Tianjin Goubuli Soup Buns

Review

Tianjin Goubuli Soup Buns is on Xinyi Street in Taichung's East District, about a five-minute walk from the back exit of Taichung Station, near Taichung Commercial High School and Tiger City's Shin Shin Department Store. The shop once had a sign, but a typhoon blew it away and, with business so good, the owner never put it back up, so visitors look for it as the nameless soup bun shop on Xinyi Street; the row of parked scooters at the lane entrance is the easiest landmark.

The buns are large, five to a steamer, and bursting with hot juice, so bite carefully. The skin is on the thick side but springy with a faint sweetness, and the filling is plump with a good balance of fat and lean and a little scallion, neither greasy nor dry. Take a small bite to sip the soup first, then dip in the garlic soy sauce from the self-serve counter or add the owner's sun-dried fresh chili sauce. There is also scallion omelet and egg crepe; the scallion omelet is thick and full of scallion flavor. A 2026 report lists the buns at NT$20 each (a 2020 blog said NT$16), and one bun with a drink comes to about NT$50; light eaters are full after two.

Praise centers on the juicy buns, low prices, punchy house chili sauce and the old-fashioned pour-your-own drinks. Sources disagree on drink pricing: a 2020 blog said soy milk and black tea were free-flowing refills, while a 2026 report lists NT$15 per cup, so go by what you see. Downsides: weekends are crowded, the arcade seats are often full, there is usually a queue, and many people eat standing; the soup is very hot, so be careful.

It opens at 5:30 a.m. and closes at 11:30 a.m., closed Mondays. The menu is on the wall: order at the counter first, then fill your own drink after paying. Seats are under an L-shaped arcade, and it gets busier closer to noon. A large open-air parking lot next door makes parking fairly easy even on weekends. Payment methods aren't stated, so bring cash.

It suits anyone catching a train, or looking for a hearty Chinese-style breakfast on a budget. On a first visit, order two soup buns and a scallion omelet with a cup of soy milk; remember to sip the soup first, then add the chili sauce.