It tastes even chewier when cold—the grains are distinct yet bouncy in this old-school rice cake.

Text & Photos /San Gao Eats Han

I almost always pick at least one rice cake spot whenever I visit Tainan. This snack really hits the spot for me. Last year, a place serving Tainan-style rice cakes and Yi-mian noodles opened on Southeast Street in Hsinchu. After trying it... well, I wasn’t too impressed. Later, I heard about an old man’s rice cake shop on Minzu Road (the name is simply Tainan Rice Cake), so I went to check it out.

The old man’s rice cake shop is pretty easy to spot—it has a red lantern at the entrance. I went twice. The first time, I arrived at 11 AM right when they opened. The glutinous rice hadn’t been fully prepared yet, so I had to wait about 10 minutes before it was served.

But wow, the texture of the glutinous rice was really something special. Steaming hot, the grains were distinct and springy, almost like it was made with aged rice. As soon as I took a bite, I knew it was authentic—right on point. I loved it so much I even took some to go. When it cooled down, the texture became even chewier and firmer.

The second visit was in the afternoon. The texture wasn’t quite as good as the first time, but it was still delicious overall. The old man’s minced pork over rice noodles had a bit of history in it—the meat was finely chopped rather than in big chunks. That salty-sweet, well-balanced flavor... was really nice. The peanuts were also nice and soft, and the pickled, crispy cucumber hit the spot.

The braised duck egg was flavorful enough—the yolk was soft and fluffy without being dry. I ordered it both times.

The milkfish ball soup was a bit on the bland side, but the Four Treasures Soup was better. Actually, a lot of people come here just to take food away—the place was pretty empty. Also, not sure if it’s the old man’s accent or what, but his Taiwanese pronunciation was a bit muffled—I couldn’t quite catch everything. Heh.

Tainan Rice Cake
Address: No. 181, Minzu Road, Hsinchu City
Hours: 11:00 AM–7:30 PM (Closed on Sundays)

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