Erxin Rice Ball (Original Shop)

Review

Erxin Rice Ball is one of the breakfasts mentioned most often in Penghu. The original shop is on Yongxing Street in Magong, and there is a dedicated rice ball shop on Wenhua Road. Supertaste, Trip.com and many reviewers note that a long line forms as soon as it opens at dawn, mostly local office workers, students and visitors, and many guesthouses send their guests here.

You can choose white glutinous rice, purple rice or a two-tone half-and-half, filled with cruller, pork floss, pickled radish and preserved greens, and there are vegetarian options too. Diners describe the rice as moist and chewy, with savory and crunchy notes in every bite. The staff work fast, so even with a queue the wait is usually short. A 2020 review listed the purple rice ball at NT$35; recent prices differ between sources, so check on site.

Most fans praise the varied texture of the two-tone ball, the solid portion and the friendly price, calling it the taste of a Penghu breakfast. Others disagree: some find the rice too soft, the filling thin and the cruller less crisp than before, saying it is not much different from rice balls on Taiwan's main island. At peak times the queue can pass half an hour, which some feel is not worth it.

Opening times for the original shop vary by source, from 4:30 a.m. to 5 or 5:30 a.m., running until about noon and closing early when sold out, so confirm before you go. It is mainly takeaway with little space at the door. Yongxing Street is next to the Central Old Street, so buying one while strolling the old street is easiest. To avoid crowds, come before 7 a.m. or after 9 a.m.

It suits travelers who want one rice ball for breakfast before heading off island-hopping or touring. First-timers should try the two-tone ball to get both textures. One ball is filling for light eaters, and soy milk goes well with it. If the line at the original shop is too long, try the Wenhua Road shop instead.