To uphold quality, "Shifen" insists on handcrafting all breads personally.

Text & Photos / Bogi




Shifen isn’t very large, with a simple and unadorned interior that doesn’t stand out much among the bustling row of shops. But after my visit, I felt it was such a shame that such a thoughtful, health-conscious eatery remained hidden. So here I am, eager to introduce it to everyone—this is truly a high-quality brunch spot like no other. Ready?

I always love asking shop owners about the story behind their store names, as I feel there’s usually a meaningful backstory—just like parents naming their child, there’s often symbolism and hope, and it’s often the most touching part of the story. "Shifen" carries the meaning of "ten points," like the highest score in competitions. The owner hopes everything here can come as close to perfection as possible, even amid imperfections. Choosing the character "拾" (to pick up) instead of "十" (ten) symbolizes the idea of "gathering points"—a hope that through running this shop, they can keep growing, earning more points, and constantly improving. Isn’t that sweet? I mean, isn’t it? Store names often hide such touching stories and aspirations, but not every customer gets to hear them. Thankfully, I asked—^^

A small chalkboard at the entrance lists the ingredients used in the dishes, with full transparency on sourcing. In these times of heightened food safety concerns, this definitely makes diners feel more at ease. For example: imported Italian olive oil, German Mova honey jam, Japanese NIPPN flour, President brand fresh cream—and the drinks use cane sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup!!!

There are also some goods for sale near the counter—if you like them, you can pick some up to take home.

The main dining area is on the second floor, while the first floor has fewer seats. The back has restrooms and a garden view.

After using the restroom, you can even enjoy the garden view—it’s such a delight~

The second-floor dining space is bright and cozy. On this weekday visit, the place was packed by mealtime. The owner mentioned that regulars are frequent visitors because the food is high-quality and made with genuine ingredients—once people try it, they keep coming back.

The wall decorations are adorable—I initially found them fun and took a few photos. It wasn’t until the owner saw me photographing the wall that he explained: those are actually the paper bags from the flour they use, creatively showcasing which flours are mixed to make which breads.

Utensils and water are self-serve, and there are also magazines and newspapers available to read.

At Shifen, you’ll notice lots of cute bread decorations. I thought they were fun and took extra photos, but it turns out they have meaning. The owner once worked at a well-known bakery and has extensive bread-making experience, honing strong culinary skills. After opening their own shop, they couldn’t find bread of the same high quality at affordable prices, so they decided to bake their own. “Only by making it yourself can you control the quality,” the owner said. But this also means they’re often stretched thin, working even harder.

We ordered several dishes this day, and all were excellent.

Focaccia Chicken Thigh Burger
Yes, it’s a burger—and yes, the owner made it themselves, giving it a very hearty, solid texture, unlike the fluffy burgers you’d find elsewhere. All the bread at Shifen is made with their own cultivated natural yeast starter.

The chicken thigh is juicy and tender, cooked to perfection, and incredibly satisfying to bite into.

Each set meal comes with fries, salad, and a drink, and à la carte options are also available for dine-in.

Drinks are a choice between black tea or green tea, with the option to pay extra for other beverages. I highly recommend their black tea. It’s from a decades-old shop in Kaohsiung—the owner’s family runs a traditional beverage store in Houjing, Kaohsiung, which opened in 1987 and is well known locally. They stick to traditional, labor-intensive methods, using cane sugar and rock sugar, setting them apart from modern bubble tea shops.

Sunshine Egg Salad Sandwich
The portion size of each set is actually quite generous, leaving you very full. If you don’t like raw veggies in your salad, you can swap it for a fruit salad.

This may look ordinary, but it tastes totally different~ The egg salad in the sandwich is generously portioned, piled high, and most importantly, bursting with eggy flavor—you’ll immediately taste the quality. The green drink is mint lemonade; the darker green specks on top are mint pulp. The owner laughed and said modern drinkers are so used to artificial colors that a young customer once asked what the green stuff was. XD

Peanut Butter Beef Whole Wheat Burger
Another highly recommended item: a handmade whole wheat bun layered with fresh lettuce, beef, cheese, and a generous slather of peanut butter. Why recommend this one? Because the beef isn’t processed—it’s beef the owner bought from the market and made themselves, so it has a firm, satisfying texture rather than being mushy. You can really tell it’s made with quality ingredients.

Just look at how thick and generous that beef slice is—it’s seriously satisfying. One bite brings a burst of peanut butter aroma, followed by the hearty texture of the beef and the unique fragrance of handmade whole wheat bread.

Two-Tone Pudding Tofu Pudding
No joke—this brunch spot also sells tofu pudding. It’s another product from the owner’s old shop in Kaohsiung, bringing the classic taste of traditional tofu pudding to downtown Tainan.

Job’s Tears Soup
The Job’s Tears soup comes in a big bowl, with plenty of visible grains. It’s not overly sweet, making it refreshing and great for skin whitening—a win-win~~

Before leaving, the owner, being very hospitable, offered me a small cup of lotus root tea, ←and my reaction was just like this. The truly traditional lotus root tea is really delicious~~ ((Turns out I had only had impure versions before, no wonder I didn’t like it. The meals here are available all day long!! You can order until 7:30 pm. If you’re worried about crowds or want to avoid the peak hours, it’s recommended to come for a meal in the evening~ Not only do you get a cozy and quiet dining space, but you can also chat with the owner XD)

◎ East District, Tainan. Ten Points ◎
%┑Location: No. 5, Xingfu Road, East District, Tainan City, adjacent to National Cheng Kung University Health Center
%┯Business Hours: Open every day except Sunday from 08:00~20:30
%┢Follow their Facebook page: Ten Points



 "。%Q Boge %Q。
I believe stories have influence and power, which is why I want to tell stories — and only real ones. Love traveling * love food * love photography * love beauty. "