Hong Mama Breakfast

Review

Hong Mama Breakfast on Heping Road is the breakfast most often recommended on Xiaoliuqiu, and blogger Bunny Ann notes it has been running for 35 years. Supertaste lists it among the island's five signature eats, describing a self-service setup with a huge range: fried items on one side, savoury breakfast dishes on the other, and a station with sauces, oden and tea eggs.

The signature is Liuqiu guo, a rice-batter cake with peanuts and minced pork fried crisp outside and soft inside, gentler in texture than turnip cake; Supertaste lists the taro version at NT$30 and the bowl rice cake with sausage at NT$40. Other favourites include the sweet-filled Benz bun, thick and soft egg crepes, a generously filled combo rice ball and juicy soup dumplings. Bunny Ann shares that a group order of drinks, Benz buns, egg crepes, rice rolls, soup dumplings and Liuqiu guo came to exactly NT$200.

Fans praise the variety, low prices, the Liuqiu guo and fried mantou, milk tea that isn't too sweet, and staff who stay kind amid the chaos. Complaints focus on crowded queues and a layout that baffles first-timers, while some find certain items salty or greasy, the Benz bun filling too sweet, or miss ginger shreds with the soup dumplings.

Google lists hours of 05:30 to 11:00 daily, and it is takeaway only with no seating. Mind the ordering flow: start on the right with a basket for the main items, let staff pick up Benz buns with tongs, then move left for drinks, fried items and payment, rather than queuing on the left first. Hot drinks sit in outdoor baskets and go fast. Weekend queues run about 30 minutes, so arrive early and split up if you're in a group.

It suits visitors staying on Xiaoliuqiu who want a local breakfast before snorkelling or circling the island. On a first visit, grab at least one Liuqiu guo and a combo rice ball plus a milk tea; groups can pick several items to share, and around NT$100 per person makes a hearty spread.