Wen Ji Ba-wan

Review

Wen Ji Ba-wan on Jianji Road in Chaozhou appears in several Supertaste roundups of Pingtung food as the town's go-to ba-wan shop. The reports say the owner's thinking is simple: a country town should not charge too much, so prices have stayed friendly, making it a regular choice for locals somewhere between a snack and a full meal.

The ba-wan follow the steamed style common in Pingtung, with a soft, chewy, translucent skin around a pork filling, lighter than the deep-fried kind. The fun part is choosing your sauce: ketchup gives an old-fashioned sweetness, while chili bean paste adds a salty kick, and regulars like to try both. According to Supertaste, one ba-wan costs NT$17. The shop also serves pot-cooked yi noodles and pork blood soup, which turn it into a proper meal.

Fans praise the honest prices, the soft, non-greasy texture, generous yi noodles and light pork blood soup, calling it a must-eat budget snack in Chaozhou, and out-of-town visitors say it is worth stopping for. Complaints mention a plain dining room, waits at peak times and small dumplings, so one person needs several to feel full.

Google lists hours of roughly 10:00 to 19:30, opening around 10:30 at weekends. Supertaste notes irregular closures announced on the shop's Facebook page, so check before going. It is in central Chaozhou with some street parking nearby, though a scooter is easiest. Lunch and the afternoon snack hour are busiest, so avoiding noon helps.

It suits anyone exploring Chaozhou's old streets or heading for hot-and-cold shaved ice who wants to eat first, or travellers looking to try Pingtung ba-wan for pocket change. Order three or four, half with ketchup and half with bean paste to compare, add pork blood soup or yi noodles, and you will be full for about NT$100.