Dongqu Fen Yuan

Review

Dongqu Fen Yuan is at No. 38, Lane 216, Section 4 of Zhongxiao East Road, a short walk from MRT Zhongxiao Dunhua Station, and a long-standing ice shop familiar to East District shoppers. Business Today reported that owners Lin Chen-chang and Wu Ching-wen began with a street stall in this lane in 1984, rented a shopfront after seven or eight years and later bought the premises; twelve tapioca shops once lined the lane, and by the time of the report only this one remained. SETN also featured it in 2019 as a thirty-year-old shop on Lane 216.

The signature is its large tapioca pearls. Business Today notes they follow a house recipe made in two stages, first the core and then the outer layer, for extra chew, with machines brought in later as output grew. SETN describes chewy pearls with syrup that is sweet but not cloying and fine crushed ice. Diners explain that you first choose a shaved-ice or hot soup base, then four toppings such as red beans, mung beans, barley, taro and rice balls, and there is crushed ice and brown sugar syrup by the counter to add yourself. The NT$50 per bowl in the report dates from 2010 and prices have since changed, so check before you go.

Praise centres on generous portions, all-traditional natural toppings and low prices; a bowl is a great way to cool down in summer, and sitting under the arcade to people-watch is pleasant. Criticism mentions a rushed ordering process with staff who lack patience to explain, which flusters first-timers; some find the pearls themselves bland and prefer another shop in the same lane, and the half-open shop has no air conditioning and few seats.

Online listings show hours of about 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. with no fixed closing day; confirm before you go. Business Today notes menus in Chinese, English and Japanese, and many Japanese visitors come. It is open late enough for a stop after shopping or dinner in the East District. There are other tapioca shops in the lane, so look for No. 38. Parking nearby is difficult, so take the MRT.

Good for anyone shopping in the East District who wants a traditional Taiwanese ice dessert, or for introducing overseas friends to Taiwanese sweet soups. On a first visit, choose tapioca shaved ice with red beans, taro, mung beans and rice balls; in winter switch to the hot version. If you prefer less sweetness, go easy on the syrup and adjust it yourself.