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.