A Time-Honored Nostalgic Snack in Taichung: Q-Texture Rice Cake Steeped in Savory Broth

Text & Photos byFood Craving, Snapshot

Having the rare chance to visit Taichung’s Qingshui area, I spontaneously decided to try the local famous rice cake. Most of the well-known rice cake shops in Taichung that I found online are either the Afai Rice Cake or Wangta Rice Cake featured in this article, along with others like Caifeng Rice Cake and Rongji Rice Cake, which are also quite popular.

On this day, I chose to visit Afai Rice Cake Shop. However, since it was already the afternoon, many of the popular dishes had sold out, so I could only try their basic rice cake and wontons.

Afai Rice Cake Shop is located at a triangular intersection. Its sign is a bit old but still noticeable. Coming during a quieter time in the afternoon, the shop still had many customers—mostly takeout orders—so I was lucky enough to get a seat inside.

After ordering, you need to carry your tray and food to your seat yourself. The staff will bring out any items that require waiting time.

Braised Pork Rice Cake – NT$40

Upon serving, it emits an overwhelming aroma of braised goodness that’s truly enticing. The rich color of the braised pork topping on the rice cake also made my mouth water. The rice grains have a pleasantly chewy texture, and when paired with the sauce, it's flavorful and aromatic. While the sauce has a hint of sweetness, I personally found it a bit on the salty side,

The braised pork itself is also quite oily. The fatty parts were quite satisfying, but the large chunks can feel a bit greasy. Overall, the flavor is good but not mind-blowingly amazing. It’s a bit of a pity I didn’t get to try Afai’s signature braised pork sausages today—they might have given a different impression.

Chen’s Wontons (price is around NT$30–40)

As for the wontons, I felt they had some spiciness but lacked enough numbness and aroma. Otherwise, I quite liked both the wrapper and the filling. I also ordered a bowl of meatball soup, but found the taste rather ordinary, so I won’t elaborate further.

Since I arrived at Afai Rice Cake Shop later in the day, many of their signature dishes were already sold out, such as Four Treasures Soup and sausages... So I’ll just briefly introduce the wontons and rice cake here.

I saw online comments saying that younger people tend to prefer Afai, while the older generation favors Wangta. This really made me curious about the difference in taste between the two—I’ll definitely have to try Wangta next time I get the chance.

Afai Rice Cake Shop
Address: No. 105, Xining Rd., Qingshui District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-2622-9853
Business Hours: 10:00–20:00 (Closed on Mondays)

Food Craving, Snapshot
A Taipei resident who lives slowly amid the bustling city.
Loves uncovering hidden culinary gems tucked away in alleys, streets, and right by one’s doorstep, and enjoys exploring corners filled with stories.
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