5Miyahara
Central Dist. · Desserts & shaved ice
A-Dou-Bo Cold Taro
Long-standingLate nightWorth the queue
VerdictCreamy cold taro with crisp toast, a Taichung late-night classic
A sweet-soup stall running since the 1960s under an arcade near Zhonghua Night Market. Its signature cold taro brings three big, slow-simmered chunks per bowl, regulars add strawberry-butter toast, and lines run from afternoon to late night.
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Review
A-Dou-Bo Cold Taro trades from a covered arcade at No. 356 Chenggong Road in Central District, near Zhonghua Road Night Market. Founded in the 1960s and now run by the third generation, it consists of a stainless-steel cart and eight or nine old tables, and writer Yang Shuang-zi calls it perhaps the longest-running and most specialized cold taro stall in Taichung. The word for frozen in its name really means chilled, not iced solid. At first it sold only cold taro and tofu pudding; wood ear and lotus seed soup came later, and toast was added at regulars' request.
Each bowl of the signature cold taro holds three or four large chunks. Taro from Dajia, Gongguan or Pingtung is chosen by season, simmered for about two hours, then portioned into small jars so repeated scooping does not break it up. The grayish-purple chunks look plain, but they are dense and creamy, sweet without being cloying, and soaked in cold old-fashioned syrup that is wonderfully cooling. The toast comes as two slices, one spread with butter and the other with strawberry jam, grilled until dry and crisp; many consider it a must. The wood ear and lotus seed soup is soft and lightly sweet, the mung bean soup is light, and in winter there is a sliced tomato plate with a dip of ginger, sugar and licorice.
Writers and columnists are mostly enthusiastic, and Mirror Media mentions celebrity visits; Yang even says her family tried making it at home and could never match it. Most coverage found is recommendation-style, so criticism is scarce. The points raised most often are the basic setting, with no air conditioning or heating in the arcade, long waits, and taro that is not much to look at.
A 2026 report lists cold taro at NT$50, strawberry butter toast NT$30, mung bean soup NT$35, tofu pudding NT$45, peanut soup NT$50 and wood ear and lotus seed soup NT$55. Crowds start soon after it opens in the afternoon and peak after dinner and late at night, with dine-in and takeaway handled separately. Sources disagree on hours, giving an opening time of 2pm or 2:30pm and closing anywhere from 0:30 to 1am, and one says it closes on Sundays, so check before you go.
It suits anyone exploring Zhonghua Road Night Market who wants a traditional sweet soup for an afternoon snack or late-night treat. Groups of two or three can order one of everything to share; on your own, a bowl of cold taro with a serving of toast is the regulars' classic combination.
Why go
- Signature cold taro is NT$50 with three or four big chunks
- Pair it with NT$30 strawberry butter toast, the classic combo
- Simmered two hours, the taro is dense, creamy and not cloying
- Busiest after dinner and late night; afternoons move faster
- Groups of two or three can order one of everything
- Arcade seating has no air conditioning in summer
What people say
Liked
- Dense, creamy taro in cool, refreshing syrup
- Crisp toast that pairs perfectly with the cold taro
- A flavor honed over 60 years that is hard to copy at home
Complaints
- Arcade seating, hot in summer and cold in winter
- Long queues at late-night peak
- Hours and closing day are inconsistent across sources
Summarized from the common views of bloggers, media and diners; not direct quotes.
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Location
台中市中區成功路356號Directions ↗
Sources
This page is compiled from the articles below and rewritten in our own words. Hours and prices change, so check before you go.
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