Taiwan Food Atlas

Shrimp Rice

Fried shrimp simmered in its own stock, spooned over rice — a bowl of Tainan's everyday sweetness
📍 Tainan · Zhongxi District · Hai'an Road⭐ Character-level · Rice dishes🍽 The natural sweetness of huo shao shrimp

Shrimp rice is a classic Tainan comfort dish made by braising peeled huo shao shrimp with a stock from their own heads and shells, then spooning it over white rice — sweet and fresh without relying on heavy seasoning. The representative shop, Ai Zi Cheng Shrimp Rice, was founded in 1922 and is now run by its fourth generation; in 2024 its shrimp rice was selected for the menu of the 520 Presidential Inauguration State Banquet, held in Tainan for the first time, cementing its status as a defining dish of Tainan's everyday rice culture.

Ai Zi Cheng Shrimp Rice was founded in 1922 by its first-generation owner, Ye Cheng, and has continued through four generations. On May 20, 2024, when Taiwan's presidential inauguration state banquet was held in Tainan for the first time, President Lai Ching-te personally requested Ai Zi Cheng's shrimp rice — a “century of fragrance” dish — placing this century-old street food on the state banquet menu.

What is Shrimp Rice

Shrimp rice is a classic Tainan rice dish made by braising shell-on huo shao shrimp with a shrimp-head-and-shell stock, then spooning it over plain white rice. The soul of the dish is the freshly peeled huo shao shrimp and the broth made from their heads and shells — the rice absorbs the stock while the shrimp sit on top, sweet and fresh without relying on heavy seasoning. A bowl of duck egg soup alongside is the classic pairing, savory and complementary. It represents Tainan's everyday rice culture: simple but focused on the quality of the ingredients.

How to eat it properly

🍤
Know your shrimpAn authentic version uses Taiwanese huo shao shrimp — thin-shelled, intensely flavored. That sweetness is the whole point of this dish; substituting ordinary white shrimp misses it entirely.
🥚
Pair it with duck egg soupThe classic combination is shrimp rice with a bowl of duck egg soup. The clean, egg-fragrant broth balances the richness of the shrimp stock — savory and sweet together.
🌅
Come for breakfast or lunchMost shops run from breakfast through early afternoon and close once sold out. Come early; don't plan on an evening visit.
🥢
Mix it before eatingWhen it arrives, stir the shrimp stock through the rice first so every mouthful is coated. Eating the shrimp and rice together is the right way.

Local knowledge

Verified endorsements (sponsored content filtered out)

  • Ai Zi Cheng Shrimp Rice (矮仔成蝦仁飯) claims to have been founded in 1922, now in its fourth generation — a Tainan institution.
  • Ai Zi Cheng was selected for the 520 State Banquet menu and is listed on the Tainan City Government's official tourism website.
  • Along Hai'an Road, Ai Zi Cheng and Ji Pin Shrimp Rice stand side by side, forming the core cluster for this dish.

Practical tips

  • The main cluster is along Hai'an Road in Zhongxi District; Ai Zi Cheng and Ji Pin can be visited together in one stop.
  • Hours run from morning through early afternoon; shops close when sold out — go early.
  • It gets crowded at peak mealtimes; visiting slightly before or after the lunch rush makes seating easier.

Information compiled from the Michelin Guide, the Tainan City Government Tourism website, and public reviews, with sponsored content filtered out. Photos will be replaced after on-site shooting.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ai Zi Cheng Shrimp Rice founded?

Ai Zi Cheng Shrimp Rice was founded in 1922 by first-generation owner Ye Cheng and has continued through four generations.

When did shrimp rice appear on a state banquet menu?

On May 20, 2024, when the presidential inauguration state banquet was held in Tainan for the first time, President Lai Ching-te selected Ai Zi Cheng's shrimp rice for the menu.

What gives shrimp rice its sweetness?

It relies on freshly peeled huo shao shrimp and a stock made from their heads and shells, letting the rice absorb natural sweetness without heavy seasoning.

Sources

🗺️ View on the map ← All Tainan dishes