When visiting Nantou, many people recommend eating rouyuan
This 田家傳奇肉圓 is a bit on the outskirts, but has relatively good parking
The small storefront is right next to the provincial highway,
Even though it opens at 2 PM, quite a few locals are already dining
The dining space inside is small, with only 6 tables, so many locals take their orders to go
The dining area has air conditioning, so it’s not stuffy, and the environment is very clean
They only serve 2 kinds of food: rouyuan and tofu soup,
You can choose how many rouyuan you want, priced per piece
The wall has an introduction to the shop, styled in an antique look, giving the impression of a shop with some history
This is the local afternoon tea combo — one tofu soup + one rouyuan
1. Tofu soup: NT$20
A bowl of tofu soup is only NT$20, containing about 1/2 block of firm tofu,
Along with some white radish; the radish wasn’t the tender variety, so it has quite a few fibers
The soup flavor is relatively light
2. Rouyuan: NT$40/piece
Their method is the chewier Q-skin rouyuan style
The rouyuan is steamed then fried for heating,
The skin is soft and chewy, the filling uses whole pieces of pork that have been marinated,
The meat is firm and savory, paired with some crisp bamboo shoot cubes
Combined with the shop’s homemade sauce, the salty-sweet flavors blend together, making it delicious
Locals eat it by finishing the skin first, leaving a bit of meat, then adding the big bone soup
The big bone soup is placed on the side for self-serving
The broth is simmered from pork bones, giving it an old-fashioned flavor
Because of the salty-sweet sauce and meat juices, the soup has more layers and tastes better than the tofu soup
If you’re in Nantou and want rouyuan, come give it a try
田家傳奇肉圓
Add: 553南投縣水里鄉南光村中山路一段76號
Tel: 049-2774706
Time: 14:00-17:30, closed Wednesdays/Thursdays