Hou A Po Roast-Pork Zongzi (侯阿婆烧肉粽), Zhonglou branch

Hou A Po Roast-Pork Zongzi (侯阿婆烧肉粽), Zhonglou branch, is a casual snack shop in the West Street and Kaiyuan Temple business district of Quanzhou, near the Bell Tower in Licheng District, Fujian, China. Quanzhou is a historic port city and a UNESCO-listed heritage site, and its Minnan food culture is best experienced through small, specialised snack shops like this one. The speciality is roast-pork zongzi (烧肉粽), a Minnan-style glutinous-rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves and filled with braised pork belly, often alongside mushroom, dried shrimp, chestnut or salted egg yolk, then steamed and served with sweet sauces, chilli and sometimes peanut powder or pickled radish. Unlike northern savoury or sweet zongzi eaten mainly at the Dragon Boat Festival, the Minnan version is eaten year-round as a breakfast, snack or light meal. The shop also serves sweet peanut soup, a warm, lightly sweet dessert commonly paired with the zongzi to balance the rich pork. There is no chef lineage or Michelin context; the appeal is straightforward, regional comfort food. The dining room is basic and quick-turnover, with simple tables, bright lighting and a mix of local regulars and visitors exploring the Bell Tower area. Noise is moderate, and service is typically fast, so the shop works well for a short stop between sights such as Kaiyuan Temple and the old streets. No dress code applies, and beverage options are limited to soups, tea and soft drinks, with no wine programme. Prices are very low, about ¥23 per person, roughly $3.20, making it one of the cheapest ways to sample a Quanzhou specialty. Hours are daily from about 08:00 to 21:00. Reservations are not needed; the shop operates on a walk-in basis, though queues can build at mealtimes and on Chinese public holidays. Visitors who want a larger meal often combine it with other nearby snack stops on West Street.