Dessert Grocery Store — Enjoy freshly baked hot cakes in a charming heritage house

Text & Photos /Pingzi

It’s hard to imagine that such an unassuming old alley with deep local Taiwanese charm even exists in Taipei. Whenever Pingzi visits this spot, she makes time for a return trip. The shop occasionally showcases Japanese-style groceries and everyday items for browsing. Best of all, it often serves freshly baked sweets from its neighboring patisserie, Zuōzǐwū, which have completely won over Pingzi’s sweet tooth. They’re absolutely delicious.

Coming from either Xingtian Temple Station or Songjiang Nanjing Station on the Bannan Line of the Taipei Metro, look for the entrance to Minsheng East Road near Lane 194, Songjiang Road. Walk straight into the alley until you almost reach the end — the shop is located on your right. The low-profile storefront remains true to Pingzi’s taste, featuring architectural elements typical of traditional Taiwanese homes: a weathered red wooden door, old iron window frames, and exposed aggregate walls. Though it may look similar to the facade of a typical residential apartment, it radiates a strong sense of local character. The entrance is adorned with many plants, reflecting the pursuit of quality living.

The wooden sign reflects the designer’s refined taste, with simple illustrations that instantly convey what the shop has to offer.

The shop occasionally hosts themed exhibitions, which Pingzi really enjoys.

Stepping inside, you’ll find the entire space untouched by renovations. The warm yellow lighting illuminates the area, a feature that Pingzi particularly appreciates. In this era where everything is constantly being updated and modernized, preserving an old building feels especially precious, revealing the unique taste of the shop owner, Mao Jiajun.

Shop owner Mao Jiajun is a wood enthusiast. Wooden decor is found throughout the space, along with a variety of Japanese stationery and lifestyle accessories available for purchase.

The chair cabinet is crafted from reclaimed wood, old windows, and drawers, with stools used as corner supports — an eco-friendly and creative piece of handmade furniture. With a design background much like Pingzi’s, Mao Jiajun demonstrates his professionalism through his selection of small items in the store.

Everyday items often reflect the quality and taste of a shop’s owner.

The polar bear series is one of Pingzi’s favorites, but unfortunately, these pieces are not for sale.

The small desk at the checkout counter.

Through these everyday objects, creativity and design reveal themselves. The more one understands how to live well, the more deeply design can resonate with people.

The seating area inside is limited, with only three to five tables and a maximum of 13 spots. There’s no set dining time here, so guests can sit for a long while — which means waiting is common. The shop is only open Thursday to Sunday, starting at 1 PM, and fills up quickly. Breaking away from conventional Taiwanese business philosophies, Zuōzǐwū has carved out its own unique style of shop management.

Inside, there’s a small wooden partitioned room with just two or three tables, offering a view of the open kitchen’s wooden bar counter.

The wooden tables and chairs are a favorite of Pingzi’s, adding a warm tactile feel.

The wooden bar counter displays cakes freshly baked daily. Just looking at them makes your mouth water. For a dessert lover like Pingzi, it’s worth the wait — even two hours — for the chance to enjoy one of these treats.

As Mao Jiajun is a food lover, this shop — originally a lifestyle goods store — has now partnered with a friend who bakes desserts to become a lifestyle multi-concept shop selling furniture, groceries, sweets, drinks, and more. Pingzi confirmed that photography is allowed, so she’s kindly sharing photos of the handmade goods with everyone. PS: No flash photography, please (basic photo etiquette).

Long benches made from multiple wooden planks are placed near the entrance and by the window, providing a place for guests to wait. The place gets very busy, so it’s best to arrive early or make a reservation in advance. Otherwise, you might end up waiting two hours like Pingzi just to try one of the freshly baked daily sweets from Zuōzǐwū.

The menu here is just a single handmade book, written in neat, personal handwriting that radiates warmth and a human touch. Zuōzǐwū posts the daily selection of freshly baked sweets on its Facebook page during operating days, with limited quantities available each day. The shop only serves tea — no coffee, which is a bit of a shame — but it adds to the anticipation.

Even the water glasses have a refined, crystal-clear quality.

Pingzi ordered a cup of Alishan Li Zhong Oolong tea for NT$140, served in a traditional Japanese teacup. This richly Japanese-style tea presentation is combined with locally sourced tea.

The black tea bowl holds high-quality Taiwanese tea in an eco-conscious way, though it’s slightly disappointing that too much tea leaf was packed into the cloth bag, preventing proper expansion. As a result, the Alishan tea flavor comes across as somewhat light.

When ordering cake, you’ll be served with Japanese tableware — still of great quality.

Pingzi ordered a freshly baked hot cake and waited 40 minutes for it. That day’s featured flavor was maple cream, priced at NT$280. As soon as it arrived, a rich aroma wafted through the air, instantly stimulating her appetite. Just looking at the cake explained why the wait was necessary — it was clearly crafted with great care, making the wait entirely worthwhile.

A single slice of cake makes the wait and anticipation so much more rewarding. This type of hot cake has become popular in recent years, reminiscent of the thick texture of hot pancakes.

Just looking at this 40-minute-wait maple cream hot cake, its height of about 5 cm is quite substantial. Though not cheap, it’s definitely worth ordering.

On top, there’s lightly salted cream that slowly melts into the cake. The taste carries a slight saltiness. When you cut into the cake, steam rises from the freshly baked interior. The top layer is rich and firm, while the bottom part is soft and fluffy. These two distinct textures amazed Pingzi.

Take a single bite of the plain, warm cake on its own—it’s not overly sweet, and you can taste the rich creaminess of the cake itself. The texture is incredibly soft and fine, with a delicate crumb that practically melts in your mouth. It’s rich without being dry or getting stuck in your throat. Truly, it’s a delicious cake.

The hot cake ordered by the table next door—a freshly made black honey matcha red bean flavor—looks absolutely delicious too. Next time I visit, I’m definitely trying that one. Can’t wait.

I used to think there were no old-house-style dessert shops in Taipei like those in Tainan, but unexpectedly, tucked away in Taipei’s alleys, there are often popular dessert and grocery stores with lines out the door. It lets me enjoy freshly made cakes and explore trendy Japanese goods regularly, making life feel richer. Of course, you’d never guess that hardworking Taiwanese people would run a shop only open Thursday through Sunday. But you have to admit, these owners who prioritize quality living and take such a thoughtful approach add a unique charm—making it a place I wholeheartedly recommend.

Often here
Phone: 02 2562 1618.
Address: No. 35, Lane 194, Songjiang Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City. (Take Exit at Xingtian Temple MRT Station, a 10-minute walk)
Business hours: Thursdays to Sundays, 1:00 PM–6:00 PM. (Closed Mondays to Wednesdays)
Facebook fan page:https://www.facebook.com/bwgeneralstore.
 

upssmile萍子 (up’s smile – Upward Smile)!
She is a designer and also the photographer behind the “Upward Smile Travel, Food, Design, and Photography” project.
Passionate about “Travel,” “Food,” “Design,” “Photography,” and film.
Blogger:http://upssmile.com/