Tsai Family Tofu Pudding

Review

Tsai Family Tofu Pudding is at No. 111 Zhongxiao Road in the South District, a dessert shop that has been in Zhongxiao Night Market for over 30 years. There is plenty of seating, it runs from afternoon into late night, and its customers range from students to grandparents. Sitting down for a bowl after savory snacks at the market is a routine for many locals.

The signature is the mixed tofu pudding: silky, fine-textured pudding topped with soybeans, peanuts, mung beans, tapioca pearls, job's tears and chewy jelly, in a noticeably bigger portion than single toppings. You can also order grass jelly tofu pudding, plus sweet soups such as iced taro, lotus seed soup, taro balls and glutinous rice balls. Unusually, the shop also sells gua bao, soup dumplings, four-herb soup and pig blood rice cake, so you can go from a meal to dessert in one place. Staff can adjust the amount of shaved ice, so mention it if you prefer less.

Most coverage praises the generous toppings and friendly prices, with items around NT$40–60, and some diners recommend the hot version, saying the texture is better warm. Opinions are not unanimous, though: some think the pudding itself is ordinary and the appeal lies mainly in the generous toppings. At busy times both dine-in and takeaway lines get long, but service is quick, so the wait is usually short.

Sources differ on hours: a 2020 article lists 15:00 to 1am, while a 2022 report gives 15:30–23:00 and closed Wednesdays, so check the shop's fan page before going. Parking near the night market is difficult, so come by scooter or bus.

It suits anyone finishing savory food at Zhongxiao Night Market who wants a traditional dessert, and groups who want sweet and savory in one stop. First-timers should get the mixed tofu pudding, switch to hot on cold days, and add a gua bao or four-herb soup if there is room.