Rice Ball King

The best 飯糰 (Rice Ball) in Taiwan.

Quick Look

Outdoor

Food

About

One of my favorite breakfast spots in Taiwan! True to its name, this place is renowned for its Taiwanese-style onigiri. While similar to Japanese onigiri, Taiwanese onigiri uses sticky rice wrapped in a crispy fried dough stick, offering a delightful twist. With a variety of delicious fillings available, you can choose from sweet, spicy, or traditional fillings, making each rice ball a unique and flavorful breakfast!

Must Do's

Try out a Traditional or Sweet Rice Ball (Fantuan)

Rating

cost

5

accessibility

5

uniqueness

4

*Learn more about my rating system here.

Cost

A really cheap and affordable breakfast option in Taipei Main Station! Only around ~50twd!

Accessibility

Super accessible, as it's right beside Taipei Main Station! Simply exit at M8. However do be aware that Taipei Main Station can be a bit of a maze. If you can’t locate M8, just head out the nearest exit, and Rice Ball King should still be relatively close!

Uniqueness

Fantuan was an intriguing breakfast option for me when I first discovered it in Taiwan. I hadn’t heard much about it elsewhere, but I soon realized that there are Fantuan spots all over the island! Although it’s definitely a unique find for travelers, it’s a common breakfast choice among locals.

My Experience

I can’t quite recall my first visit to Rice Ball King since I’ve been there so many times! There’s always a long line, so be prepared to wait 5 to 10 minutes, but it’s always worth the wait! Conveniently located near Taipei Main Station, it’s one of the most accessible and popular breakfast spots in the city. They offer a wide variety of rice balls, but the traditional one is especially popular. It typically features sticky rice wrapped in a crispy fried dough stick, filled with pork floss, pickled vegetables, and sometimes a hint of spicy peppers. It’s definitely a must-try. However, my personal favorite has always been the sweet rice ball,just a simple combination of a fried dough stick and sugar. It’s simple yet incredibly tasty!