Huangshi Market in Banqiao is one of the oldest traditional markets in the city. From five in the morning, pork stalls, vegetable stalls, and seafood stalls open up one after another amid the hum of voices. Deeper in the market is a small cluster of stalls selling the combination Banqiao residents have eaten since childhood — a serving of glutinous rice drizzled with sesame oil, alongside a bowl of pork thick soup loaded with toppings. This is Banqiao pork thick soup with glutinous oil rice, a half-century staple of Huangshi Market.
What is pork thick soup with glutinous oil rice?
Pork thick soup with glutinous oil rice is a Taiwanese combo meal pairing glutinous oil rice with a bowl of pork thick soup. The glutinous oil rice is made by stir-frying glutinous rice with sesame oil, dried mushrooms, crispy shallots, and dried shrimp, then steaming until the rice absorbs the oil and every grain stays distinct. The pork thick soup is made by coating strips of pork in fish paste, blanching them until set, and adding them to a thickened broth — the soup often includes napa cabbage, shredded mushrooms, and shredded bamboo shoots for additional texture. A spoonful of oil rice paired with a spoonful of pork thick soup — the chewy fragrance of the glutinous rice, the springy slide of the pork thick soup, and the savory sweetness of the broth — together they make a deeply satisfying meal. Similar combinations appear around temple grounds and markets in central and southern Taiwan, but the highest concentration in the north is found at Banqiao's Huangshi Market.
Huangshi Market in Banqiao is an old market with about 50 years of history. The pork thick soup and oil rice stalls inside form a competitive cluster, with long-established operations like the Xie family and the Qiu family standing side by side, each with four or more generations of loyal customers. Stall space is limited; eating typically means standing or perching on low stools, but this is characteristic of traditional market street food — the food itself is the focus, the setting is just the backdrop. The entire Huangshi Market runs from the morning market through midday, with pork thick soup and oil rice served from breakfast into lunch, most stalls sold out and closed by afternoon. For Banqiao residents, this is not tourist food — it is part of daily life.
How to eat it like a local
Local knowledge
Verified credentials (sponsored content filtered out)
- Huangshi Market is a long-established traditional market in Banqiao District with over 50 years of history.
- The pork thick soup and oil rice stalls inside the market form a cluster, with long-established families like the Xie and Qiu families each spanning four generations.
- Banqiao's pork thick soup with oil rice is a representative local breakfast and lunch culture, frequently cited in media coverage.
Visitor tips
- Parking near Huangshi Market is difficult. Drivers should park in paid lots near Fuzhong Station and walk over.
- Most market stalls are cash only; some older shops do not accept mobile payments.
- The morning market environment tends to be damp and the floors can be slippery. Wear comfortable, non-slip shoes.
Information compiled from the Michelin Guide, New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau, and large volumes of public reviews, with sponsored content filtered out. Photos will be replaced with exclusive channel footage after Dio's on-site shoot.