Hsieh Family Eight-Treasure Ice

Review

Hsieh Family Eight-Treasure Ice started as a small cart in 1963 and now operates in the Shi Jing Jiu food court on Section 2 of Minzu Road, roughly across from Chihkan Tower. Reports say it was already trading back when the Far Eastern Department Store still stood on Minzu Road, and many Tainan locals have eaten here as a late-night dessert since their school days. It still opens only in the evening.

Summer is all about eight-treasure ice, while winter shifts to sweet soups, plus rice balls and sticky rice porridge. A 2025 report lists eight-treasure ice and peanut soup at NT$60 each, the egg-and-condensed-milk moon-viewing ice at NT$35, homemade pudding at NT$25 a piece and pudding with condensed milk ice at NT$50. Toppings include mung beans, red and adzuki beans, pearl barley, rice balls, peanuts, almond jelly and lotus seeds; reviewers say everything is cooked in-house, the beans are soft without falling apart, and the handmade pudding has a strong egg flavor that many call the hidden must-order.

Praise centers on low prices, honest portions, good almond and red bean, and the chance to get traditional desserts late at night. Complaints are relatively few: the stall is plain, with mostly arcade seating that gets stuffy on summer nights; some feel it is simply a solid traditional ice shop without anything special; and because it opens only at night, daytime visitors to Chihkan Tower often find it closed.

Hours are about 19:00 to 00:30. Map listings show Tuesdays off, but the main reports do not mention a closing day, so check before you go. It works well after dinner or after seeing Chihkan Tower lit up at night; the late-night rush is busy but tables turn quickly. Street parking on Minzu Road is limited in the evening, so a scooter or walking is easier. Sources do not mention payment methods, and small change is handy at a stall like this.

It suits night owls, anyone after cheap old-fashioned desserts, and travelers staying near Chihkan Tower. In summer, build your own eight-treasure ice and add a pudding, the most recommended move; for a nostalgic taste, order the moon-viewing ice. In winter, go for peanut soup or a hot mixed sweet soup, and a bowl of sticky rice porridge brings a classic Tainan touch.