Viral-popular Scallion Pancake  Wen Zan’s 17-Layer Non-Greasy Innovation

▲ The golden-brown scallion pancake skin is so tempting it makes your mouth water just by looking at it. (Photo provided by Wen Zan)

Reported by Intern Reporter Huang Wanting / Taipei

With the aroma of eggs, scallions, and sesame, plus a uniquely mild spicy sauce, this is the non-greasy scallion pancake that had celebrities licking their fingers on the SET TV show “Travel Cheer Squad,” and it’s also the “Wen Zan Scallion Pancake” sought after by many programs for interviews. Its distinct layers amaze guests, making them exclaim it’s practically a baked mille-feuille！It’s tucked away near the arcade on Baoqiao Road in Xindian District, New Taipei City.

The secret to being delicious yet non-greasy lies in the boss’s insistence on making it fresh daily, as well as using generous amounts of fresh scallions and sesame.The purely handcrafted 17-layer laminated dough technique gives the pancake a crispy appearance, but upon the first bite, it gradually melts in your mouth, delicately wrapping the rich flavors of white sesame and scallions.It completely overturns the common perception of scallion pancakes as greasy.

▲ The boss insists on making it fresh every day and uses generous amounts of fresh scallions and sesame. (Photo provided by Wen Zan)

To handle an average of one customer group every 30 seconds, without causing traffic chaos from the queue, the boss works with remarkable efficiency. The soft, white dough gradually turns golden under appropriately heated oil. After a short wait, the exterior suddenly puffs up, the golden-brown pancake skin releasing the rich aroma of sesame and scallions.

Though the shop feels a bit crowded with the constant flow of customers, it reflects the great reputation of the “Wen Zan Scallion Pancake.” The boss recalls how he faced unemployment due to poor sales in his jewelry export business, but by chance, he learned how to make scallion pancakes from his cousin. Starting from a small food cart in 1992, though he once had to dodge police, his hard work eventually allowed him to upgrade the cart into a storefront two years ago.

Wu, a student studying away from home, said, “You have to eat a Wen Zan scallion pancake when you’re back in Taipei — that’s the real deal!” The unique spicy sauce, combined with distinct white sesame and green scallions, yet without being greasy, turned him into a loyal customer after just one try.

%After tasting it once, customers keep coming back for more. (Image source: Wen Zan provided)