Tianjin Scallion Pancake

Review

Tianjin Scallion Pancake sits on the corner of Lane 6 of Yongkang Street, opposite Yongkang Park, and is one of the street's best-known snacks. Taiwanese media, Japanese travel sites and a Korean food programme have all featured it, there is a line from morning to night, and many people make it their first stop on Yongkang Street.

Once the pancake is golden, the cook slaps it with a spatula so the layers puff up, giving a crisp outside and a soft, chewy inside. The most recommended version is Thai basil with egg, where the basil lifts the flavour; for something fuller, order the combo with cheese, ham and egg. The sauce has a little heat, so mention it when ordering if you prefer none.

Fans praise the made-to-order freshness, strong aroma and low price, and say the long line moves fast because the aunties take orders and call numbers efficiently. Critics say the scallion flavour is faint and the pancake is sometimes soft rather than crisp, feeling the fame outruns the taste; others find it little different from any roadside scallion pancake.

Sources disagree on opening hours, so check before you go: some say it opens at 8:00 and others at 9:00, closing around 22:00. A 2024 article put the egg version at about NT$40. Staff take your order while you queue and call you to pay when it is ready. There is no seating, so it is a walk-and-eat snack; 20 to 30-minute waits are common at peak times, while around 9:00 in the morning is usually quicker.

It suits anyone wanting a bite before exploring Yongkang Street, as well as students and backpackers on a budget. First-timers should try basil with egg, adding cheese if you like it richer. One pancake is quite filling, so save room for the beef noodles or shaved ice nearby.