Yi Fu Tang (Zhongshan Store)

Review

Yi Fu Tang was founded in 1928 and first made its name with handmade pineapple cakes; it reportedly started out with a pushcart, supplying pastries to be sold on railway platforms. This old shop at No. 52 Zhongshan Road sits right beside Taichung Station, making it a natural stop for souvenirs during a walk around the old town. The brand has other branches on Ziyou Road, Taiwan Boulevard and elsewhere, and all its pastries are made in its own factory.

Its most famous product is the lemon cake created in 1964: moist sponge cake coated in lemon-scented white chocolate, described in reports as sweet with a light tang and even better chilled, at about NT$280 for eight. The recent hit is the pineapple-crust egg yolk pastry, made with a pineapple-bun style topping, smooth red bean paste that is sweet without being cloying, and a large salted egg yolk; the Ziyou branch listed it at NT$53 each, NT$525 for ten and NT$630 for twelve. There is also a chewy cake with mochi inside, plus pineapple cakes at NT$350 for ten and classic sun cakes at NT$420 for twelve.

Media reviews are broadly positive: long-time customers regard the lemon cake as the benchmark for Taiwanese lemon cakes, and one writer found the egg yolk pastry fragrant and not heavy after reheating. However, most coverage found leans promotional and specific criticism is rare. Another writer noted that the pineapple-style crust is soft and fragrant rather than crisp, so fans of flaky pastry should bear that in mind.

Most items are individually wrapped, so you can build your own gift box. The lemon cake keeps about twenty days and is best refrigerated; the egg yolk pastry sells fast before Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year, so pre-order early. The Zhongshan shop opens roughly 10:00 to 21:00 and is a short walk from Taichung Station, ideal for shopping just before your train. Sources do not mention parking or payment methods.

It suits travellers leaving from Taichung Station who want classic Taiwanese pastries as gifts. The lemon cake is a must on a first visit; add a few egg yolk pastries to fill a box, and for older relatives pair them with pineapple cakes or sun cakes, the safer, more traditional choices.