A-Lan Wan Gui

Review

A-Lan Wan Gui is on Zhongshan Road in Madou. Among the town's rice pudding shops it has the largest dining room, the longest hours and the easiest parking, which is why it is the best known to visitors. Madou is famous for wan gui, with many old shops around the market, and A-Lan is where many people get their first taste of it.

The signature wan gui costs NT$30. The rice batter is steamed until soft and springy without turning mushy, and inside are dried shrimp, fried shallots, shiitake, lean pork and a piece of boiled egg, savory with a touch of sweetness. Supertaste strongly recommends adding the house garlic soy sauce, which brightens the whole bowl. Peanut soup is also NT$30, made with large peanuts in a clear pork-trotter broth and served savory. Side dishes are NT$20 a plate, and fish thick soup is available too.

Reviewers generally find the prices fair, the fillings generous and the service fast. The pudding is firm yet tender, and with a soup it makes a complete brunch. Complaints mostly concern crowds: there are often lines at mealtimes, some find the sauce too sweet, and items such as fried rice and pork intestine may sell out by the afternoon. Late in the day the whole shop can be sold out.

There are two floors of seating. You queue to order and pay, then carry your tray and find a seat; takeaway has a separate, shorter line, and frozen milkfish balls are sold to take home. Hours are roughly 6:30 am to 6:30 pm, but popular items disappear once sold out, so go in the morning. Parking is easier here than inside the market area.

It suits first-time visitors to Madou who want authentic wan gui, or drivers passing through northern Tainan looking for brunch. Order a wan gui with peanut soup or fish soup, and always add the garlic soy sauce. When it is busy, the takeaway line usually moves faster.