Ke Family Scallion Pancake

Review

Ke Family Scallion Pancake on Jiaoxi Road Section 4 is the snack nearly every hot-spring visitor to Jiaoxi queues for. China Times reported that it was founded in 1970 under the name Jiaoxi Scallion Pancake, selling from a single small truck before it opened a shop, and the original truck is still parked beside it. A 2018 Supertaste report also said it had been trading locally for over thirty years, with customers happy to queue.

The pancakes use Yilan's Sanxing scallions and are fried to order until the outside is golden and crisp, while the dough inside stays chewy and fragrant with scallion. You can add an egg, then top it with sweet chilli sauce, garlic soy sauce or salty chilli sauce. On price, Yam reported NT$40 plain and NT$45 with egg, Supertaste gave NT$30 and NT$35 in 2018, and recent diners say the egg version is now NT$50; sources differ, so check before you go.

Fans praise the chewy dough, strong scallion aroma and piping-hot freshness, and say that although the line is long it moves fast, with about a ten-minute wait on weekdays. Complaints include weekend queues that can top an hour, no shade and plenty of mosquitoes outside, a somewhat oily result, a weak garlic sauce, and the fact that one pancake is very filling.

Hours are about 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Wednesdays; check before you go. On weekends people queue before the 9 a.m. opening, and tour guides sometimes buy dozens at once, so weekdays or early mornings are best. The pavement outside is often packed and roadside parking is hard, so park in central Jiaoxi and walk over.

It suits hot-spring visitors and anyone exploring Jiaoxi's hot spring park, as breakfast or an afternoon snack. First-timers should get it with egg and the classic sweet chilli sauce; if you are wary of oil or have a small appetite, share one between two and save room for other Jiaoxi snacks.