Qingguang Red Bean Cake

Review

Qingguang Red Bean Cake is at No. 16-1, Lane 12, Shuangcheng Street in Zhongshan District, between Qingguang Market and the Shuangcheng Street night market. Supertaste notes that the name is known to nearly everyone, with similar signs all over Taiwan, but this stall in the Shuangcheng Street lanes is the original. There is no fancy decor; decades of baking to order at a small stall have won over locals and tourists, and people often line up outside waiting for the next batch.

There are only three flavours: classic red bean, rich custard and shredded radish. The red bean filling mixes in speckled kidney beans so it never tastes one-note, and the smooth, sweet custard is many diners' favourite. All share fillings packed so full they burst at the first bite, and the crust is thinner than usual and baked crisp, which one blogger likens to a biscuit. They are extremely hot straight off the griddle, so bite carefully.

Praise centres on generous fillings, low prices and the fact that they still taste good cold; many buy several to take away and wish they had bought more. Complaints are few: queues can sometimes be long, prices have risen from NT$15 to NT$20 in recent years, and some find the red bean too sweet, in which case the radish is a good alternative.

Hours are 11:00 to 19:30 daily. Prices vary by source: a 2023 blog post says NT$12 each, Supertaste quotes a diner saying the price rose from NT$15 to NT$20, and recent diners mostly say NT$20, so go by the price posted on site. Despite the crowds, cakes come off the griddle fast and the line usually moves quickly. It is takeaway only with no seating nearby, so eat while strolling Qingguang Market; Zhongshan Elementary School MRT station is about a five-minute walk.

It suits anyone after a cheap, old-fashioned snack, or a post-meal treat while exploring Shuangcheng Street. First-timers should buy one red bean and one custard to compare, adding a radish cake if you like savoury. Eat them hot for the crispest crust; if taking them back to a hotel, a quick reheat restores the crunch.