MINGLUN Pancake

Review

Minglun Pancake began beside a field next to Minglun Junior High School in Changhua, where locals called the owner the egg pancake grandpa. His son later brought the stall to Fuxing Road at Fengjia Night Market, and it quickly became a famous stall with constant queues. Rather than egg pancakes made with machine-pressed wrappers, it sells old-style batter egg pancakes, cooked to order from a batter mixed to a house ratio, and it has opened a second branch at No. 1-1 Wenhua Road.

The batter is spread thin on the griddle, an egg is cracked on and scallions are scattered over, and it cooks until the edges char slightly; some compare it to a French crepe. Several articles describe a lightly crisp exterior with a soft, chewy inside and clear egg and scallion aromas, while others find it thin and tender overall. Texture descriptions vary, probably depending on how long it is cooked. Seasonings come in four choices: sweet chili sauce, white pepper, chili powder and soy sauce, and almost every article recommends the house sweet chili sauce, slightly sweet with a kick. A portion is about NT$50, though one roundup lists NT$54.

Media often describe it as having gone from Changhua fame to Fengjia fame, with queues all year round. Editors and bloggers are broadly positive, and one says they buy it every time they visit Fengjia. Accounts of the wait differ: some say it is crowded but serves quickly, while one article warns that each pancake takes time and the wait can be long. There is little criticism overall, mostly about queuing and waiting for your number.

To order, take a number ticket first, then wait to be called. Sources list different hours: some say it opens at 3pm on weekdays and at 11:30am or noon on weekends, running until around midnight, so check before you go. Arriving before 5 or 6pm is generally quieter, and if the main stall is packed you can try the second branch on Wenhua Road, which is said to be less crowded.

It suits anyone craving an old-style Taiwanese snack or something to settle the stomach at the start of a night-market visit. Sweet chili is the safest first choice, and white pepper suits those who prefer savory. After taking a number, keep an ear out for your call.