A-Tsai Rice Cake

Review

A-Tsai Rice Cake sits at No. 105 Xining Road in Qingshui, just steps from Ziyun Temple, and several reports say it has been open for more than fifty years. Qingshui is the best-known rice-cake town on Taichung's coast, and online articles often group Rongji, Wangta, Zheng Pai and A-Tsai as the area's 'big four'. When the Dajia Mazu pilgrimage passes Qingshui's Chaoxing Temple, A-Tsai is also a regular pick for cheap snacks along the route.

What sets the rice cake apart is its color. The glutinous rice is steamed without sauce, so it arrives white, and the savory flavor comes from a large slab of fatty braised pork and the house sauce poured on top. Reports describe separate, chewy grains, soft and well-seasoned pork, and a generous amount of meat; once mixed, it eats a bit like braised pork rice. Soups include an unthickened clear pork soup, bitter melon pork rib soup and four-herb soup, and locals most often pair the rice with the light pork soup.

Reviews are mostly positive, with a few caveats. A Supertaste writer stresses mixing everything well first, or some bites will be too salty, and the same piece notes that the four-herb soup is saltier than usual, though generously filled. Some diners feel the fame outweighs the taste, and people who prefer a lighter sauce may like other shops nearby better. Another article says the owner's humorous banter with customers is part of the fun.

Hours are 10:00 to 19:00, closed Mondays. Expect a short wait at mealtimes. Parking in the surrounding lanes is hard, so drivers can use the paid lot in front of Ziyun Temple and walk over. Sources do not give a full price list, so check the menu board on site.

It suits anyone who wants to try Qingshui's signature rice cake in one go and likes braised pork with both fat and lean. Order a bowl of rice cake with the clear pork soup and mix the sauce and meat through before eating; if there is room left, walk to the front of Ziyun Temple for an old-style tapioca shaved ice to finish.