Zhongcheng Shandong Scallion Pancake

Review

Zhongcheng Shandong Scallion Pancake is at No. 3 Keqiang Road in Shilin, a five- to eight-minute walk from MRT Mingde Station. Mirror Media reports that owner Lin Tsai-chuan was once a physics and chemistry teacher who left teaching at 60 to learn Shandong scallion pancakes, and he still minds the shop in his eighties. The light box out front is the shop's trademark: pancakes are made to order in limited numbers, and when the light is on there are still some to buy.

The thin pancake here is dry and crisp rather than oily; a blogger describes clear layers, the sweetness of flour and the savoury fragrance of scallion. According to a 2026 blog record, a whole sheet is NT$110, a half NT$60 and a quarter NT$35. The thick pancake costs NT$60 and uses the same dough left unrolled, pan-fried for about half an hour until the shell is lightly crisp and the inside fluffy and chewy. Frozen raw dough is also sold for frying at home.

Fans praise the pancakes as not greasy, generous and good value for the Tianmu area, and say the owners are friendly and the aroma guides you to the door. Downsides are takeaway only with no seating, long queues, thick pancakes that often sell out, and several mentions of price rises in recent years. A 2024 report still listed the thick pancake at NT$55, so prices vary by source and the shop's board is the final word.

Hours are roughly 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; sources do not mention a fixed closing day, but when the light goes off the day's pancakes are gone. You can ask for slicing and choose spicy or not, with chili sauce on the counter. Parking nearby is hard, so use paid spaces or a car park, or simply take the MRT. If you want the thick pancake, come early or call ahead.

Good for a snack while exploring Tianmu or Mingde, or to take home for breakfast or a late bite. First-timers can get a half thin pancake plus one thick one to compare textures, enough for two. Eat it hot for the best crunch, or reheat it in an oven at home. Expect to spend about NT$35 to NT$120 per person.