The classic "red bean pancake" with an old-time Taipei flavor from Dadaocheng—double filling and even a cabbage flavor!

Text and photos byFood Craving, Snapshot

Every so often, I feel like strolling around Dadaocheng because this area holds memories from my past. Walking down every little alleyway, scenes from the past often pop into my mind, and my memories always yearn for those flavors I once loved. The red bean pancake is one of those nostalgic tastes I miss.

Just past my alma mater, Yongle Elementary School, at the intersection of Liangzhou Street and Minle Street, there’s a small shop. The big red “Red Bean Pancake” sign on the cart immediately drew my eye. The signboard had the character “Huang,” but it’s commonly referred to online as the “Liangzhou Street Wandan Red Bean Pancake” or “Dadaocheng Wandan Red Bean Pancake.” I’d passed by many times when it was closed, but on this day, it was open. Without even having lunch yet, I immediately bought one to try!

There were quite a few varieties—six in total. What caught my eye was the “Double Filling,” which is red beans plus cream. For those who can’t decide, the double filling lets you enjoy two delicious flavors at once. Another option was cabbage, which I’d never tried and rarely seen, so I was curious about how it would taste. Unfortunately, on this day, I could only get the red bean and cream flavors—the others were sold out or would take a long wait, so I’ll have to come back next time.

Honestly, red beans are my favorite. I remember that when I was little, if I saw a red bean pancake, I absolutely had to buy one. Recently, a friend told me that people in northern Taiwan generally call them “wheel cakes,” while those in the south call them “red bean pancakes.” But I’m from the north, and in my memory, they’ve always been called “red bean pancakes.” Maybe it’s because I only love the red bean flavor—but no matter what, I’ll still call them “red bean pancakes”!

Look at all this red bean filling!! Oh my gosh, I’m so excited—this is super thrilling for a red bean lover like me!

And then seeing that seemingly crispy crust made me even more excited, because I’ve been searching for a red bean pancake with a crispy texture for ages. No exaggeration—it’s been a long search. Since moving to Xindian, every time I see a red bean pancake, I buy a few, but I still haven’t found one I really love.

Red bean pancake – NT$14 each.

At Huangji’s Wandan Red Bean Pancake, all flavors are NT$14 each, or NT$210 for a box of 15. The price isn’t exactly cheap. Fortunately, this red bean pancake didn’t disappoint me—the crust is thin and crispy, quite different from the thicker ones I’m used to. This one really is thinner. If you prefer thick crusts, you might not be used to it. The rich red bean filling bursts with sweet aroma and a moist texture—perfect for someone like me who doesn’t like things too sweet. Even more surprising was the crispy outer crust, yet the inside wasn’t dry at all. That alone made me really happy. I’ll definitely want to buy one again next time I’m in Dadaocheng.

Cream flavor – NT$14.

Actually, I’m not a huge fan of cream, because I love red beans so much that I sometimes eat two red bean pancakes and can’t eat anything else afterward. But since my foodie dad only eats the cream ones, I usually get two red bean and one cream. After finishing my red bean pancake, I turned to the cream one, only to find just one bite left—so I had that one bite. But I could still taste the eggy cream flavor, and I quite liked how the filling was fragrant without being overly sweet. It reminded me of the classic old-school eggy cream aroma.

By the way, after I ordered, the owner had already packed it up, but seeing me still taking photos, she kindly took it back out and put it on the warming tray to keep it hot. Because red bean pancakes really are best eaten fresh and hot. Thanks to the owner’s thoughtful gesture, I got to enjoy a crispy red bean pancake. Although this isn’t the street-corner red bean pancake I used to miss, the warmth is something truly memorable.

Standing next to my alma mater, eating what felt like that familiar crispy red bean pancake again, I noticed how the little trees inside the campus had grown tall enough for me to see them from outside the school fence. Looking down the small alleys, it’s the same familiar streets I remembered—what used to feel like big roads now seem like narrow lanes where even cars struggle to pass. Next time you’re wandering through Dadaocheng, maybe as you pass this unassuming little alley and spot this tiny cart, picking up one as a sweet treat for your stroll is a great choice!

Liangzhou Street Wandan Red Bean Pancake / Dadaocheng Wandan Red Bean Pancake
Address: No. 88, Liangzhou Street, Datong District, Taipei City
Business hours: 1:00 PM–8:00 PM (Closed on Sundays)

Food Craving, Snapshot
A Taipei local who moves through a busy yet leisurely-paced life.
Loves digging out hidden gourmet spots in the city, alleys, and right by people’s homes, and enjoys exploring corners full of stories.
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