Chao Qun Jiguang Bun

Review

Chao Qun Jiguang Bun is in Matsu village, Nangan, not far from the giant Mazu statue and Tianhou Temple, and is one of the most often recommended jiguang bun shops on Nangan. Jiguang buns are round, sesame-topped hard breads with a hole in the middle, said to trace back to portable rations for the troops of Ming general Qi Jiguang, and in Matsu they are an everyday breakfast and a common souvenir. Supertaste notes the shop once took first place in a popularity poll of Matsu specialty gifts, and it also runs a Facebook page.

The buns can be baked to eat on the spot or bought by the pack, which Supertaste lists at NT$150. The favorite way to eat them is the "Matsu burger": a bun split open and filled with scallion omelet, a meat patty or pork chop. Supertaste records it at NT$60, while one traveler mentions NT$45, so check on site. The crust is crisp outside and airy inside, which one visitor called lighter than a typical bagel, and with hot egg and meat it makes a great breakfast or late-night snack.

Diners mostly praise the generous, affordable Matsu burger and the fluffy, never rock-hard bread, and many guesthouse owners buy them as breakfast for guests. Complaints include waits because an elderly couple makes everything by hand, a smoky room when frying, and limited fillings, with some wishing for chili sauce. A few who compared shops found these buns thin and crisp, almost like a doughnut, so those who like a dense chew may prefer another bakery.

Hours are roughly 07:30 to 19:00 daily, while Smile Taiwan lists 07:00 to 20:00; sources differ slightly, so check before you go. Being in Matsu village, it pairs easily with the giant Mazu statue and Tianhou Temple. If you are taking buns back to Taiwan as gifts, buy them the day before or the day you leave for freshness; packs dry out over time, so reheat them or add fillings at home.

It suits anyone who wants Matsu's signature breakfast or an affordable souvenir. First-timers can order a Matsu burger with egg and meat to eat right away and buy a pack of plain buns to take home; groups can each get a different filling and swap. Taking yours to the seaside or the statue plaza to eat with a view is a move many travelers recommend.