Taichung West District Old Shop Always Kind: Xiang Shang Dumplings

Address: No. 183, Zhongmei Street, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan, 403 Atmosphere/Facilities: Market storefront, bustling Features: Affordable prices, no air conditioning, handmade Average Price: 100 TWD Rating: Xiang Shang Market is a well-known traditional market in Taichung, and the most famous stall there is Xiang Shang Dumplings. At 3 TWD per dumpling, these handmade dumplings are quite a bargain given current prices. The filling is traditional pork and scallions, with a pure taste and no unnecessary flavors. The portion size matches the price. They are not very large; an average man can be full with about 20 dumplings, while women might need around 10. Add a bowl of soup for 25 TWD. With an average spending of under 100 TWD, there's still room to add some side dishes. The self-service condiments provided in the shop are also very comprehensive. The side dishes are not expensive and are common braised dishes. Due to the hot weather, I ordered spicy cold noodles from the fridge. The noodles were very thin, but the taste was just average. On a return visit, I would still choose the dumplings. Overall, the taste is decent, and it is a very down-to-earth market food. The main selling points are its affordability and the fact that it fills you up.