Hidden in an alley off Xin Dong Street in Minsheng Community, there's a really awesome Taiwanese Meatballs place called "Hsu." I've been eating there since I was a kid. Every time I pass by and they're open, I just want to grab some to bring home.

Hsu Kaohsiung Taiwanese Meatballs has been in business since 1980, making it a neighborhood favorite for over 40 years. The owner uses the southern-style steamed meatball method to bring the authentic Kaohsiung flavor to Taipei, which is why they named it Kaohsiung Meatballs.

Kaohsiung Meatballs - Hsu may be tucked away in an alley and has a small storefront, but they've been around for many years and are quite well-known. Lots of food bloggers and magazines have featured them.

One more memorable thing about Hsu Kaohsiung Taiwanese Meatballs is that the owner's wife is super friendly and kind. Many reviews on maps give high ratings and say that she's really nice.

The indoor space isn't very big, it can seat about ten people before it's full. It's been about the same size from way back when. The place has a cozy, family-style vibe, but it's super clean.

There's a TV next to the counter, and a menu and price list are hanging on the wall. Even though the space inside is small, I never have to wait long each time I visit because whether I dine in or take out, the service is really quick.

Hsu Kaohsiung Taiwanese Meatballs offers a very simple menu with just Meatballs, Four Herbs Soup, Fish Ball Soup, and Meatball Soup. What I really like is that you can choose how many meatballs you want—two, three, four, or even unlimited—so you can get odd or even numbers, whatever you prefer.

The price of meatballs has been 50 TWD for two for many years. Even after all this time, it still remains very affordable.

The space is really clean and the atmosphere is better than most regular snack shops.

Our handmade chili sauce, made with Chinese Toon Chili, is one of our specialties. If you like spicy food, give it a try!

Three steamed meatballs (清蒸肉圓三顆)

Three generous steamed Taiwanese meatballs are placed on a plate. The skin is made from rice, making them really soft and easy to chew. Since they're steamed, they're not greasy at all and taste very light and refreshing.

The sauce for the Taiwanese meatballs tastes sweet and salty, and it's not thick at all. There's garlic and coriander on top, and the garlic flavor is pretty strong. I personally really like this kind of flavor.

The filling of the meatballs is made from fresh pork, mostly lean meat with a small amount of fat. The meat has been pickled, so it's quite salty. The filling is very soft and tender—it's not hard or dry. For steamed meatballs, I really like this kind of filling.

Four Herbs Soup (四神湯)

This place isn't just famous for their tasty Taiwanese Meatballs—their Four Herbs Soup is also delicious. It only costs 50 TWD, so it's really affordable.

The Four Herbs Soup has a generous amount of ingredients, including Job's Tears and pork intestines. The Job's Tears have a great texture – not overcooked, so you can still enjoy their crunch. The broth is very clear and refreshing, with a light alcohol flavor.

The texture of the large intestines is also excellent—very soft and tender. The fat and oil have been thoroughly removed, so there's no gamey smell at all. When paired with the meatballs, you'll find yourself wanting to keep eating one after another. If the soup runs low, you can ask the owner to refill it for you.

If you finish the meatballs and have some sauce left, customers often ask the owner to add some clear soup to the sauce. To dip the meatballs in and enjoy together—it tastes really great. It's just like having a bowl of deep-fried fish cake with soup after you're done.

Their Taiwanese Meatballs were so delicious that after finishing ours, we saw they were selling a pack of 10 for only 250 TWD dollars. The price was really cheap, so we bought a pack to take home and enjoy.