Yong De Tang Barley Milk

Review

Yong De Tang Barley Milk stands at No. 136 Zhongxiao Road in Taichung's South District and is one of the best-known drink stalls on Zhongxiao Night Market. It is famous not only for its drinks but also for the warning notices plastered across the stall. Supertaste calls it the barley milk with the most attitude, several night market guides list it as a must-queue stop, and tourists often seek it out.

The signature barley milk uses hand-sorted pearl barley simmered for about eight hours, then blended to order with fresh milk. A blogger records NT$65 for 500 ml, with an extra NT$25 for a 700 ml size. The drink is thick and velvety with a little texture from the barley, rich in both milk and grain aroma, and quite filling. The menu also offers papaya milk, mung bean milk, red bean barley milk and mixed barley porridge, and a 500 ml iced black tea costs about NT$40.

Fans praise the generous ingredients, saying it is far richer than convenience store versions, and admire the owner for working almost every day of the year. Complaints focus on waiting: the owner runs the blender alone, each cup takes a while, and the queue can be long. Some feel nervous about the rules, and a few find the papaya milk too sweet.

The rules include not calling the owner uncle, not asking questions or hurrying him, and ordering clearly and paying when your number is called; breaking them may mean being refused service, so read the notices before you queue. Supertaste lists hours of 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., while online maps show a 5 p.m. opening; sources differ, so check before you go. The menu is Chinese only, and foreign visitors can simply point.

Good for lovers of rich grain drinks and anyone curious to meet a night market legend. First-timers should order the original barley milk, and red bean fans can try the red bean barley milk. Decide before your turn, say your whole order at once, pay, and wait quietly.