Calling all fans of delicious handheld treats! If you’re strolling around the diverse Wanhua district, near the Longshan Temple, you must stop at this hidden gem. Yuan Fang Gua Bao aren’t your typical Taiwanese hamburgers – Gua Bao are all about packing layers of flavour and texture into a fluffy steamed bun. Traditionally, they’re filled with melt-in-your-mouth braised pork belly, then some pickled mustard greens, peanut sugar is then spooned on top, and finally it all finishes with a sprig of cilantro.
It’s not surprising that Gua Bao has its own article in The Michelin Guide entitled: What is Taiwanese Gua Bao?, and it’s even less surprising that Yuan Fang Gua Bao have been included in The Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand Taipei for a few years in a row!
This tasty snack has been steadily rising in popularity all over the world, with Gua Bao popping up in Hong Kong, London, Sydney and even in Barcelona! But, while I have tried it from many places overseas, it really doesn’t get better than right here in Taiwan!
Imagine this: a warm, pillowy bun cradling a tender piece of pork belly, brightened by the tang of pickled mustard greens and the creamy crunch of sweetend crushed peanuts. Each bite is a balanced symphony of sweet, savory, and salty notes, making Gua Bao the perfect pick-me-up or satisfying snack.
So ditch the burger joint and head to this Wanhua stall for an authentic taste of Taiwan! Read and see more below about what makes Yuan Fang Gua Bao in the Hua Xi Street Night Market around Long Shan Temple one of the best Taiwanese hamburgers that you can get your hands on anywhere.
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Hua Xi Street Night Market is an assault on the senses in every sense of the word. Lights, noise, smells, and everything else in-between floods your senses. As you walk out of Long Shan Temple MRT station Exit 1 and take a right and then a right again to go north on Xi Yuan Road, a mere 5 minute walk will have you at the entrance to the undercover Hua Xi Street Night Market.
While there are lots of delicious places to eat in Hua Xi Street Night Market – read my other article here of a braised pork over rice place that is worth checking out – we are here for the Taiwanese hamburger, the great Yuan Fang Gua Bao.
If you aren’t sure how to order or what to do when you arrive at Yuan Fang Gua Bao, then this is the post for you. See below for How to Order in Taipei Restaurants like a definitive pro!
3 Fast Tips on How to Order in Taipei Restaurants like a definitive pro!
The Menu at Yuan Fang Gua Bao
I'm not a huge fan of soup. I also find the names of Taiwanese soups quite difficult to overcome sometimes. Pig's Bladder soup doesn't strike me as anything delicious. I see it more as a challenge to try, rather than a delicacy. With that being said, I would probably be open to trying out the all-in-one soup at some point. But I was here for the fluffy bao, and nothing else.
You'll likely have to line up for your Gua Bao, but don't let that put you off. For these, I'd invest time and effort to make it happen.
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The steam, the smells, the noise, the drama of everything as you line up is enough to distract you. With that being said, the service here is quick, and the line continues to move steadily as you line up.
Salivation begins, if it hadn't already. Perfect steamed pillows of beauty are uncovered. Fluffy, yeasty, chewy, soft. Lovely. They are continuously steamed throughout opening times at Yuan Fang, so you'll inevitably be hit by the waft of freshly steamed bread each and every time you come anywhere near Hua Xi Night Market.
Expect the base of each soup to be pretty much the same, but whichever soup you order will come with different ingredients. Whether that's pigs bladder, stomach, intestines, or the herbal soup that includes adlay and a mix of offal.
Yeh, yeh, yeh, that's all well and good, but check out this Taiwanese hamburger from Yuan Fang Gua Bao. A perfectly steamed bao bun gets layered with some peanut sugar, packed with a spoon or two of the pickled mustard greens on the bottom, then comes the slice of pork belly, followed by another little piece of meat (as if you felt like one slice wasn't enough) and a sprig or two of cilantro.
I'll be honest, it was tough to get a good picture of it as I just wanted to chow down. But, the camera eats first, right? Let me tell you how delicately balanced this Gua Bao was. The saltiness of the pickled greens and belly pork were beautifully balanced with the softness of the bao itself, and the sourness of the pickles matched beautifully with the fresh cut of cilantro running through. This all finished with the peanut sugar for a hit of fragrance and texture. It is a thing to behold, the Taiwanese hamburger here at Hua Xi Night Market next to Long Shan Temple.
The Bottom Line
Is it worth it? Yuan Fang Gua Bao is easily one of the best bao I have had. The balance, the ease, the quality. Everything is on-point.
What is the best dish? There's only one dish. Gua Bao is the dish of the day here.
Are there other places like this? Gua Bao stalls are dotted all over the city, but while some of them do come close to Yuan Fang Gua Bao, I don't think any quite pip it for top spot, in my opinion.
This is the one to beat.