A dessert shop in a renovated old house — Try sweets and soak in nostalgic vibes at Taichung’s “Glutton”

Text and photos byOrange Dog Loves Sweets

There’s something so enchanting about old houses. Perhaps it’s because they offer a place of relaxation for modern people — stepping inside feels like traveling through a time tunnel, completely cut off from the real world. The stress and hassle all fade away. For me, it’s also a warm space, as it preserves bits and pieces of childhood memories...

A week or two ago, I discovered this place called [食いしん坊] in a small alley on Wuchquan 1st Street in Taichung. It’s a bakery set up in a renovated old house, selling handmade desserts and savory pies. Last time I came, the place was so popular that I only managed to try one dessert, so I made up my mind to go back the following week. The shop opens at 2 PM, but I was already sitting outside the door waiting at 1:45.

Honestly, if I hadn’t read other people’s reviews, I probably wouldn’t have even noticed there was a shop here. Its exterior is so plain, as if time itself has come to a standstill in front of this old house.


It reminds me of the military dependents’ village houses I used to see as a child — probably built in the '70s or '80s.


The small doorway, the tiny windows… these details bring back memories of those houses many people cherished. The interior also resembles the old homes from back then. But this one is a bit more vintage, don’t you think?

I didn’t take a close look, so I’m not entirely sure, but the exterior design is quite eye-catching. Since it was close to Christmas, [食いしん坊] had specially made some Christmas-themed desserts for orders.

As a result, aside from the usual owner (who seemed to be doing everything herself), two or three more friends had come to help with the rush. While I waited outside, I kept catching whiffs of the wonderful baking aromas — the festive vibe was strong.


Actually, waiting here on the doorstep wasn’t annoying at all. Because it’s located in an alley in a residential area, it’s very quiet. The only sounds were the occasional cars driving by from the building across the street. I’m from the countryside myself, so I’m used to and actually enjoy this kind of tranquility — it feels just like sitting in front of my own home.


Walking inside, even though it was my second visit, I was still pleasantly surprised by the collection of antique goods filling the space. The wall behind the counter was adorned with all kinds of old toys — the same ones I played with as a child.

And the cake display case — well, I was mistaken. That showcase is only for cookies. I really liked the little decorative items on it. Nothing too extraordinary, but definitely items that have stood the test of time.


Some of them had a playful, slightly mischievous touch — like the two dinosaur dolls combined on the wall, XDD.


For cakes, you have to order directly, and they’re decorated and baked in the kitchen before being served. A small blackboard on the wall lists the four desserts of the week. [食いしん坊] announces their weekly offerings on their social media page — after all, it depends on what the boss feels like making each week, XDD.

So if you have something specific you want to try, you might want to check their social page first before coming. Since the selection varies from week to week, I think the pricing is pretty reasonable: one dessert is 90 NT$, or you can get three for 250 NT$. Of course, I went for the three — especially since I had come back especially for the lemon frost cake that day!!

There aren’t many seats here. There’s one table with three chairs right in front of the counter.


And the small room next door also has one table — so the total seating for dine-in is probably less than ten people.


The decor makes it feel like a little tailor-designed space, exuding a retro fashion charm.


But inside, they also sell handmade goods from another brand called “复时品,” which matches [食いしん坊]’s style quite well.

The accessories and jewelry all have a retro design as well.


The various knick-knacks here are all items collected by the shop owner — and of course, they’re for sale too.


There’s a huge variety of items... The most unique ones are probably the toys, and there are plenty of oddly shaped ones.


Like a bunch of dinosaur toys that don’t seem like something a girl would usually play with — but hey, they’re her personal favorites too.


There are also some metal tools like scissors — the kind you don’t see people using much anymore. If you didn’t know they sold desserts here, you might mistake the place for a hardware store, haha.

There are also lots of old appliances, cameras, and other vintage goods — everyday items from the past. Most of the environment has already been introduced in my first visit, which I thought was quite detailed, so anyone interested can check that out. This time, I’ll just give a brief overview — the focus will be mainly on today’s desserts.


[Banana Cake with Vanilla Walnut Chocolate Sauce / 90 NT$] — The cake is drizzled with a generous amount of chocolate sauce and topped with crushed walnuts.


When I gently cut into the cake with a fork, the aroma of banana burst out eagerly. The slightly moist cake had a delicate texture, and the banana scent was natural without being overpowering.


It had been lightly baked again before serving, so the outer layer was a bit crispy — similar to the crust on a pineapple bun. Combined with the rich chocolate and nutty aroma, it turned out to be surprisingly delicious.

[Lemon cake topped with lemon glaze and whipped cream / 90 NTD], the slices of cake are quite thick, so you can feel their density when cutting with a fork. Compared to the previous one, the cake itself is noticeably drier and firmer, with a layer of lemon glaze on the outside.


The glaze part is quite tangy yet sweet, melting in your mouth... that hint of sourness is just enough to make you frown yet crave more—its fleeting nature makes you want to keep eating it, as if the sourness stimulates saliva on your tongue.


The cake body, mixed with lemon zest, carries a subtle lemon aroma. The yellower part in the middle is due to added lemon juice. To prevent the cake from being too dry, lemon juice was added to make the texture more moist and dense.

Paired with smooth, hand-whipped cream, this cake is one I really like.


[Spicy sausage and vegetable savory pie with cream-seared king oyster mushrooms / 90 NTD], the savory pie is also quite tasty, though the pastry portion isn’t very large. It’s filled with sliced sausages similar to German bratwurst.


The crispy texture has a smoky flavor, along with cauliflower, making the whole egg custard filling very fragrant.

The pastry crust is quite thick and flaky, baked just right—because at this thickness, overbaking would make it overly crisp and hard.


The side dish of seared king oyster mushrooms is pretty good, but the savory pie doesn’t surprise me as much. Still, it’s quite tasty, and the combination is rich, giving it its own charm.


If you want to visit, remember to check their fan page first to confirm if they’re open today. Although it’s posted that they’re open Wednesday to Sunday, sometimes they close temporarily due to a busy booking schedule. After all, they don’t take advance reservations. As mentioned before, the owner, Liu Xiaomei, is a rather spirited young woman...

She makes the desserts, manages the shop, and greets customers all by herself, and the space isn’t big, so handling reservations might be overwhelming. But the few desserts she makes herself are actually ones I quite like. Comparing the three I’ve tried—the matcha, banana, and lemon cakes—my preference would be lemon → banana → matcha. Sharing my simple thoughts with everyone UP!! Remember to check the fan page first to see what desserts are available this week!

【Foodie 'Sweet Tooth Desserts']

Address: No. 3, Lane 1, 162巷, Wǔquán 1st St., West District, Taichung City
Contact Number:0922521590
Business Hours: 02:00 PM - 08:00 PM (06:00 PM on Sundays)
Consumption Reminder: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Only two tables inside. No reservations accepted.
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