Burnt Cake $20
When I was a child, I really disliked burnt cake because I found it hard to bite into; it was just a lump of dough and didn’t taste good, it was all powdery... Because of that, I would always finish the fried dough sticks and leave the burnt cake behind.
This stereotype only changed after I started working and began buying breakfast by myself on my way to the office.
The burnt cake from the Giant's traditional breakfast remains crispy even until noon. Of course, it can't compare to when it's fresh out of the oven, but if you don’t have time to finish it in the morning, it can still be delicious for lunch later on.
If you care about the dining environment, I suggest taking it to go. This is an old traditional shop, and the atmosphere has that nostalgic feel.
Initially, I came to dine here for a special breakfast. Perhaps my expectations were set a bit high, which is why my review after the experience isn't that great.
The restaurant evolved from a small food cart to a brick-and-mortar establishment. They have forged a unique identity and a signature dish. Their menu is not filled with common items, but instead, they discover new delights from traditional ingredients!
At first, I was attracted by the bean curd skin omelet. Bean curd skin + omelet—how special is that? Then I discovered they also have kelp sprout omelets and pickled cabbage omelets. Although it's not the cheapest option, I still decided to give it a try!
Once I arrived, I finally chose the kelp sprout omelet over the bean curd skin one!
The owner was very nice, helping us who were having difficulty in choosing. Perhaps we were the first group of customers for the day. There weren't many people yet, and it wasn't too busy. The owner enthusiastically introduced their dishes and shared what customers love and their reviews. They explained the history of the restaurant and the story behind its operation. This seemingly simple breakfast had a touch of human warmth, showcasing the hard work of young entrepreneurs and the efforts of their family together.
However, a small point was deducted from my assessment; the dishes were a bit too oily, which affected my overall rating. This made me hesitant about whether it would be necessary to visit again in the future.
In conclusion, I might not come specifically for this place again, but if I happen to be nearby and crave something different for breakfast, I might still drop by and bring friends to try it out.
By the way, the chili is very fragrant and delicious—if you like spicy food, I recommend giving it a try! 👍
【Foodholic Niko @ Taipei】
This time I came for the collaboration product between Raya Burger and Morinaga Milk Candy!
PS: Raya Burger has recently partnered with many well-known brands. In addition to the Morinaga Milk Candy collaboration I'm trying today, they've also collaborated with Kit-Kat, which I’ll have to try later!
"Raya Burger, Beimen Branch" is located near Beimen Station, about a 7-minute walk. I originally thought it would be a large store, but it turned out to be quite small with limited seating, feeling a bit cramped. It’s somewhat open-plan, with no separation from the kitchen, so there might be a bit of grease smell.
This time I ordered the Morinaga Milk Candy Fried Chicken Chicago Burger for $99.
The piece of fried chicken is quite large, but I think it was fried a bit too long, so the skin is a bit tough and lacks that juicy feeling. However, the quality of the meat inside is acceptable; while it’s not very juicy, it’s at least not dry—I'd rate it around 65%.
The burger bun is very crispy, which is a plus; however, I personally felt that in the first half of eating this burger, I couldn't really taste the Morinaga Milk Candy sauce, and for a moment, I doubted whether it was even added. It felt very much like just eating a regular fried chicken burger, and I only started to taste the sweetness of the milk candy toward the end—perhaps the sauce had all dripped down.
Overall, I think the Morinaga Milk Candy Fried Chicken Chicago Burger is just average. It’s not the kind of dish that makes you want to linger, and considering the price per item is nearly $100, I personally wouldn’t repurchase.
Additionally, the side items include some hash browns and chicken nuggets. The chicken nuggets are a bit different from those at typical breakfast places, having a unique spice flavor (?) that’s quite special, but I didn’t really like it; I prefer the more common type of chicken nuggets. The hash browns are pretty good, but they’re a bit too oily, so I needed to keep dipping them in ketchup to cut through the grease.
The restaurant is very spacious and bright, and the dining area is relatively clean. There is a wide variety of dishes, and the food is served quickly. Compared to other soy milk shops, I feel that the overall dining experience is better here. The dishes that we ordered are reheated on-site, which is quite nice; even though it's only slightly warm, at least it's better than being cold. The iced soy milk comes in two options: sweetened and unsweetened, and I wish there was a mild sweetness option, but most other shops are the same. The food tastes average overall.
Location: Xindian District, New Taipei City
Chain Breakfast Shop
I've always thought this breakfast shop had pretty stable quality. Recently, they have been expanding quickly, and many locations have opened near my home, all within a 5-10 minute walking distance. The closest one to my house is this store. The last time I came, it was usually super crowded, requiring a long wait in line. Every time, I got so frustrated waiting that I haven't been back in quite a while.
🌟 Tuna Egg Pancake
My favorite breakfast is the tuna egg pancake. The tuna here is sauce-based, a pre-mixed flavor that I really like. Every time I have breakfast at their place, the tuna egg pancake is a must-order. The egg pancake skin is the standard type; it's softer and lacks the crunchiness of some other pancakes, but I still enjoy it a lot. 😂
🌟 Black Tea - Half Sugar, No Ice
Their black tea is quite ordinary, with no memorable features for a breakfast shop's black tea. However, you can choose half sugar, no sugar, or regular sweetness, which I think is very considerate since many breakfast shops don't offer such options.
I also ordered chicken nuggets and fries. The chicken nuggets are very similar to the ones you buy at Costco. The portion of fries is a bit small, and the value for money is a bit low. I probably won't order the sides again. That's about it.
