long bao satisfied my appetite, and I didn’t really feel like squeezing into crowded snack stalls. So I headed to a street-style ramen spot in the city for round two. Though they now have their own shop, the courtyard still has what looks like their old ramen stall from the Dongshan days—it’s been turned into a photo spot.

There’s a promotion going on where you get a large bowl at no extra charge, but the two of us aren’t youngsters anymore—we’re mainly here for the taste~

The pork bone broth is just as described on the menu—suited to local Taiwanese tastes. It has a mellow flavor, which most people will probably find easy to enjoy, though it lacks a stronger, richer umami depth. If you prefer Japanese-style ramen, you might find this broth a bit bland after just a few sips, at best smooth-tasting.

The Hellfire Ramen uses the same broth but adds specially made chili oil. The faint red oil floating on the surface doesn’t lie—one sip and you’ll taste the spice. It’ll probably make you break a sweat in winter too.

Zheng Zheng Fresh Meat Xiao Long Bao
Address: No. 25-1, Taishan Rd., Yilan City
Business Hours: 8:00 AM–12:30 PM, 3:00 PM–7:00 PM (Closed Mondays)

Street-Style Ramen
Address: No. 55, Section 2, Yixing Rd., Yilan City
Business Hours: 11:30 AM–1:30 PM, 5:30 PM–7:30 PM (Irregular hours)

Savoring Taiwan, one delicious bite at a time
San Gao Chi Han’s Food Journey　San Gao Fan Page