There’s a specific type of meatball that’s unique to Taichung, and if you’re here, you really need to try it.
It’s a pretty standard meatball (but a tasty one) that’s wrapped like a dumpling with a thick, chewy, mochi-like shell. It’s then deep fried and covered with a thick, sweet, garlicky sauce, and another, darker sauce.
The chewy wrapper and the gooey sauce makes this unlike anything I’ve tried before. The meatball itself was a bit tough, but I quite enjoyed it.
Also setting this dish apart: the chili sauce, which is kind of like the sauce that the meatball comes with, but zestier and spicy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a white chili sauce before.
You can also get a bowl of fish ball soup to go with your meatball, which you should definitely do. The broth has a really clean flavour, and the fish balls are pleasantly seafoody. I find some fish balls to be a bit rubbery, but these had a good balance of heft and tenderness.
Location: No. 529, Section 3, Fuxing Road, South District, Taichung City, Taiwan 402
How to find it: As usual, there’s no English anywhere. But you’ll know you’ve found it when you see the big fryer full of meatballs at the front of the restaurant.