Yang Bao Bao

For some of the tastiest local steamed dumplings and beef wraps, along with fried bread that will have you going back for more, try out Yang Bao Bao in Nantze. The restaurant looks like this:

This restaurant has food based on the northern-Chinese style (i.e. not rice, but heartier foods that would keep you warm on a cold day). This restaurant is EXTREMELY popular with local people and originally outgrew its nightmarket stand a few years back. It is often bursting at the seams, even on a weekday lunch, so don't be surprised if you have to wait to be seated. If you're getting food to go, take a pink menu from the front counter, order, turn it in to receive a number, and wait until they call your number. Or, go an order teas from the tea stand next door while you wait. :-) This restaurant can also be a fun one for visitors from your home country who are slightly leery of eating out in Taiwan because the restaurant is clean and the food is delicious.

Here is a basic run down of the menu:
a) pork steamed dumplings (8 of them) (pictured above)
b) beef steamed dumplings (8 of them)
c) veggie steamed dumplings (8 of them--highly recommended!)
d) fried dumplings
e) pork wraps (wrapped in fried bread)
f) beef wraps (pictured above)
g) fried bread, cut into triangles
h) fried bread, "shredded" into some pieces (highly recommended) (pictured above)
i) chicken broth soup
j) beef broth soup
k) hot and sour soup
l) corn chowder soup
m/n) sides (such as these green beans, pictured above)

Click on the menu for a larger view

Directions from MAK: When turning on to the "main" road (that runs under the freeway), turn right (towards E-Da Hospital). When the road T's into the next major road, turn left at the light. This is highway 22. Continue on this road until you enter Nantze several kilometers down the road. Once in Nantze, go straight through the intersection that has McDonald's/Donutes/KFC on your left and the train station on the right. At the next intersection, turn left. Go straight down this road until almost the end. The restaurant will be on your near a corner furniture store. Look for lots of scooters and cars outside. If you reach the back entrance of the hospital, you've gone too far.

Alternate route, via Dashe: Go through Dashe towards Nantze. Once in Nantze at the intersection with the Easy Shop straight ahead, 3C on the left, and McDonald's/Donutes/KFC/Subway/Dominos on the right, turn left. Go approximately one block. Turn right at the 7-11. Follow this road straight for a few blocks. The restaurant will be on one of the intersections, far right hand side, on the cross street. Park wherever you find space, or pay at one of the local lots. 

Parking: Challenging (may cost 30NT at a local lot)

Costs: Economical

Dumplings and potstickers

For some decent dumplings and potstickers, check out this restaurant in Dashe. It's on the main road (Jhong Shan Rd.), next to the "Presotea" tea shop. Look for this sign:

Their menu is basic, so once you learn one section, you'll know nearly half of the menu! The most important parts are pictured below. Basically, #1-4 are potstickers and #5-9 are boiled/steamed dumplings, and 10-12 are soups. All prices are per dumpling/potsticker.

Here's a translation of the menu, thanks to Ellen in Systems Services in Taichung:

1. Potstickers (regular ones, what the store is famous for, just regular pork.)
2. Veggie Potstickers
3. Curry Potstickers
4. Korean spicy potstickers
5. Dumplings(regular ones, what the store is famous for, just regular pork.)
6. Veggie dumplings
7. Curry dumplings
8. Korean spicy dumplings
9. shrimp and pork dumplings
10. hot and sour soup
11. Octopus ball and fish soup
12. Taiwanese cream of corn soup

Back left: vegetable potstickers (#2). Back right: veggie dumplings (#6). Front: pork dumplings (#5). Also recommended are the curry potstickers and dumplings (#4 and 7)

This is the fish ball soup (#11 on the menu):

Directions from MAK: Go into Dashe on the main road (Jhong Shan Rd. 中山路). At the first major intersection, go straight. It is located on the right-hand side (across the street from the Tea Elf and before getting to the Watston's/7-11 intersection). Walk past the kitchen to sit down and use the ordering form. You can pay on your way out, after eating.


Parking: Challenging because it's on the main road.

Costs: Economical.