A cozy mountain-side eatery serving traditional flavors by the Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail.
After hiking through the lush forest paths and waterfalls of Sandiaoling, most visitors simply hop on the next train back to Taipei. But right at the trailhead, across from Shouren Elementary School (碩仁國小), hides a gem worth lingering for: Grandma Liao’s House (廖阿嬤的家).
This stone-brick house, shaded by tall trees and filled with the scent of homemade food, offers hikers a cozy retreat. With long wooden benches set under leafy canopies and glass tables reflecting dappled sunlight, it feels more like resting in someone’s backyard than visiting a café. And indeed, that’s exactly the charm — a homegrown place serving traditional, handmade Taiwanese treats.
Grandma Liao’s Signature: Grass Rice Cake (草仔粿)
If there’s one food that captures the spirit of Taiwan’s rice culture, it’s the humble grass rice cake (草仔粿, caozai guo). Unlike the mass-produced versions often sold in tourist markets, Grandma Liao makes hers daily by grinding pure glutinous rice (糯米, also called sticky rice) — not store-bought rice flour — and blending it with mouse-ear cress (鼠麴草, shǔqǔcǎo), a wild herb that colors the dough a natural green. No artificial coloring, no additives — just rice and grass, as it has been for generations.
Traditionally, grass rice cakes are eaten during the Qingming Festival, offered as ancestral tributes symbolizing blessings for prosperity and peace. At Grandma Liao’s, the cakes come with two different fillings, and I tried both:
- Preserved radish filling (菜脯口味): savory and slightly crunchy, with a natural saltiness from sun-dried radish strips. Cai-pu (菜脯) is made by salting, dehydrating, and drying white radish under the sun, turning it into a preserved ingredient with a distinct rustic flavor.
- Red bean paste (紅豆口味): subtly sweet, earthy, and smooth, balancing perfectly with the herbaceous rice skin.
The overall texture is soft yet pleasantly chewy, with a subtle herbal fragrance from the mugwort or mouse-ear cress in the skin. Paired with either the savory crunch of preserved radish or the smooth sweetness of red bean, it’s light, aromatic, and never too heavy — no wonder this little green cake has remained a beloved Taiwanese snack for generations.
The freshly milled rice gave the cakes a comforting softness and depth of flavor. After a long hike, biting into this warm, green treat felt like being welcomed into a grandmother’s kitchen.
Cooling Down with Stone Flower Jelly (石花凍)
While the rice cakes filled my stomach, stone flower jelly (石花凍, shíhuādòng) refreshed my spirit. Made from a type of red seaweed (石花菜, literally “stone flower”), the jelly is produced through a labor-intensive process: soaking, sun-drying, boiling, and filtering until the liquid naturally sets into a translucent gel. Known as “ocean bird’s nest,” it’s prized for its cooling properties and subtle mineral flavor.
At Grandma Liao’s, the jelly is made with spring water in the mountains and paired with homemade fruit vinegar, giving it a tangy-sweet kick. Cold, slippery, and lightly sour, it was the perfect reward after sweating through the forest trail. One spoonful under the shade of the courtyard’s giant tree, with a train passing in the distance, made me feel like I had discovered the essence of a small Taiwanese mountain town.
Grandma Liao’s House Menu & Prices (2025)
Though I only tried the grass rice cakes and stone flower jelly, Grandma Liao’s menu goes beyond traditional snacks. You’ll find:
Item (English) | Mandarin | Pinyin | Price (NT$) |
Grass rice cake (preserved radish filling) | 草仔粿（菜脯餡） | cǎo zǎi guǒ (cài pǔ xiàn) | 35 |
Grass rice cake (red bean paste filling) | 草仔粿（紅豆餡） | cǎo zǎi guǒ (hóng dòu xiàn) | 35 |
Spring-water stone flower jelly | 山泉水石花凍 | shān quán shuǐ shí huā dòng | 40 |
Roselle tea | 洛神花茶 | luò shén huā chá | 70 |
Candied roselle | 洛神花蜜餞 | luò shén huā mì jiàn | 140 |
Vegetarian braised five-spice tofu | 素滷五香豆干 | sù lǔ wǔ xiāng dòu gān | 40 |
Vegetarian braised five-spice peanuts | 素滷五香花生 | sù lǔ wǔ xiāng huā shēng | 40 |
Hand-ground pour-over coffee | 現磨手沖咖啡 | xiàn mó shǒu chōng kā fēi | 110 |
Naturally fermented kombucha | 天然發酵康普茶 | tiān rán fā jiào kāng pǔ chá | 150 |
Taiwanese-style pickles | 台式泡菜 | tái shì pào cài | 150 |
Golden pickles | 黃金泡菜 | huáng jīn pào cài | 250 |
Egg fried rice | 蛋炒飯 | dàn chǎo fàn | 100 |
Sakura-shrimp fried rice | 櫻花蝦炒飯 | yīng huā xiā chǎo fàn | 140 |
Shaved ice (mung bean / pineapple / mulberry / roselle) | 剉冰（綠豆／鳳梨／桑葚／洛神口味） | cuò bīng (lǜ dòu / fèng lí / sāng shèn / luò shén kǒu wèi) | 65 |
Whether you’re looking for a light refreshment or a small meal before catching the train, this little eatery delivers.
Shop Information
- Name: 廖阿嬤的家 (Liao A-Ma’s House)
- Address:
- No. 107, Yuliao Road, Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan (Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LPmu8KzZgc9YepKV6)
- Opposite Shouren Elementary School, right beside the Sandiaoling Waterfall Trailhead
- Phone: +886-928-815501
- Hours: 08:30 – 18:00 (Closed on Mondays)
- Price Range: NT$35–150 (most snacks NT$40–70)
📌 Bookmark this spot for your next trip to Sandiaoling!
How to get to Grandma Liao’s House
By Train
- Take a local train to Sandiaoling Station.
- From there, it’s a 10–15 minute walk to Grandma Liao’s House.
By Car/Scooter
- Navigation: Shuoren Parking Lot | 碩仁停車場
- From the lot, it’s a 5-10 minute walk to Grandma Liao’s House.
A Taste of Sandiaoling
Visiting Sandiaoling isn’t just about chasing waterfalls — it’s about slowing down in a hidden valley town, where trains echo through tunnels and local grandmas still cook with patience. Sitting under the trees at Liao A-Ma’s House, savoring a chewy green rice cake and a chilled bowl of stone flower jelly, I felt I had tasted not just food, but the spirit of Sandiaoling itself.
👉 If you’re hiking the waterfalls, don’t rush back to Taipei — pause here, and let Grandma Liao’s homemade treats complete your journey.
Nearby Attraction
Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail
The Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail is a lush, easy half-day hike featuring forest paths, rivers, and three scenic waterfalls. Perfect for hikers who want to enjoy nature while glimpsing Taiwan’s hidden mountain villages.
👉 Plan your hike: Full guide to Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail for maps, tips, and highlights of the forest paths and waterfalls.
