Shaved Ice

呷二嘴

Est. 1954

No. 34號, Ganzhou Street, Datong District, Taipei City, Taiwan 103

+886 2 2557 0780

https://goo.gl/maps/2z8vkqkGpRq

He tell stories about that place. He used to go there after school everyday in middle school when it was just a street vendor selling shaved ice from his scooter stand. His parents wouldn’t let him go out after school, but he always made a point to stop by there on his way home. He would try to get there early and eat very quickly so his parents wouldn’t notice he was late coming home from school.

He continued going there throughout high school and even after he returned home after serving in the navy. By then, he was working at my grandpa’s steel recycling/ manufacturing plant, driving his scooter or truck around, meeting and delivering steel to clients. Whenever he could he would stop by and eat a bowl of shaved ice, always speed eating because my grandpa was a strict and timely businessman.

When he got married with my Mom, she moved in with him and his parents. She would have to stay home cleaning, cooking and eventually taking care of Judy after she was born. My Dad was still working, going out and eating that shaved ice whenever he could. Sometimes he would tell my Mom about how good it is, how QQ the rice noodle topping is, how sweet and refreshing it is on a hot summer day in Taiwan. Meanwhile my Mom is thinking, “Why doesn’t he ever take me there or bring one back for me! He just keeps telling me how good it is…”

Two years later, they immigrate to America and my Mom missed her chance to try it for 50 years. Apparently, my parents forgot or didn’t find time to go all those times they went back to visit Taiwan. Fast forward to 2016, the scooter stand has become a sit down restaurant with lines out the door that frequently closes early because the shaved ice is sold out.

We’re visiting Taiwan again, and that’s when my Dad remembers, “Hey, let’s see if 呷二嘴 is still around.” Sure enough, it’s there and business is great. My Mom finally gets to try the shaved ice my Dad has been raving about since they were young. She loves it, and so does Dad. “They have so many toppings now, why don’t you try it?” “No thank you, I like it with just ice, syrup, and rice noodle. Just the way I always like it.”

by Douglas Hu