50-year-old coconut trees sway in the breeze | A cozy old-house café opened with just a hundred US dollars

Text & Photos / Excerpted from Taipei. Coffee Stroll: Over 50 Style Cafés

While cafés in Taipei that incorporate elements of old houses are relatively common, those that fully utilize an entire historic building are rare. Right across from Yongkang Street, there’s a café with a small front courtyard where a 50-year-old coconut tree gently sways in the wind. Stepping inside feels like traveling back in time, immersing you in the nostalgic and dreamy aura of old Taiwan.

Calling "Xiao Shitang" (Little Sweet Treat) merely a café might not quite capture its essence — describing it as an extension of the world’s dreams might be more accurate.

The story that began with $100
After graduating from university, café owner Wang Mingfeng was traveling in Cambodia when he accidentally handed over a US$100 bill — placed in his pants pocket — to hotel staff for laundry. Expecting that the equivalent of four months' income for the average local would be lost forever, he was astonished when the laundry worker returned the bill intact. “At that moment, I was deeply moved. This is a country where the average monthly income is only $300, yet despite their poverty, they remained honest. I kept thinking, what more could I do for them?”

During his trip to Cambodia, Wang Mingfeng tried a uniquely Cambodian dish made with palm hearts. When he asked locals what it was, they told him it was something very ordinary — yet this simple dish stirred his curiosity and inspired him to think about how he could help the locals. He realized that any business venture needed to combine practicality with sustainability to help locals achieve stable incomes and provide nutritious food. That’s why he started designing a plan while still in university, which later led him back to Taiwan.

Palm hearts: the soul of delicious meals
The establishment of "Xiao Shitang" was the realization of Wang Mingfeng’s vision to support the palm heart industry. With a focus on healthy food as its theme, it became his first experimental restaurant. The space uses stone-ground flour to make bread, butter, and other ingredients. The equipment may not be as advanced as those in other restaurants, but it gives the space a unique charm. The aroma of the ingredients blends harmoniously into the food, leaving a deep impression.

Wang Mingfeng especially recommends the shop’s “Palm Heart & Cheese Stuffed Croissant,” which is paired with coffee and whipped cream. If you add a bit of salt, the coffee flavor becomes even more pronounced, complementing the rich cheese inside. The shop’s “palm heart salad” is also unique — made with locally grown palm hearts mixed with tomatoes and herbs, topped with olive oil and vinegar, offering a fresh and layered taste. It highlights the unique flavor of the ingredients and showcases the restaurant’s core concept.


The space retains the charm of the old house, using a mix of new and old materials as its base, then painted in warm, deep tones. Gold and wood colors are used to create a cozy atmosphere. Walking into Xiao Shitang, besides enjoying the delicious food and drinks, don’t forget to look for the “NG Candy Packs” placed in a corner of the café. Drop some spare change into one of these packs to support Wang Mingfeng’s next dream project — building schools. This helps more Cambodian children receive the warmth of a palm heart sandwich thanks to the kindness of Taiwanese people.

Xiao Shitang
Address: No. 3, Lane 181, Section 2, Xinyi Road, Taipei City
Phone: (02) 2396-5965
Hours: 09:30 – 21:00
Minimum charge: NT$100 per person