Supporting Taiwan’s small farmers beyond fair trade – a brunch café that pursues your passions

Text and photos / Excerpted from "Taipei. Coffee Stroll: 50+ Stylish Cafés"

“hi, 日楞,” transliterated from the Mongolian word “Hailireng,” means “to love”—a positive practice of life—devoting oneself to pursuing the people, things, and passions you cherish.

Start your day with a fresh and delicious brunch at “hi, 日楞!” As you step inside, you’re greeted by a vibrant garden full of herbs and vegetables, alongside a rainwater collection barrel. A small wooden sign displaying the solar term hangs on the door, while a blue sign reads “hi, 日楞 RYOU CAFE.”

Caring about life issues
The bright and spacious interior, whether it’s the timeless tables and chairs or the artworks on display, exudes a rustic, natural countryside vibe. The decor—from woodwork to painting—was done collectively by the two co-owners, Lee Ming-Feng and Di Jia-tb, along with friends. Everyone brought in their favorite elements and completed it bit by bit by hand.

On a large blackboard wall, the café lists various activities for the month. These align with the food and dining concepts 日楞 focuses on, as well as themes like land, environmentalism, and fair trade. Through dinners, lectures, book clubs, and more, they share these ideas with others. It turns out that the two owners initially hoped to interact with different people through this space and spread their philosophy on life—planting a seed and letting it sprout.



Beyond the wealth of activities, there’s also a dedicated area showcasing handmade goods inspired by these concepts. Each item starts from everyday life and covers a wide range—from supporting Taiwanese artisans, such as tableware and stationery, to collaborating with friends actively involved in the global fair trade movement. Their goal is to help improve poverty in the developing world. For instance, here you can find cloth sanitary pads handwoven by Nepalese women using natural materials. “Everything we sell here reflects our values, including the ideas behind the products and the care they extend to people. This approach makes consumption not just about profit, but about human connection,” explains Lee Ming-Feng with a smile.

Savoring natural flavors
日楞 also translates its focus on “ingredients” into concrete actions. For vegetarian options, aside from growing their own herbs, they frequently visit local small farmers to source seasonal, fresh organic fruits and vegetables for meals and retail. For eggs and meat, the emphasis is on natural and humane animal-rearing practices to reduce potential chemical residues.

Additionally, every dish is cooked using smoke-free methods. Take the popular signature dish “Water Poached Veggie Roast,” made with 6–8 seasonal vegetables simply seasoned with herbs and slow-roasted at low temperatures to bring out their natural sweetness. It’s served with a semi-runny poached egg and handmade blueberry and flaxseed bread, making it both satisfying and refreshing. Their desserts are also handmade in limited quantities, including brownies, various cakes, and ice cream—don’t miss them.

When it comes to coffee, aside from fair trade beans, 日楞 supports Taiwanese coffee farmers, primarily from Pingtung, Chiayi, and Taichung. The café mainly offers pour-over single-origin coffees and espresso drinks. For pour-over, try the “Honey Process” from Alishan, Chiayi, which boasts rich nutty and buttery aromas with a sweet honey-like finish that lingers. Another highlight is the espresso blend “Osmanthus Latte,” based on an Italian coffee that already has hints of brown sugar, sugarcane, and dried longan, then mixed with fresh milk and Osmanthus wine from Nanzhuang. The sweet osmanthus blends seamlessly with the coffee aroma—rich yet not cloying—and has won over many fans.

Being here makes you slow down without even realizing it. Everyone may love 日楞 for different reasons, but as Owner Lee says, “Through this space, we can do more for life, and it’s these beautiful possibilities that make it truly captivating.” — hi, 日楞！Welcome to embrace life with us.

日楞咖啡
Address: No. 24-1, Pucheng Street, Taipei City
Phone: (02) 2363-6268
Hours: 08:30 – 20:30
Closed the first Tuesday and Wednesday of each month
Minimum charge: NT$100 per person
WIFI: Y