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

Nanzhuang Pig Cage Rice Cake is a Hakka steamed rice snack from Nanzhuang Township, Miaoli County, made with a rice-flour skin filled with shredded radish, mushrooms, and tofu, and named for its shape mimicking a woven bamboo pig cage — a signature Nanzhuang Old Street food with over thirty years of history. Yang Mama's stall, located at No. 26 Zhongzheng Road, has been featured by Taiwanese media outlets including Supertaste (TVBS) and WalkerLand.

Yang Mama's Hakka Rice Food stall, located at No. 26 Zhongzheng Road, Nanzhuang Township, has been in business for over thirty years and has been featured by Taiwanese media outlets including Supertaste (TVBS) and WalkerLand. Its main product is pig cage rice cake (a Hakka vegetable-filled rice bun), alongside other Hakka rice pastries such as brown sugar cake and cool rice cake.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the name "pig cage rice cake" come from?

It is named for its shape, which mimics a traditional Hakka woven bamboo pig cage; "ban" is the Hakka term for rice-based foods.

How long has Yang Mama's stall been operating?

Yang Mama's Hakka Rice Food stall at No. 26 Zhongzheng Road, Nanzhuang, has been open for more than thirty years and is one of Nanzhuang Old Street's most representative Hakka rice-food stalls.

Does pig cage rice cake need a dipping sauce?

No — the filling is already well-seasoned during stir-frying, and traditional Hakka rice pastries are typically eaten plain to appreciate the natural flavor of the skin and filling.

Sources

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