Bao-a Fu Jiali Ba-wan

Review

Bao-a Fu Jiali Ba-wan is on Yanping Road in Jiali, a meatball dumpling shop locals have grown up with. Supertaste recommends it in its Jiali food guide and explains the name: in the Japanese era Jiali's ba-wan were made as big as buns, hence the nickname 'bao-a'. Supertaste's shop page also lists its address and hours, and comments often say people have eaten here since childhood, marking it as a local institution.

There is only one item: ba-wan at NT$35 with a bowl of hot soup. Each is wrapped by hand on site; the skin is darker than Changhua-style ba-wan and chewier, and the filling is mostly bamboo shoots with shiitake and pork, finished with the house sauce. The soup carries a mushroom aroma, and the local way is to eat half the ba-wan, then pour the hot soup into the bowl so the flavour shifts from rich to light. The media suggest ordering at least two.

Fans praise the springy skin, fragrant bamboo shoots, the soup as a bonus and the fair price, calling it a must-eat brunch snack in Jiali. On the downside, some feel the mushroom soup is less intense than before; visitors note it is currently mostly takeaway, packed two to a bag, which is awkward on the go; and weekends get busy, so midday visitors often find it sold out. Some diners recall NT$30 each, while recent reports say NT$35, so go by the price on site.

According to the shop listing, hours are about 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., closed Wednesdays and Saturdays; however, the same page also says it opens Monday to Sunday, so the information conflicts and it is best to call ahead. It shuts once sold out, so arrive before 10 a.m. at weekends; weekdays are quieter. It is mainly takeaway, so take it back to your lodging or find a spot nearby. Roadside parking is possible along Yanping Road, and a scooter is easiest.

It suits ba-wan lovers wanting a style different from Changhua or central Tainan, and works as brunch on a day trip to Jiali. First-timers should buy at least two, eating one dry and one with soup to compare; if taking some home, eat them the same day. Expect to spend about NT$35 to 80 per person.