📍 Near the Dadaocheng Cisheng Temple, there is a traditional shaved ice shop that switches to selling hot food in the winter, such as rice tube cakes, rice noodles, and tempura. The specific time for switching from cold to hot food is posted at the entrance.
🍽️ Environment
The indoor seating can accommodate about 20 to 30 people, and most of the time, tables are combined. After placing an order at the counter, you pick up your food and find a seat inside. When seating is tight, staff will assist in finding seats. The air conditioning inside is cool enough, and there are also restrooms. Aside from the wait time in line, the waiting time for food is generally around one minute.
🍨 Dishes
▪️ Rice noodles + red beans + grass jelly $65
The combination of dishes is quite simple and clear, so there's not much difficulty in choosing. I came around three today and was disappointed to find that the tapioca pudding was sold out. The tapioca pudding here is white and delicious; I’ve missed it during my previous visits, so today I had to settle for the remaining three mixed options.
The rice noodles aren't too long and don’t stick together too much, having a nice chewy texture. The grass jelly is also chewy and smooth, while the red beans perform as they should. The syrup is quite sweet, but once the shaved ice melts, it’s just right. The shaved ice used here is the traditional coarser type that melts faster. In the past, you could get extra ice for free, but now it seems to cost extra. However, I'm not certain about this because there was a sign posted about extra charges, but I’ve previously received extra ice for free. 🤣
😄 As my first bowl of shaved ice this summer, the traditional shaved ice from "Jia Er Zui" indeed gave me a refreshing feeling. Overall, it didn’t feel heavy after finishing, and I recommend it to friends who enjoy simple shaved ice.
A hidden handmade pudding shop located in an alley - Fujiya Pudding, this time I visited the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi in Tainan, and this shop happened to be nearby. The store is converted from an old house, with a garden full of the owner’s heartfelt flowers and plants. Inside, there are many vintage decorations that give a nostalgic feeling, making it very relaxing.
The shop sells one type of dessert, which is handmade pudding. Their pudding is very creamy, and the owner mentioned that they do not add gelatin or agar-agar, making it very natural. It is made with fresh milk and good eggs, and the sweetness is just right, not overly sweet, and very delicious. 😋
The orange pudding has some pomelo peel in it, giving it a refreshing taste. If you don’t like too sweet things, I highly recommend this one.
The coffee has a hint of whiskey, but only a subtle alcohol flavor, which is quite special. If you want something unique, this is the one to choose!
❤️ The only dessert shop, Jiajia, that has received Michelin Guide recognition for eight consecutive years. Operating for over forty years and still maintaining a high standard is truly remarkable. Each post includes actual dining photos; even if it’s just a drink, to prevent some users from posting misleading pictures without food items. Overall rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
📍 This place is located in a small alley next to Nathan Road near Jordan Station. The shop provides quite a few indoor seating options, which are divided into two floors. 🚗 Due to the narrow streets in the area, it's recommended to take the subway or other public transportation.
💬 The service inside is decent (though it seems like they have faced harsh criticism). Customers need to take a number outside and wait until their number is called to be seated. For takeaway, an additional charge applies for the food container, but you won’t need to wait for a number. If it's too crowded, it's advisable to take away. (It’s suggested to check the waiting number status to decide whether to take away.)
Ordering food is currently self-service through an online system; you can scan a QR code to place your order online and pay with a credit card or other methods. You can also pay at the counter, but they only accept Hong Kong dollars in cash.
The speed of food delivery after ordering is not slow, and the shop is clean and not crowded (think of DimDimSum...). If there aren’t too many people or if you’re not in a rush, it’s still recommended to dine in.
Food Quality: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
Service Quality: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Atmosphere: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Value for Money: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
📍 29 Ningbo Street, Jordan, Hong Kong
☎️ 23843862
⏰ 12:00 PM - 01:00 AM
💰 No service charge
🚇 Located near Jordan MTR station, about a 3-minute walk.
For detailed food reviews, please continue reading ❤️
(It's a pity I didn't get to try the mango sago dessert; I have to come back next time!)
New Taipei Sanxia - A local ice shop that specializes in grass jelly. On summer afternoons, it is always packed with people, and the grass jelly ice comes with an extra large bowl of toppings!
📍 Ji Pin Grass Jelly Ice (Large) NT$80
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
The base of the snowflake ice is made by grinding up grass jelly ice cubes, resulting in a snow-like texture that delivers a light and fragrant grass jelly aroma.
The accompanying bowl of toppings includes: taro balls, sweet potato balls, grass jelly, red beans, pearls, and white pearls.
