Wei Xiang Pork Tangyuan

Review

Wei Xiang sits on Daming Street near the Fifth Market in Taichung's West District, close to the back gate of Zhongxiao Elementary School. It is a plain shop with no fancy decor, yet for many locals it is a shared winter memory rather than just a snack. Regulars fill it at mealtimes, and since you can have savory tangyuan and sweet ice in the same place, it is a convenient stop while exploring the market.

The signature pork tangyuan are made fresh every day, with thin, soft and chewy skins that carry a rice aroma. The filling is mainly seasoned pork with notes of fried shallot and pepper, and the broth is likewise lifted with pepper and spices, warming when hot. Besides tangyuan, the shop sells sesame sauce noodles, and on the sweet side there is old-style three-topping shaved ice, rice noodle ice and various sweet soups, so you can go savory first, then sweet.

Media and diners praise the thin skins, fragrant filling and layered broth, and the ice desserts are popular too; many describe it as a place to enjoy both tangyuan and sweet soups in one visit. Complaints are few: the shop is basic, there can be a wait at peak times, and some find the pork tangyuan mild, though you can add more pepper.

Sources differ on hours, but it generally opens around 7:30 or 8 am and closes around 4 or 5 pm, with slightly different hours for the noodle and ice counters; it is closed Mondays, so check before going. The Fifth Market lanes nearby are narrow with limited parking, so park on the outskirts and walk, browsing other old stalls on the way.

It suits fans of traditional tangyuan and anyone who wants savory and sweet in one stop. Order a bowl of signature pork tangyuan with sesame noodles as a meal, then finish with three-topping ice or rice noodle ice. It is especially comforting on cold days, while in summer the ice desserts take center stage.