Luodong Red Bean Tangyuan

Review

Luodong Red Bean Tangyuan sits at the corner of Zhongshan Road Section 3 and Zhongzheng Road, just two blocks from Luodong Night Market, a three-to-five-minute walk. Supertaste says it has been open for about sixty years and is a sweet-soup shop that Luodong locals grow up with. It has customers in winter and summer alike, and many people detour here to finish off a night-market visit.

The menu could hardly be simpler: red bean soup, glutinous rice balls, or the two together. The rice balls are ground and rolled fresh every day, soft and springy, while the red beans are cooked until creamy in a syrup that is sweet without being cloying. You can have it hot or iced. According to Supertaste, a bowl of red bean soup with rice balls costs NT$45 either way; check prices on site.

Fans most often praise the chewy rice balls and smooth beans, saying the shop does two simple things very well, and some mention you can ask for less sugar. Criticism centres on the tiny menu, and some find it on the sweet side or too warming in summer, suggesting the iced version instead.

Reports put opening hours at about 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. with no fixed day off; check before you go. The shop is small, so you may wait briefly for a seat when the night market is busy. Since it is within walking distance of the market, there is no need to find separate parking; just leave your car near the market and walk over.

It suits anyone who wants something sweet after the savoury snacks at Luodong Night Market, or travellers looking for a hot dessert on a rainy day. First-timers should simply order the red bean soup with rice balls, hot in winter and iced in summer, and ask for less sugar if you prefer it lighter.