// TAIPEI 台北 // DA TONG 大同區 // 

shuanglian sweet rice balls
雙連圓仔湯

tried and true traditional dessert shop

Taiwanese people love their chewy desserts and love a good “old shop” (aka 老店) so it comes as no surprise that Shuanglian Sweet Rice Balls continues to be a local favorite, and one that people flock to, despite the generic neighborhood name. First established in 1951, the shop has gone through a makeover and expansion in recent years, but still stays true to the traditional flavors and of course the commitment to quality ingredients.

They specialize in rice balls (湯圓 tang yuan) in many forms, and their menu includes your typical hot and cold dessert ingredients you’d find in most Taiwanese dessert spots. There’s the red bean base, taro paste, peanut, mung bean, and a variety of toppings. Pretty much everything can be served hot or cold, so it works year round. The star of the show is their mochi (燒麻糬 shao ma ji), plump warm rice cake dusted with peanut sugar that are chewy but not sticky. Simple, but few places have perfected it (and when it’s this simple, any inconsistencies in texture become very obvious). All in all, this humble storefront is keeping up with the times while serving up classic comforts to generation after generation of loyal customers.

the details

AddressNo. 136, Minsheng West Road, Datong District, Taipei City
Websitehttps://www.sweetriceball.tw/
Socialhttps://www.facebook.com/sweetriceball/?fref=ts
Hours10:30 – 22:00 every day
Price$$ – a step above your typical hole in wall prices, but they have air conditioning so it’s about as expected 
Aestheticsimple, clean, nothing special, kind of like a generic eatery template

good to know

Go here for: dessert any time of the day, any time of the year

Order this: in the winter get the red bean and rice ball soup, in summers make your own shaved ice combo, no matter what definitely get the hot mochi, which is served with tea

Amount of time to spend: more of a quick bite place, so maybe 20-30 minutes – they have quick service 

When to come: any time

Getting here: take the red line to Shuanglian Station, use exit 1

Other things to note: 

  • Their general menu is the standard Chinese-only checklist, but they do have picture menus on the wall for visual reference too.
  • They offer takeout and local delivery too (scalable fees based on distance).
  • Most of the menu items can be served hot or cold, so be sure to select it in the corresponding column.

Last visited: October 2019

Last updated: January 2021

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