Yonghe Zhou's Rice Cake Introduction
Yonghe District was once known for having a large number of military personnel and government employees from mainland China, leading to the popularity of various provincial dishes like village-style cuisine and rice cakes. Among these, the Zhou Family Rice Cake, located in Dacheng Village, is a must-try delicacy during the Lunar New Year in New Taipei City. This time-honored rice cake shop operates year-round with steamers that are almost never idle, attracting numerous regular customers not only for the unforgettable Dacheng rice cakes but also for the Korean rice cakes made to cater to a large influx of Korean expatriates. The Zhou Family's Dacheng rice cake has a chewy texture and is usually stir-fried with other delicacies, a labor-intensive process; it involves soaking Punglai rice, grinding it, pressing it dry, and finally steaming it in a special steamer before mixing, shaping, and air-drying. Besides purchasing delicious food, simply standing in front of the shop to watch the rice cake-making process is also a fascinating experience.
