Yilan's Jiaoxi Super Popular "Scallion Pancakes" – Golden, Crispy, Just 25 NT$!

Text & Photos byXiaoBaiJing

Visiting Jiaoxi? You might skip spots like Wufengqi or Linmei Trails, but your friends will definitely recommend you try the Jiaoxi scallion pancakes. The scallion pancakes from Jiaoxi, whose aroma has wafted far and wide since 1970, always have people queuing up patiently. And they often buy five or even ten at a time. Back in the day, Jiaoxi was associated with either the silky hot springs or the fresh green hot spring water spinach. But these days, many come here specifically for the scallion pancakes—as if not queuing for them means you haven’t really visited Jiaoxi.

As someone who loves noodles, the first time I tried Jiaoxi’s scallion pancakes, I was blown away. It’s been almost eight years since then... In recent years, every time I get the chance to go back to Jiaoxi, I willingly join the long, winding queue. Even if it means waiting at least half an hour each time, or braving the scorching sun or rain, nothing could stop my determination to have them. What started as a small food truck, where the owner sweated it out in a cramped space to fry each pancake to golden crispness, has now grown into a proper shop after years of hard work. The little truck still sits outside the store, bringing back memories full of scallion and pancake fragrance for loyal customers...

I’d gotten so used to calling them “Jiaoxi Scallion Pancakes,” but ever since they got a proper shop, they’ve been renamed “Ke’s Scallion Pancakes.” It’s been hard to adjust. The shop remains in the same spot—at the intersection of Jiaoxi Road and Yucailu, right across from Jiaoxi Elementary School, next to Chunghwa Telecom, very easy to find.

These past two years, I’ve actually been eating fewer Jiaoxi scallion pancakes. Partly because the queues are exhausting, and partly because these pancakes really do soak up a lot of oil in the hot frying pan. Maybe scallion pancakes are just meant to be oily to taste good. For someone like me who worries a bit about gaining weight, having them occasionally should be fine. If I really can’t resist the call of my stomach, I’ll try going as early as nine in the morning to avoid the dreaded queue.

Yilan is rich in scallions, so scallion pancakes can be found everywhere, each with its own method, flavor, and loyal fans. The way Jiaoxi scallion pancakes are made: the dough is rolled flat, placed in the oil, fried until it crackles and puffs up, then sprinkled with chopped scallions and fried further until the outside is crispy and the inside is fluffy.

There’s always a team of three working in sync: one rolling out the dough, one frying the pancakes to golden brown, and one bagging them and taking money. They open at nine in the morning, and those six hands stay busy non-stop until closing in the evening. You rarely see them get a chance to sit down and rest.

This semi-self-service style makes the experience especially fun and fresh for first-timers. After the long wait, when your pancake is finally ready, you get to choose and brush on your favorite sauce yourself!

The shop offers three specially made sauces: garlic soy sauce, signature sauce (not spicy), and savory chili sauce—take your pick and slather as you like. It’s said that plenty of loyal fans have fallen for their scallion pancakes precisely because of these unique sauces!

The shop kindly reminds visitors traveling from afar: don’t let your love for queueing for delicious food accidentally get you photographed by the police!

Jiaoxi scallion pancakes are 20 NT$ without egg and 25 NT$ with egg. In Yilan, where prices have been rising, that’s pretty affordable. Real scallion pancake connoisseurs definitely go for the egg version. Just look—those tender egg whites playfully peeking out are totally tempting you!

The magical blend of scallions, pancake, and egg, all taken in one warm, hearty bite—absolutely delicious!

If you haven’t tried Jiaoxi scallion pancakes yet, come and see for yourself whether this famously renowned pancake lives up to the hype. And if you’ve already had them a few times, then please, next time you’re in Jiaoxi, don’t join the pancake queue. That way, new friends can quickly and easily enjoy the treat, and I, CoffeeV, can keep coming by… and maybe get a little too chubby.

Ke’s Scallion Pancakes
Address: No. 128, Section 4, Jiaoxi Road, Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County
Business Hours: 09:00–18:30

CoffeeV, who loves sharing, photography, and travel
Learning photography brings joy, letting me see the world from different angles; savoring delicious food brings happiness, allowing me to enjoy the world through simple pleasures.