Chia Te Bakery

Review

Chia Te Bakery has been on Section 5 of Nanjing East Road for more than 40 years and is one of the most frequently recommended pineapple-cake souvenirs in Taipei, having won a gold award at a pastry competition. Tourists and locals alike make special trips here. Before Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year, queues stretch out the door, bulk buyers order hundreds of boxes at a time, and the shop has extended its hours in peak season to cope.

The signature original pineapple cake uses a pineapple and winter-melon filling that is milder than old-style versions, keeping a nostalgic fruity aroma without the tang of native-pineapple fillings. The crust is baked soft and light rather than dense, so it melts easily. Beyond the original, there are salted-egg pineapple cakes, cranberry pineapple cakes, egg-yolk pastries, wife cakes, milk shortbread, sun cakes and scallion nougat crackers. In peak season the top three sellers are the pineapple cake, red-bean egg-yolk pastry and salted-egg pineapple cake.

Fans praise the balanced flavour, fair prices and the ability to build your own mixed box, and the scallion nougat crackers have plenty of supporters. Critics feel the fame outweighs the wow factor, and those who love tart native-pineapple fillings find it lacks character. Others mention the cramped shop, no free samples and crowded queues.

The original pineapple cakes are listed at NT$216 for 6, NT$432 for 12 and NT$720 for 20, roughly NT$36 each. The shop opens daily 08:30–20:30 and has stayed open until 21:00 in peak season; sources vary, so check before you go. Fill out the order sheet outside the door and head straight to the cashier for the fastest service. It is a few minutes' walk from Nanjing Sanmin MRT station, and parking nearby is difficult. Pre-order before Mid-Autumn Festival.

It suits anyone buying souvenirs in bulk, or wanting a pineapple cake that is neither sour nor cloying for older relatives. First-timers can mix several original and salted-egg pineapple cakes; add red-bean egg-yolk pastries if you like sweet-savoury flavours, and grab a pack of scallion nougat crackers for something different.