Ju Ba-wan

Review

Ju Ba-wan sits at No. 33, Section 1, Xi'an Road in Puli, close to the town centre, and it is one of the shops that Supertaste, TVBS and other media name most often when covering Puli snacks. Many articles also call it A-Ju Ba-wan. Locals and visitors make special trips here; on weekdays a line forms soon after opening at noon, and it sometimes sells out within an hour.

The only signature is ba-wan, and here it is deep-fried, with a golden, soft and springy skin. Instead of the usual minced meat, the filling is a whole slice of pork with diced bamboo shoots, firm and satisfying to chew. The sauces and chilli are made in house, and the chilli is properly hot. A teapot sits on each table holding broth: eat the skin and filling first, then pour the broth into the bowl to mix with the leftover sauce for a second flavour. A 2022 TVBS report put the price at NT$40 each, with coriander or garlic added on request.

Fans praise the whole-slice pork filling, the crunchy bamboo shoots, the punchy house chilli and the satisfying finish of broth; some foreign visitors mention the owner patiently explaining how to eat it. Complaints usually involve long waits and a very short menu, and some find the sauce on the sweet side or the chilli too fiery, so taste varies.

Online listings show hours of about 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Tuesdays, but it often sells out early, so arrive around opening time. Seating is limited, so expect to wait or share a table at peak times. Street parking on Xi'an Road is scarce; use a nearby paid lot and walk, and check before you go that it is open that day.

Good for anyone who wants a true Puli snack or simply loves ba-wan, and it fits nicely into a walk around central Puli. First-timers can order one plain to taste the sauce before deciding on chilli; bigger eaters will find two about right. Remember to pour in the broth at the end. Expect to spend roughly NT$40 to NT$120 per person.