Dounan Xu Ji Ba-wan

Name: Dounan Xu Ji Ba-wan
Address: 雲林縣斗南鎮南昌西路85號, Yunlin, 斗南鎮 Dounan Township, TW
Telephone: 05-595-5509
Price range: NT$35–150

Not enough ratingsNT$35–150 / per personTaiwanese

10:30–19:00Closed ThursdaysYunlin Dounan Township

Local favoriteBudgetTakeaway

VerdictDounan's budget ba-wan; the rare taro version is worth a try

A ba-wan shop near Dounan Station that has been running for over 20 years, steaming then frying its dumplings for a chewy skin and solid filling. The bamboo shoot version and the rarer Dajia taro version are the stars, and with a hearty four-herb soup it is Dounan's favourite cheap eat.

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Review

Dounan Xu Ji Ba-wan is on Nanchang West Road, a 10 to 15 minute walk from Dounan Station. A travel site reports it opened in 2000; the owner's family comes from a bamboo-shoot growing area, and she began selling ba-wan under her own arcade, refining the recipe many times before arriving at today's flavour. Supertaste describes it as a cheap local favourite that stays busy on weekdays and weekends alike.

The dumplings are steamed then fried, giving a chewy skin and a full, solid filling. The signature bamboo shoot version has crunchy shoots, while the taro version folds diced Dajia taro into the pork for taro aroma in every bite, something rarely seen elsewhere. The sauce is thickened with glutinous rice and seasoned with house miso rather than soy sauce. The four-herb soup is simmered with pork bones and ribs and comes loaded with ingredients.

Diners praise the chewy skin, the tasty sauce, the distinctive bamboo and taro fillings, and the big, gentle four-herb soup. Some find the dumplings on the small side, so one does not fill you up. The shop was recently renovated and is now bright and air-conditioned, more comfortable than a typical ba-wan stall.

It opens from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closes on Thursdays; closing times vary slightly between sources. According to Supertaste in 2025, a bamboo shoot ba-wan is NT$35, a taro one NT$45, and pork rib or mixed four-herb soup NT$60 each; a travel site also lists a mixed ball soup at NT$30. The shop sells two to three hundred a day and offers frozen vacuum packs and delivery.

It suits travellers arriving in Dounan by train who want a local snack. Order one bamboo shoot and one taro ba-wan each to compare, plus a bowl of mixed or rib four-herb soup. If you like them, buy frozen packs and reheat them at home in a steamer.