Miaodong Steamed Shrimp Ba-wan

Review

Miaodong Steamed Shrimp Ba-wan is the first stall on the right at the entrance to Miaodong Night Market, directly opposite the water caltrop fritter stall on the left; the pair guard the mouth of the lane and both draw queues. Unlike the fried ba-wan Miaodong is known for, this one is steamed, and the stall sells just two things: steamed shrimp ba-wan and scallop thick soup. It opens around 3:30 pm and runs late into the night.

The dumplings are steamed to order. The translucent skin is bouncy and chewy, the filling is a firm chunk of pork with a whole shrimp tucked into each one, and they are finished with sauce, garlic sauce and cilantro, with chili if you like. It eats lighter than the fried version. A serving is three small, easy-to-eat pieces, around NT$65 in recent coverage versus NT$55 in a 2021 article, so prices have moved over the years. The scallop thick soup is the usual pairing and many people order both.

Most reviewers praise the springy shrimp and the smooth, non-greasy skin, with sauce and garlic giving enough punch, and see it as a good alternative to fried ba-wan. The downsides are the crowds and a pickup process that baffles first-timers; one blogger bluntly called the ordering a bit chaotic, and another writer arrived before 3 pm only to find it not yet open.

Work out the system first: dine-in customers take a numbered ticket and wait to be called, while takeaway customers order and pay first, then wait on the right side of the stall for their number. Seating is limited, so many choose takeaway. Hours differ slightly between sources—most say 15:30 to 1 am, some say midnight—and it closes on Wednesdays, so check before going. The lane is narrow and crowded, and parking near the market is difficult.

Ideal for anyone who wants a lighter ba-wan or does not care for the fried texture. One serving of three per person is about right, and adding a bowl of scallop soup makes a full meal; just remember to come after 3:30 pm.