For NT$80, there are actually a lot of toppings, and by the end, I feel completely satisfied, taking about 20 minutes to finish it all.
The pearls have a hint of brown sugar flavor, while the other toppings are quite common and not particularly unique. The only standout is the grass jelly, which has a smooth and rich flavor that melts into the ice perfectly!
Additionally, there is a creamer provided, but I didn't use it as I feel it’s not very healthy, so I left it unopened!
▶️ Environment
🔹 The indoor seating is limited, accommodating about 10-12 people.
🔹 The shop is air-conditioned, so enjoying ice while being cooled down is indeed very refreshing.
🔹 The environment is relatively clean, bright, and comfortable.
▶️ Helpful Tips
🔹 If dining in, it’s recommended to grab a menu first to find a seat before heading to the counter to place your order.
🔹 Mobile payment options are partially supported.
▶️ Overall Rating
🔹 This shop is frequented by locals, although it is somewhat distant from the old street; it has very high ratings. I noticed they had many delivery orders while I was there, indicating a good business. The grass jelly-flavored snowflake ice is quite special, making it definitely worth a visit during the summer in Sanxia for a refreshing treat.
The specialty of Minami Aso Railway's Tate No Station: "Niko Niko Manju"! Buy some and set off for a picnic on the One Piece train!
This store is actually a century-old establishment! Founded in 1907, even though it's called manju, it’s actually a common red bean bun found in Taiwan. You can see the aunties and grandmothers wrapping them by hand right at the entrance.
A serving contains 8 pieces, but since they're bite-sized, one person can finish it alone, making it convenient for sharing among multiple people! Personally, I find the sweetness of the red bean filling just right, and there’s a hint of sweet sake aroma (similar to sweet rice wine), so it’s simple yet not boring!
It's very convenient to eat while waiting for the train or to bring on board. If you're visiting Aso, be sure to give it a try!
📍Datong District, Taipei City (near Beimen MRT Station)
Located in a small alley｜Italian gelato shop run by foreigners 🍨🍫
Continuing from yesterday’s Puro Gelato, today we have another small comparison of gelato 😜
Today's Ah Yang is a beloved shop that many of my friends often mention. It used to be called Genoa, but I found out it has been renamed Ah Yang this time.
The owner is a foreigner who understands Chinese. Each time I visit, he has a serious expression 🤪 and doesn’t interact with customers like a Turkish owner would.
All the flavors I've tried have a certain standard! There are no misses (except for the avocado 🥑 flavor that I'm always curious about but too scared to order).
For me, the downside of this shop is that you can’t sample the flavors, so I face a choice barrier every time I go 😝
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Order details:
🧊 One cup ($120/two flavors):
Peach 🍑 + Pistachio 🌰
Pistachio is probably this shop's signature flavor; it has a rich nutty and creamy taste as soon as you take a bite. By the end, it might feel a bit sweet and somewhat heavy.
You can tell the peach is made from real fresh fruit, and it even has some peach skin mixed in. However, I feel it’s not really a refreshing fruit flavor; the creaminess and texture of the fruit are quite rich (I feel a bit thirsty after finishing).
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Notes:
Ah Yang has a relatively high value for money; the portion size is quite large, and even though the price increased from 100 to 120 NT, it’s still reasonable.
It’s great for those who enjoy rich Italian gelato!
However, the service and dine-in environment are relatively simple.
For those who prefer refreshing fruit sorbet, I’d recommend the earlier Puro, as it maintains the same texture from the first bite to the last, though it is slightly more expensive.
At first, when I saw the last step of sprinkling marshmallows, I was quite apprehensive because ever since I grew up, I’ve had such an aversion to those tiny, colorful marshmallows (they're kind of like mixed jelly beans).
But after trying it at home, I found it actually goes really well... it adds a bit of chewy texture! As for the two flavors of ice, both performed quite nicely –
not too sweet, and the fruits are very fresh and tasty.
What’s special is that the base of the cantaloupe kiwi shaved ice is actually cantaloupe-flavored shaved ice; you won’t see the actual fruit! 🍈
✐ Fresh Mango Shaved Ice $140
✐ Cantaloupe Kiwi Shaved Ice $130
This is a famous shaved ice shop in Hawaii!
I personally think it's probably because of the colorful variety, and since the weather in Hawaii is relatively hot, that's why so many people come!
However, the line moves very quickly,
even when you see a crowd outside, you can still order your food in no time.
I ordered two small ones—
❤️ lychee, mango 🥭, guava.
