You Ji Spring Rolls

Review

You Ji Spring Rolls is at No. 60 Lequn Street in West District's Fifth Market, a well-known queue stall where local aunties often buy three or five rolls at a time to take home for lunch. Business Today reported that it was opened in 1987 by the couple Yu Chun-huan and her husband, who loved spring rolls so much they decided to sell them; it has now run for over thirty years.

The wrapper is made from flour alone, with no starch added, and each roll uses two sheets, so it is thin yet elastic and hard to tear. There are about seven fillings, commonly bean sprouts, cabbage, braised pork, dried tofu, pickled greens, preserved radish, fried egg crumbs and peanut powder; summer cabbage comes from mountain farms and is sweet and crisp. The vegetables are squeezed dry first, so the roll never turns soggy. There are six sauce combinations including plain, sweet chili, chili and mustard, and one blogger recommends mustard with sweet chili; tell the owner in advance if you want cilantro. In 2023 a roll cost NT$60 and was substantial enough to be a meal.

Most reviews praise the thin wrapper, generous filling, crisp texture and layered flavor, calling it one of the Fifth Market's signature snacks. Some diners find a single roll a bit small, so big eaters may want two, and there is a wait at peak times.

Each roll is wrapped to order, so the wait depends on the crowd: longer on weekends, shorter on weekdays, and it can sell out early when busy, so latecomers may be told it is gone. Hours differ between sources: an older article says until 6 p.m., a 2023 report says 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and recent data shows 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Mondays, so check before going. The stall is mainly takeaway.

It suits anyone wanting a light market lunch to go or something to take on a picnic. First-timers can try mustard with sweet chili; big appetites should just buy two; to be sure of getting some, arrive before 11 a.m.