Rou Yuan Shou

Review

Rou Yuan Shou sits inside Erlin's market at No. 119 Zhongshan Road, diagonally across from Watsons, and it is the name Erlin locals bring up first when ba-wan comes up. Supertaste reports that the shop is now in its third generation and has been selling for more than sixty years, and it draws plenty of online discussion even among Changhua's many famous ba-wan shops, so it is a near-mandatory stop on any visit to the Erlin market.

Unlike the soft, chewy ba-wan common elsewhere in Changhua, these are steamed and then fried, so the skin turns crisp and gives an audible crunch. The filling is chunks of bamboo shoot with strips of pork, firm and satisfying, and the dumpling is finished with a sweet-savoury orange sauce; you can add coriander or chilli sauce. One is a decent size, enough as a snack, and with a bowl of soup it works as a light meal.

Praise centres on the crackly skin and the generous chunks of bamboo and pork, and many say it is the most distinctive ba-wan they have tried, winning over even people who normally skip ba-wan. Critics mention the basic, slightly cramped market setting, and some find the texture very different from the classic ba-wan they expected; the price is also not low for a snack, so adjust expectations.

Hours are roughly 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with irregular days off announced on the shop's social media page. Sources disagree on price: a 2023 article lists NT$50 each, while an article updated after 2025 lists NT$60, so check before you go. Because it is inside the market, you may need to circle for parking; mornings, when the market is lively, are the best time, and you can browse the stalls while you are there.

Good for anyone curious about a different style of ba-wan, and an easy stop on trips around Erlin and Fangyuan. First-timers should order one plain to taste it as intended; ask for chilli if you like heat and mention coriander if you want it. With a group, have one each and then move on to other stalls nearby to make a full tour of the Erlin market.