Chen Ji Mochi

Not enough ratingsNT$274–346 / per personPastry

06:30–18:00Taitung Taitung City

Long-standingGift boxLocal favorite

VerdictTaitung's near-90-year mochi; swordfish is the standout

A three-generation mochi shop on Bo'ai Road in Taitung City that makes its rice cakes daily from Chishang round glutinous rice with a light sweetness. The swordfish floss mochi and black glutinous rice mochi are the signatures, and popular flavours often sell out by afternoon.

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Review

Chen Ji Mochi stands at No. 186 Bo'ai Road in Taitung City. The shopfront looks like an ordinary house, yet it is one of the most recommended souvenirs in Taitung. Supertaste describes it as a three-generation shop of nearly ninety years, while another article calls it an 87-year-old brand. The third-generation owner, Chen Chih-ho, grew up in Shanyuan, and the family saying goes that on fine days they fished and on bad days they made mochi at home, which gives the shop a seaside story.

The mochi is made fresh every day with Chishang round glutinous rice, and Japanese trehalose keeps the sweetness down so it never cloys. The best-known flavour is the swordfish mochi, with swordfish floss tucked inside for a sweet-savoury mix that feels very Taitung. The signature black mochi wraps smooth red bean paste in black glutinous rice, and there are sesame, peanut and green tea versions too. The official site lists a box of twelve red bean or peanut mochi at NT$274, black mochi at NT$310 and swordfish mochi at NT$346.

Fans praise the soft, chewy skin, the fine red bean filling and the balanced sweetness, and many say it beats famous mochi brands elsewhere; the swordfish flavour is unusual but popular. Complaints mostly concern weekend queues and popular flavours selling out by afternoon, and some advise counting your pieces when staff are busy so nothing goes missing.

Online listings show hours of about 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. with no fixed day off; check before you go. With no preservatives, the mochi is best eaten the same day and hardens by the next, though it can be frozen and brought back to room temperature. Weekend mornings are crowded, so go early for the full range of flavours. Parking out front is hard, so use roadside spaces nearby.

It suits anyone looking for a distinctly Taitung souvenir or who loves traditional rice snacks. First-timers can pick an assorted box to try swordfish, black, red bean and peanut in one go. If they are gifts, plan around your itinerary and eat or freeze them within a day or two.