This combination was entirely my own choice, and I think all three flavors are quite good—especially the mango, which is very rich in flavor! The lychee tastes a bit like the lychee jelly we eat—sweet, and reminiscent of childhood memories! Their mochi balls are also very chewy and delicious, and the red beans are soft and dense—definitely worth adding to the mix!
❤️ blue pineapple, strawberry 🍓, orange 🍊.
This one I can't really recommend... the blue pineapple's flavor is a bit too artificial... it clearly doesn't taste like a normal fruit! The strawberry also tastes somewhat like canned strawberry jam... but the orange is a little better, resembling a slightly sweet and sour orange flavor!
Actually, Taiwan's shaved ice 🍧 is amazing, so you really don't have to go all the way to eat their ice! However, because the weather is really hot, and colorful ice is quite interesting, if you are nearby and want to have some ice, you might consider checking it out!
Saw colorful tangyuan shaved ice on Instagram
🌟 A nostalgic old-school ice shop at pocket-friendly prices, under 50, it’s a blast to eat!
🌟 No outside food or pets allowed.
“Changxing Yuanzi Ice,” a three-generation old ice shop in Yunlin with 60 years of local history, highly recommended for its traditional flavors of burnt mochi and yuanzi ice. It’s super cheap and refreshing!
The Changxing Yuanzi Ice old shop has an open design dining area. Even without air conditioning, the temperature feels like it gradually decreases after finishing the ice. The open cooking area is very clean, and I can see the super large burnt mochi. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch the colorful tangyuan cooking process this time.
Changxing Yuanzi Ice menu: Yuanzi ice, traditional ice products, yuanzi soup, and rice cake porridge all priced at 45 NTD, and burnt mochi is only 35 NTD, which is really super cheap.
That day, I was too full, and my friend doesn’t like mochi, so we didn’t order it. Next time I’ll definitely try it all out 🤣🤣
Starting to eat
Mixed Yuanzi Ice 💰45
Attracted by the colorful tangyuan, but in reality, it doesn't have the tangyuan displayed the way in the photo; that was staged by the blogger. The mixed yuanzi ice contains red beans, barley, mung beans, soybeans, and other ingredients. The tangyuan comes in various colors and flavors; they are chewy and not overly sweet, which I found really great.
Chocolate Cowboy Ice 💰45
Traditional chocolate flavor and milk ice; it used to be my favorite.
Thoughts: Nostalgic flavors are amazing, and the tangyuan is really cute. Locals must love this ice shop.
If you value food: It’s cheap and delicious.
If you value the environment: It’s an old shop, the cooking area is clean, and the space is spacious.
If you care about parking: Motorcycles can park at the entrance, and there’s a parking lot across the street for cars.
If you need a restroom: There’s one communal restroom.
If you care about waiting: The service is fast, almost no waiting time.
If you value service: Average.
If you value cost-performance ratio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
(Simply discussing food and price)
📍Shilin District, Taipei City (Tianmu Business District)
Enjoy the authentic fruit flavor of perfect Gelato 🍨🍓
This place is my favorite Gelato shop that I have visited possibly 30 times 🫶🏻🫶🏻 I have tried almost all the flavors, and it is my number one choice for the best Italian ice cream in Taipei 🥇
Puro offers around a dozen flavors every day, using seasonal fruits. Besides the signature red-fleshed guava, the flavors change almost every week. You can check the flavors posted on their Facebook page! You can also sample before ordering.
Out of all the flavors, especially the fruity ones, they are amazing and highly recommended～～～ The authenticity is very high! They can even make fruits I don’t like taste perfect.
In addition to the fruit flavors, I also personally love the "Lavender 🪻," where you can taste the intermingling of floral and creamy flavors. It’s been a while since I encountered something like this!
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Order details
🧊 Large cup ($185/three flavors):
Hazelnut 🌰 + Blueberry Sorbet 🫐 + Mango Plum Wine 🥭
This time I sampled these three new flavors, and they were all great 😆
Besides the two fruit flavors maintaining their consistent quality, the hazelnut flavor was particularly unforgettable. It is similar to the filling of Ferrero Rocher but not overly sweet, and the hazelnut aftertaste lingers in your mouth. I would definitely order it again next time 😝
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Note:
Before writing this, I specifically compared it with the also very popular A-Yang Gelato near Beimen 😆
As someone who loves refreshing fruit Sorbet, I still prefer the texture of the Gelato from Puro. From the first bite to the last, it maintains the same amazing experience!