According to the method of preparation, egg pancakes can be divided into dough skin egg pancakes and batter egg pancakes. In terms of texture, dough skin egg pancakes are chewier, while batter egg pancakes are primarily chewy. Today, I'll introduce "Meow Aunty's Egg Pancake," which has a completely different style, featuring flavors that you won't find in other places...
✅Spicy Guabao Egg Pancake: The filling combines spicy minced meat, pickled vegetables, and peanut powder. Initially, I thought these ingredients might clash, but they surprisingly harmonize well. The peanut powder, while not prominent, plays a crucial finishing touch in the overall flavor. The spiciness falls within a mild range; the taste is quite good, although after tasting, one might not associate it with traditional Guabao.
✅Mexican Spicy Smoked Chicken Cheese Egg Pancake: Featuring Mexican chili as the highlight, it showcases the unique aroma of the chili. The filling of smoked chicken and cheese adds a savory depth. The overall flavor is very rich, and there's no need for additional sauces.
✅Tall Fresh Milk Tea: A regular fresh milk tea with a well-balanced ratio of tea to milk.
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Meow Aunty’s Egg Pancake takes a creative flavor route, emphasizing a "no-oil frying" cooking method that is not only healthier but also unique. Since it operates solo, there might be a little wait for preparation. The outer layer of the pancake is crispy, and the inside has just the right amount of chewiness; after eating, there is completely no feeling of heaviness or greasiness. Additionally, Meow Aunty's Egg Pancake does not provide any sauces, simply sprinkling some pepper on the pancake to enhance the flavor, which is actually sufficient on its own, with no need for extra seasoning. The shop also offers pickled radish for an added refreshing touch.
*The menu changes daily and is posted on their Facebook and Instagram.
*Closed days vary.
*A minimum order of one egg pancake per person for dine-in.
*Takeout does not include free bags or utensils.
🚩Geographic Location🧭
Located near the intersection of Dade Street and Yude Road in the North District of Taichung City, next to the ENT Medical Building of China Medical University. Because this area is a small street, basically only scooters can be parked at the entrance, and you may need to find another place to park if you drive.
🪑About the Overall Atmosphere🎡
The exterior and signage give off a youthful vibe, which attracted me to walk in. The interior features a design with wood tones and warm yellow and white lighting, providing a slightly warm feeling when entering from a somewhat chilly day. There are about six tables, accommodating approximately 20 people.
💰About Pricing💰
Nostalgic Fried Noodles $40 + Fully Cooked Egg $15, Unsweetened Soy Milk $20
🍴About the Food☕
The portion of noodles is not small, and there is a lot of meat sauce provided. You can choose the doneness of the fried egg, which is very friendly for someone like me who prefers fully cooked. The noodles taste a bit dry, and I habitually wanted to grab some East Spring Sauce on the side to enhance the flavor, only to find out there isn't any!! Well, I had to pair it with some soy milk to quench my thirst; I think it would be better if there were a little more soup.
🤨Conclusion♥
I came to China Medical University for surgery on a deviated septum and enlarged inferior turbinates and stayed for three days. I secretly sneaked out to find food and discovered this place, which is decent—bright and clean decor. However, without East Spring Sauce, I feel compelled to deduct some points.
▶ Thai Basil Pork Rice Ball $90 + Handmade Braised Egg $20 ◀
Have you ever tried the Thai basil pork flavored rice ball? The Thai basil pork inside is homemade, slightly spicy, and very appetizing. It's fantastic to eat it with the braised egg! The whole rice ball is super, super big; one person might get full enough to skip dinner🤣 The glutinous rice has a very soft and chewy texture, just like mochi!
▶ Tuna Rice Ball $80 + Handmade Braised Egg $20 ◀
Inside, there is not only tuna but also pork floss, pickled vegetables, and an additional braised egg. The tuna has mayonnaise added to it, which makes the whole rice ball not too dry～
▶ Oat and Job's Tears $100 ◀
The texture of the oat and job's tears is thick, with a slight sweetness – it feels healthy and light! I really like it!
This egg pancake breakfast shop is really cute. There's a very large egg model right outside the door, seemingly telling you that you must order a fried egg when you visit (even though I didn't 🤣). However, I still ordered my favorite dish, the egg pancake.
The pancake itself is cooked to a crispy texture, and when sprinkled with pepper salt, the taste is quite nice—not like some pancake skins which can be a bit damp and soft. The eggs inside the pancake are cooked just right, with a slight crispness, tasting fresh and a bit sweet. It really makes you want to come back and try their fried egg next time.
As for the soy milk, it is freshly ground, and you can still taste the fragrant soybeans. Although it’s called health soy milk, it’s still slightly sweet, with no unsweetened option available.
Since I didn’t order much this time, I can’t comment on how their other dishes perform, but overall, the environment makes it a shop I would want to revisit.
Kaifeng Street Traditional Rice Ball is considered an old store. According to my colleague from Taitung, it is a traditional rice ball shop with authentic flavors.
The menu is quite simple, offering just plain rice balls or for an extra 10 NT dollars, you can get a pairing with black tea or soy milk. The rice balls are made from glutinous rice, which is chewy and delicious, with just the right amount of stickiness. The filling contains crispy fried dough sticks and relatively mild pickled vegetables. I think that given its light flavor, this is actually a very light breakfast option.
For the drink, I chose soy milk. You can tell that the soy milk is freshly ground, and you can smell the fragrance of the soybeans while drinking it. A combination of one rice ball and one drink for 50 NT dollars is a high-value breakfast choice in this era of soaring prices.