Yipinxiang Pan-Fried Buns

Review

Yipinxiang Pan-Fried Buns is at No. 58 Yude Road in Dajia, near the Jiangong Road corner and about a minute's walk from Zhenlan Temple. Bloggers call it a long-established Dajia name. Frying starts at 5:30 am, making it breakfast for many locals and an easy snack for pilgrims after visiting Mazu; there is often a line out front, scooters crowd the curb, and the steam and aroma from the pans carry a long way.

There are only three items: pan-fried buns at NT$15, chive buns at NT$20 and pork pies at NT$30. Mornings are buns only; all three are available after noon, with the pork pie sold as an afternoon snack. The buns have golden, crunchy bottoms and chewy dough, filled mostly with cabbage plus a little minced pork, glass noodles and carrot, sweet and crisp to bite. In summer the filling switches to or adds bottle gourd, which is juicier and lighter. A Supertaste writer actually preferred the pork pie, describing thin skin, plenty of filling and lots of juice. The house sweet chili sauce is self-serve and bloggers recommend it.

Most diners praise the freshness, the lack of grease and the great value at NT$15, and many buy a dozen or more at a time. Some think each bun is small, gone in one bite for a hungry man, and that it is an everyday budget snack rather than a revelation. One article lists the bun at NT$12, probably an older price, so go by the board on site.

It is self-service: you pick buns from the pan yourself and pay at a separate spot, and once a pan is cleared you wait for the next, so be quick. There is no seating, takeaway only, with chili sauce and bags self-serve. Hours are 05:30 to 18:30, and on weekends and during the pilgrimage each batch vanishes as soon as it is done. Scooters crowd the area, so drivers should park at a paid lot around Zhenlan Temple and walk.

It suits temple visitors wanting a cheap hot snack and anyone grabbing breakfast. In the morning, get the buns; after noon, try one of each to compare. In summer, go for the bottle gourd version with a little sweet chili sauce.