Tao Cheng Douhua (Guanghua Rd.)

Review

Tao Cheng Douhua's Guanghua Road shop is at No. 65 Guanghua Road in the East District. NOWnews reports that the building was the Deshan Hospital in the 1960s and kept its original look when it was converted, and travel sites describe it as a retro tofu pudding shop in a renovated old clinic. Tao Cheng is an old name for Chiayi, and the shop is only a few steps from the Wenhua Road night market, so many people drop in for a bowl before or after.

The douhua itself is traditional. Supertaste lists plain tofu pudding at NT$35, with each topping NT$5 extra, so you can build your own bowl with taro balls, sweet potato balls and more. Diners describe the pudding as silky with a strong soy aroma and the taro and sweet potato balls as pleasantly chewy. Beyond dessert, the shop serves pasta, salads, sandwiches and sourdough toast, plus alcohol in the evening, so it works as both a dessert shop and a brunch spot.

Fans love the atmosphere of the old hospital, with high ceilings, roomy seating and soft light, and many come specifically to take photos; the douhua is fairly priced with plenty of toppings. Critics feel the pudding is not cold enough to be truly refreshing in summer, and some find the light meals much pricier than the douhua, which clashes with the cheap image of a traditional tofu pudding stall.

NOWnews lists hours of 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., closed Wednesdays, while Google shows weekday closing at about 9:30 p.m.; sources differ, so check before you go. Weekend afternoons and night-market hours are busiest and may involve a wait. Guanghua Road is in the busy city center, so use a nearby paid lot or come by scooter. Note that Tao Cheng Douhua has more than one shop; this entry refers to the old-house shop on Guanghua Road.

Good for anyone who wants to linger over dessert in a historic building, or needs a place to sit down while exploring the Wenhua Road night market. First-timers can order plain douhua with taro balls and sweet potato balls, about NT$45. In the morning or at lunch, add sourdough toast or pasta for a full meal; expect NT$35 to NT$150 per person.