Tasty Treats All Over Taichung-

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COMPASS MAGAZINE, July 2005.

	Tasty Treats All Over Taichung- Famous street side snack vendors By Cara Steenstra & Jay Wang & Uvia Chang & ??? & Maggie Chang Translated by Cara Steenstra It's a well-known fact: You don't have to spend a lot of money in order to taste good food in Taichung. Below is a short list--a beginner's primer of sort--of some of really authentic, delicious and cheap eateries in this city, located by COMPASS reporters, who searched high and low for these tasty treats. You will be amazed by what you can buy with just a little bit of money, so get out there and enjoy this wonderful mini-universe of really amazing eats!
	Gu Xiang Professional Lu-Wei Stew 105, DongXing Road, Sec. 2 (Corner of DaDun 2nd St.) 0933-502-738 Hours: 5-11 pm Years in business: 3 Specialty: "Lu Wei" Stew Ms. Zheng Gao-Qin has been selling "lu-wei" stew on this corner for almost three years now. Most people who come here are either regular customers or were introduced by regulars. Ms. Zheng puts a lot of effort into ensuring that everything she sells is fresh and hygienic. The hot sauce she uses is homemade and the pickled vegetables have been pre-fried as well, so as not to mix raw food with cooked food. The pickled vegetables are fried in a similar way to that used in beef noodles--not too sour and not too spicy. Many customers like the instant noodles here, as cooking them in the "lu wei" stew gives quite a different flavor. Green vegetables are the most popular; customers not only enjoy a tasty stew, but also get their daily intake of fiber and vitamins. Bean curd (tofu) skin, shrimp rolls, beef tendon, squid balls, fish balls, rice sausages, blood pudding, rice noodles and bean noodles are all very popular, too. Ingredients cost between NT$5 to NT$30 each and you can choose to have your stew's spiciness in high, medium or low levels, or not spicy at all. Ms. Zheng will carefully prepare it just the way you like it!
	Yi Zhong Feng Ren Ice 6, Lane 3, YuCai Street (04) 2223-0522 Hours: 10 am-10:30 pm weekdays Shop only closes during cold spells. Years in business: 60 Specialty: Feng Ren Ice In Chinese, the name "Feng Ren Ice" also sounds like "Crazy Person Ice". This name came about because the shop sells ice all year round, so that the locals think the owners are a little on the crazy side. Situated directly opposite the National First Taichung Senior High School, Feng Ren Ice is a stall that is just two pings large. They sell only one product here: An ice base is mixed with sour plum juice, a scoop of green beans and milk-flavored ice cream is placed in the middle, and a handful of hanamame (mottled red beans) is sprinkled on top. The combination of crunchy ice with a twist of sweet and sour flavors and the soft and chewy hanamame goes well with the refreshing yet creamy ice cream. The sour plum taste is just the right sweetness, too. During these sizzling-hot summer days, a plate of Feng Ren Ice (NT$25) will fizzle out all the heat and leave a lingering wonderful taste in your mouth.
	Second Market Radish Cakes Entrance of the SanMin Road Second Market (04) 2224-2318 Hours: 7 am-7 pm weekdays Open for business all year round. Years in business: 30 Specialty: Radish Cakes Where can one find authentic, delicious radish cakes? Most Taichung locals will tell you about the Taichung traditional snacks at the entrance to the city's Second Market. The stall owner fires the radish cake (NT$20) until it's golden on both sides, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The radish cakes are piping hot but not burnt, and you can eat them dipped in a combination of garlic soy sauce and sweet chili sauce, personally prepared by the owner himself. Why not try it with a hot bowl of fish ball and fried tofu soup (NT$40)? The sticky rice sausages (NT$20) here are a must-try, too.
	Mushroom and Meat Stew 79, FuXing Road, Sec. 4 Hours: 11 am-8 pm weekdays All branches take days off at different times. Years in business: 50 Specialty: Mushroom and Meat Stew This famous Mushroom and Meat Stew Noodle Stall was originally located in the First Market and was a place that all Taichung locals would bring their visitors to try. Forced to move after a fire in 1979, their new stalls are situated at FuXing Road, ShuangShi Road, LuChuan West Street and ShiWei Street. The shop prides itself for its traditional Taichung-style Mushroom and Meat Stew, with flavors created by the owner's father. The stew is thick with ingredients and very tasty, containing bamboo shreds, mushrooms and pork. For a mere NT$30, you can have a delicious bowl of stew. Try it with a stewed egg (NT$10), tofu skin (NT$10), fried tofu (NT$10) or some smooth and tasty Kong Rou (stewed pork) for NT$30; these combinations are all pretty good choices.
	Da Mian Geng (Thick Noodle Soup) 22, JianDe Street Hours: 1 am-6 pm Years in business: 40 Specialty: Da Mian Geng (Thick Noodle Soup) Do you want to try authentic Taiwanese noodles? Strands of well-cooked but not over-cooked thick noodles are sold for just NT$15 a bowl here. Deep-fried pork fat, spring onions and leeks add extra flavors, and those who like their food spicy can sprinkle some spicy dried radish cubes on top. The large pot of stew is super cheap, too. There is dried tofu (NT$2), pork rinds (NT$2), seaweed (NT$5), meatballs (NT$5) and chicken hearts on a stick for only NT$10. The elderly female owner has been doing business here since her youth. This cheap little eatery can found as you go along Taichung Road towards Dali City and turn left at JianCheng Road.
