Lao Zhang Aiyu Ice

Review

Lao Zhang Aiyu Ice is on Xinyi Street in Fengshan, near the Zhonghua Street night market area. When a blogger covered it, it was already a veteran of more than forty years, a regular stop for locals cooling off after dinner or late at night. The shop stresses its aiyu is hand-washed from wild aiyu seeds sourced from high-altitude Alishan, and its flagship is the sweet-tart kumquat-lemon aiyu style of drink.

The aiyu in the lemon aiyu ice is firmer and bouncier than at most shops, and the lemon juice has bits of pulp, giving a refreshing sweet-sour taste. Beyond aiyu, the shaved ice offers more than twenty toppings, finished with the shop's own black-sugar syrup and a special mung bean sauce; those who dislike sour flavors can order black honey syrup water. In winter there are hot items such as hot grass jelly with mix-and-match toppings, and tapioca balls and taro are often recommended.

Reviewers like the fair prices and wide topping choice; some say it is the ice shop they visit every time they return to Kaohsiung, praising the black-sugar syrup and mung bean sauce, and the lively, warm staff. Complaints mainly concern aiyu that is on the sweet side, with some wishing for less sugar, plus summer evening crowds and limited seating. Overall it is seen as one of Fengshan's most representative old ice shops.

Online listings show roughly 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., closed Mondays, making it a good late-night dessert stop. In the blog, lemon aiyu ice was NT$40, but that was the 2015 price and may have changed, so check before going. Summer after dinner is the peak, though queues usually move quickly; parking in the lanes is hard, so a scooter is easier.

It suits fans of old-style ices and anyone looking for evening dessert. First-timers should try the lemon aiyu ice or kumquat-lemon aiyu; shaved ice lovers can pick two or three toppings with black-sugar syrup. If you dislike sweetness, ask for less sugar, and in winter try the hot grass jelly.