Want to sell simple sandwiches? Layered delight kids’ pancakes stack up new flavors

▲ The upcoming new item at Jenga Restaurant: Colorful Dui Dui Stack, decorated with various childhood snacks.

Intern Reporter Qiu Yunrong / Reported and photographed in Taipei

Remember the stacking blocks you loved playing with as a child? Have you ever tried desserts inspired by them? A group of young people transitioned from the fashion industry to the food business. At first, they just wanted to make simple sandwiches, focusing on the concept of layering and primarily on fillings to create a variety of stacked meals. Later, they gradually pieced together many ideas, leading to the diverse range of pancakes they now offer—becoming this shop’s unique creative hallmark.

▲ The paintings on the walls of Jenga Restaurant are all done by the team themselves—very cute and creative.

“Jenga” is located in a lane near Zhongshan Station on the Taipei MRT. From the shop’s interior decor and furnishings, the wall paintings, to the menu descriptions, a playful, childlike charm can be found everywhere. A group of friends born in the 1980s, all graduates of Shih Chien University—some studied interior design, fashion design, and others the culinary field—originally worked in fashion but later switched to the food business to start this venture together. The shop owner mentioned that at first, they wanted to sell very simple sandwiches and were looking for a particularly unique name. Since the appearance of a sandwich is layered, it reminded them of Jenga blocks, so they decided to name the shop Jenga.

▲ The recently launched Cheese Jenga, with golden cheese drizzled over the pancake.

The signature dish at “Jenga” is its layered pancakes—available in both savory and sweet versions.. Launched just two months ago, the Cheese Jenga features three pancakes layered with chicken in between, then topped with golden cheese. Just looking at it makes your mouth water, and one bite fills your mouth with tender chicken and rich cheese—a true taste sensation.

▲ Banana Chocolate Jenga, a perfect pairing of banana sweetness and chocolate richness.

Additionally, there’s the sweet Banana Chocolate Jenga, with fresh bananas layered between pancakes, coated with a crispy sugar crust, drizzled with cream and chocolate sauce, and topped with a scoop of Mövenpick chocolate ice cream. Though the presentation looks rich and delicious, it doesn’t taste overly sweet—the banana and chocolate flavors blend just right, offering layers of sweetness in every bite.

In the next two weeks, Jenga will launch a new sweet treat: the “Breathtaking Colorful Dui Dui Jenga,” decorated with many playful snacks such as pudding, crispy crackers, and gummy bears. The adorable and delicate presentation makes it a must-try new item for dessert lovers.

The shop owner said that what makes Jenga’s pancakes most special is the layer of sugar on top. The production method is somewhat tricky—it involves heating granulated sugar until it melts, then coating the pancake before letting it cool. The result is a crispy texture you won’t find at other shops.

Xu, a student who visited Jenga for the first time, felt that the banana milk chocolate flavor had just the right level of sweetness and didn’t feel cloying even at the end. It had the aroma of bananas and the sweetness of chocolate, but she thought the sweet pancakes were a bit too large in portion for a girl. Chen, who had tried the steak Jenga, felt that the savory portions were a bit small, making the price somewhat high in comparison, but he really enjoyed the caramelized layer on the sweet pancakes—it was delicious.

The shop owner said that when they first opened, their goal was simply to make simple, tasty food—the presentation wasn’t their primary focus. The group of friends who opened the shop visited many eateries for inspiration. Now, almost two years in, they plan to keep developing new dishes and have expansion plans.

▲ Cheese Chicken Flatbread, filled with chicken, bell peppers, and onions (left image). Potato Egg Salad Jenga (right image), with an outer layer of multigrain ciabatta and a filling of delicious, nutritious potato egg salad, topped with melted cheese and ham.

【Jenga】
Address: 1F, No. 33, Lane 36, Section 2, Zhongshan N. Rd., Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2567-0687
Business Hours:
Monday: 12:00 - 22:00
Wednesday - Friday: 12:00 - 22:00
Saturday: 11:30 - 22:00
Sunday: 11:30 - 21:00