Huo Po Pan-Fried Rice Cake (East Gate Roundabout)

Review

Huo Po Pan-Fried Rice Cake is on Gongming Road beside the East Gate Roundabout. Supertaste describes the stall as running for more than sixty years, a breakfast Chiayi locals have eaten since childhood. Pan-fried rice cake means steamed shallot cake and radish cake cut into pieces and fried, and the aroma drifts from the stall early each morning as neighbours stop for a plate before work or school.

According to Supertaste, the cakes are made from pure long-grain rice without cornstarch, giving a fine, smooth texture, and are fried in peanut oil. Regulars ask the owner in Taiwanese to fry them extra brown, so the surface is lightly charred, crisp outside and soft inside. A small plate is NT$30 and a large NT$40, with an egg for NT$10 more, and fresh minced garlic on the table lets you add as much as you like alongside the house sauce and chilli.

Fans praise the old-fashioned taste, generous portions and the extra fragrance of a fried egg, and some call it a must-eat breakfast at the East Gate Roundabout. Complaints mention a basic dining area, so-so hygiene around the seating and stray cats wandering nearby. At peak times orders can get mixed up and service feels chaotic, and some find the seasoning heavy.

Supertaste lists hours of about 6:30 to 11:30 a.m., while online map data shows closing around noon, so arriving early is safest. The stall is mainly cash-only with simple tables and stools. The roundabout is busy and street parking is limited, so a scooter or walking is easiest, and you can combine it with Borough Chief Liu's Turkey Rice nearby.

Great for fans of traditional Taiwanese breakfasts who want to eat well for pocket change. First-timers should order a small mixed plate of shallot and radish cake with an egg and ask for it fried extra brown. Those who like bold flavours can add more garlic and chilli, and a small plate is plenty for lighter eaters.