Taiwan Food Atlas

Nanzhuang Pig Cage Rice Cake (Zhu Long Ban)

Thirty years of handmade rice pastry on the old street — the iconic Hakka snack of glutinous rice skin filled with shredded radish
📍 Miaoli · Nanzhuang Zhongzheng Road Old Street⭐ Signature · Street snack🔖 Hakka rice pastry · pig cage shape · Nanzhuang Old Street

On Zhongzheng Road in Nanzhuang Old Street, Yang Mama's pig cage rice cakes have held their post as a handmade street stall for over thirty years. Shaped to mimic traditional Hakka bamboo-woven pig cages, the glutinous rice skin is filled with shredded radish, mushrooms, and tofu — then steamed until fragrant and glossy. Bite into one and the simple, grounded flavors of everyday Hakka cooking fill your mouth. Visitors come and go along Nanzhuang Old Street, but this stall almost never stops.

What is Nanzhuang Pig Cage Rice Cake

Pig cage rice cake (ban — Hakka for a rice-based food product) is a local Hakka specialty of Nanzhuang. The outer skin is made from ground indica or glutinous rice, and encases a filling of stir-fried shredded radish, mushrooms, tofu, and dried shrimp, shaped to resemble a bamboo cage, then steamed until the surface is glossy and smooth with the aroma of mushroom and dried shrimp. The base is lightly sticky, and the texture is soft and chewy. Traditional Hakka rice pastry emphasizes the natural flavor of the rice itself without relying on dipping sauces — pig cage rice cake follows the same principle: eat it fresh from the steamer without any condiment and the ingredients speak for themselves.

Yang Mama's Pig Cage Rice Cake (Hakka Rice Pastry) is located at No. 26, Zhongzheng Road, Nanzhuang Township, Miaoli County, and has over thirty years of history — one of the most iconic Hakka rice-food stalls on Nanzhuang Old Street. It has been featured in the Hakka Township Travel official website, WalkerLand, and Shihnang Wanjia (a Taiwanese food-travel TV program), which also conducted an on-site interview. The stall also sells brown sugar cake, cool rice cake, and other Hakka pastries; packaging bags are available, making it a good option for take-home gifts.

How to eat it authentically

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Best eaten fresh from the steamerFreshly steamed pig cage rice cakes have thin, slightly soft skin and the fullest aroma. The skin firms up as they cool, so eat them immediately after purchase rather than buying large quantities to take away.
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No dipping sauce neededThe filling is seasoned with enough saltiness during stir-frying; traditional Hakka rice pastries are not served with condiments. Eating them plain is the way to appreciate the balanced savory-umami of shredded radish and mushroom.
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Pair with brown sugar cakeThe brown sugar cake sold at the same stall is steamed with brown sugar — sweet without being cloying. It is the natural dessert pairing after the savory pig cage rice cake, completing the full Hakka rice-pastry experience along the old street.
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Arrive early to avoid sell-outsPig cage rice cakes often sell out on weekend afternoons. Aim to arrive before 11 a.m.; on weekdays there is more room, though you may occasionally need to wait a few minutes for a fresh batch.

Local knowledge

Verified sources

  • Yang Mama's Pig Cage Rice Cake is at No. 26, Zhongzheng Road, Nanzhuang Township, with over thirty years of handmade Hakka rice pastry history, and is listed on the Hakka Township Travel official website.
  • Shihnang Wanjia's Nanzhuang Old Street feature, WalkerLand's food reviews, and the Hakka Good Flavor TV program have all published named coverage with on-site interview records.

Visitor tips

  • Zhongzheng Road in Nanzhuang Old Street is one-way; traffic is heavy on weekends. It is recommended to park near the Nanzhuang Township Office and walk in — this typically saves about ten minutes.
  • Pig cage rice cakes are handmade in limited batches; they frequently sell out before noon on busy holiday weekends, particularly during peak travel season. Do not estimate stock based on weekday patterns.
  • The old street has several other vendors selling items in "pig cage-shaped" packaging; confirm you are at Yang Mama's stall (No. 26, Zhongzheng Road) to ensure you are getting the thirty-year-old original.

Sources: Hakka Township Travel official website; WalkerLand food reviews; Shihnang Wanjia Nanzhuang Old Street feature; Hakka Good Flavor program interview record. Photos pending Dio's on-site shoot.

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