	Barbequed Meat and Salad Shop 13, Lane 140, ZhongZheng Road (04) 2221-0338 Hours: 11 am-9 pm (closed Mondays) Years in business: 48 Specialty: Barbequed Meat and Salad The female owner, who is over 70 years old, uses a traditional grill to prepare the meat with a good old-fashioned taste. Having stood the test of time for 48 years, this old shop is still around for good reason. The fragrant barbecued meat is combined with fresh mayonnaise, mashed potatoes and shredded cabbage. Strong meaty flavors, combined with the fresh sweetness of vegetables, make the perfect mix. Originally situated at the lane's entrance as a Japanese restaurant, they later moved further down the lane and concentrated only on the barbecued meat and salad because the business was going so incredibly well. Most diners here are all old customers who have been coming for decades. Apart from the House Special Barbequed Meat (NT$110), you can also try it with a bowl of pickled vegetables with rice (NT$30) or Squid Salad (NT$130) for a different experience!
	Ma Lu Lian 133, ZhongZheng Road (04) 2228-8359 Hours: 10 am-9 pm Years in business: 30 Specialty: Grass Jelly If you talk about glutinous taro balls, most Taichung residents will think of this place, which makes its own chewy glutinous taro balls. And, ever since they started making fresh grass jelly, their customers keep coming back for more. Just the sight of smooth grass jelly, combined with chewy glutinous taro balls and cream dribbled over the top, makes mouths water. However, the trick to eating the grass jelly here is to not mix it, but eat it as it is. Not only does this look better while you are eating, but it also helps the fragrance and taste last longer. There are over 11 types of grass jelly here to choose from, with Fresh Grass Jelly costing NT$40 per bowl.
	Xiao Bao's Fried Chicken with Pickled Vegetables and Sauces 162, FengJia Road 0927-851-220 Hours: 5 pm-1 am Years in business: 3 Specialty: Fried Chicken Original flavor, vinegar, plum, garlic, curry, wine, spicy and sour, crispy, picked vegetables--there are over 10 different ways of eating fried chicken to choose from here. These original combinations of tastes are an eye-opener, indeed. The woman owner is a gourmand who enjoys discovering new flavors. Although she originally opened her business in the Tunghai [university] area, she moved to the Feng Chia University area around six months ago and continues to enjoy her immense popularity. The fried chicken here comes in two different outer-layer styles. The “Crispy Fried Chicken” is covered in a thin layer of flour and their special mix of spices, then deep fried until fragrant and crispy. The“Pickled Vegetable Fried Chicken” is not covered in flour but fried directly, then combined with their homemade pickled vegetables for a different taste. All flavors are available in both styles, with the Garlic Flavored Fried Chicken costing NT$40.
	Sausage King 8, Lane 94, SanMin Road 0921-762-090 (Delivery available for 30 orders or more) Hours: 10 am-11 pm Years in business: Over 4 Specialty: Little Sausage Wrapped in Big Sausage This place is famous as the first “Little Sausage Wrapped in Big Sausage” store to open on YiZhong Street. The fragrance of the sausages often stops people in their tracks and the lane is often choc-a-bloc with customers. The sausage is made with chewy cuts from the thigh, which are barbequed the traditional way until the aroma spreads everywhere. Combined with their exclusive toppings of onions, pickled vegetables, pickled radish, cucumber and crushed garlic, this is then wrapped in another sausage made from glutinous rice, creating this fantastic sausage combination. Just one bite and the crispy sausage will release an aroma that you will not forget. Each order is NT$30.
	Four Seasons Pure Vegetarian Gelatin/ Glutinous Rice Ball/ Glutinous Rice Cake 17, XinXing Road, Long Jing Xiang (township), Taichung County Hours: 3-11 pm Delivery Hotline: (04) 2631-3890 Years in business: 11 Specialty: Pure Vegetarian Gelatin/ Glutinous Rice Cake This little shop sells vegetarian gelatin, glutinous rice balls and glutinous rice cakes, and has made its reputation through Tunghai University area residents' word of mouth. There is nothing better than a bowl of iced vegetarian gelatin with sweet-and-sour sugared lemon juice on a hot summer's day. Another specialty here is the wonderful array of extra toppings prepared by the owner. The glutinous rice cake is particularly smooth and chewy and has become a don't-miss item. The vegetarian gelatin here is all made from Ficus Awkeotsang Makino from Ali Mountain (Alishan). Because of its purity, it doesn't melt, even if you eat it hot, which is another option for customers and certainly not available just anywhere. Iced Gelatin and the Hot Gelatin are NT$30 each with extra toppings added at no extra cost. This is a great place to try this authentic Taiwanese dessert.