Li Long Pancake Shop

Review

Li Long Pancake Shop is tucked into Lane 79, Section 2 of Xinyi Road in Dongmen Market and is one of the market's best-known pan-fried pastry stalls. A Mirror Media feature on Dongmen Market says it is now run by third-generation brothers together with the elder brother's wife, starting to bake early every morning with a queue every day, and Supertaste also lists it among Dongmen's must-eats. The stall is small, the griddle is crowded with filled pastries, and it is a favourite breakfast stop for locals.

Items include chive pockets, cabbage cakes, shredded radish cakes, beef pies, pork pies, scallion pancakes and red bean cakes. The chive pocket is the most popular, full of chive fragrance; the radish cake is light and sweet without a raw bite; the beef pie combines pastry and meat aromas; the cabbage cake is crisp and sweet, and the pork pie is milder. Each piece is small, so one or two is right, and even several don't feel greasy. Note that only the first batch of red bean cakes is vegetarian; later batches contain animal fat.

Praise centres on the piping-hot pastries, the crisp, fragrant crust, the friendly prices and the courteous staff; many call it a must-buy breakfast in Dongmen Market. Complaints include long waits, with popular flavours often requiring the next batch, and a noticeably beefy taste in the beef pie that not everyone likes. Some also mention that certain items need to be ordered ahead, so walk-ins may miss their preferred flavour.

Sources disagree on hours: online listings show 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., closed Sundays and Mondays, while Mirror Media says baking starts at 4 a.m. and Supertaste gives Mondays off, so check before going. On price, Mirror Media lists most items at NT$30 each but also mentions NT$25 in the text; a 2026 diner paid NT$30. Cash is the norm and it is mainly takeaway. Take the MRT to Dongmen Station and walk about five minutes; parking around the market is difficult.

It suits early risers exploring Dongmen Market who want a traditional wheat-pastry breakfast, or anyone buying a few to take home as snacks. First-timers should try the chive pocket and the radish cake, one savoury and one light; meat lovers can add a beef pie. Crowds are thinner around 8 a.m., and the later you go the more likely popular flavours are gone. Eat them hot for the best crunch, or reheat briefly in a frying pan at home.