Wan Guo Zhi Jia (碗粿之家): 60 years of bowl rice cakes and bawan, a 10-minute walk from Taipei Main Station

Wan Guo Zhi Jia is at No. 1, Lane 177, Chang'an W. Rd. in Datong, near the Jiancheng Circle. It is about a 10-minute walk north from Taipei Main Station, and about the same from Beimen or Zhongshan MRT stations.

It started in 1959, when the owner's aunt sold bowl rice cakes from a shoulder pole. The sign says "50-year-old shop", but it has been more than 60 years. There are now branches in Zhonghe, Banqiao and Tucheng; this is the first store. It opens at 6:30 am, sells until the afternoon, and is closed on Mondays.

Bowl rice cake (碗粿) is rice batter steamed in a bowl. Here it comes in a porcelain bowl, topped with braising sauce. It is firm with a little chew, with lean pork and a big piece of shiitake buried inside. A little garlic paste makes it even better.

The bawan (肉圓) is handmade: a chewy, see-through skin around peppery lean pork, diced bamboo shoot and a big piece of taro. It comes with a brown sauce and a white sauce, plus a little sweet chili sauce and cilantro.

For soup, try the milkfish ball soup. There is also pork ball soup, cuttlefish ball soup and Earl Grey milk tea.

Wan Guo Zhi Jia is about a 10-minute walk from Taipei Main Station and opens at 6:30 am, an easy breakfast before work or class. Our monthly rooms near the station are in elevator buildings with building staff. Stays start at 30 days, the rooms come furnished, and you can move in with just a suitcase.