Gu Yue Guan Fried Glutinous Rice Balls

Review

Gu Yue Guan sits at the corner of Taiping Street and Minsheng Road in Changhua City. This roughly half-century-old snack stall shows up in almost every roundup of downtown Changhua food. Its fried glutinous rice balls are what southern Taiwan calls bai tang guo: glutinous rice is ground into batter, drained, shaped into balls and deep-fried, and Changhua locals call them nuo mi zha.

They are fried to order and tossed in hand-ground peanut or sesame sugar powder. Flavors are peanut, sesame or mixed, and the mix is most often recommended. The outside is crisp but not greasy, the inside soft and chewy with a slight mochi-like stretch, the peanut aroma is rich and the sweetness moderate; eat them hot for the best texture. Prices are friendly: NT$50 for a small bag of 10 or NT$100 for a large bag of 22, about NT$5 a piece, and a bag is generous enough for two to share.

Reviews mostly praise the crisp-chewy contrast and the just-fried warmth, and one article notes long lines even on scorching days. Some say the first few are the best and many in a row get cloying, so they are better split among two or three people. Lines are long at busy times, with one article describing a wait of over an hour; the shop suggests calling ahead to order.

It opens only in the afternoon, and sources differ slightly, roughly 1:15 or 1:30pm until 7:30 to 8:30pm. Closed Thursdays; confirm before going. Scooters can park at the door, and drivers can use the nearby Yongle parking lot. Takeaway is easy, and they are fine to eat while walking.

It suits anyone exploring Changhua's old streets who wants an old-fashioned sweet. A small mixed bag is right for two, a large one for groups, and if you would rather not wait, phone ahead and pick it up.