Master Wu’s wheel cakes come in a variety of sweet and savory flavors, with bursting fillings and extra toppings that are a hit with students.

Fengyuan’s Master Wu’s wheel cakes come in as many as 12 flavors, catering to both sweet and savory preferences. (Photo by Wang Wenji)

Fengyuan’s Master Wu’s wheel cakes are known for their crispy crusts and bursting fillings, with generous portions. (Photo by Wang Wenji)

The 12 sweet and savory wheel cake flavors are priced between NT$12 and NT$20. (Photo by Wang Wenji)

In summer, the ice cream flavor sells the best. The cake crust is prepared first, then cooled before being filled with a scoop of ice cream. (Photo by Wang Wenji)

Liu Yuying developed the OREO flavor herself, using buttercream filling with a whole piece of chocolate biscuit in the middle. (Photo by Wang Wenji)

The cheese egg wheel cake, made with a whole fresh egg, has a texture similar to Taiwanese-style French toast and is very popular among students. (Photo by Wang Wenji)

The “cheese egg” wheel cake, with a texture similar to Taiwanese-style French toast, is very popular among students. (Photo by Wang Wenji)

The owner, Liu Yuying, uses high-mountain cabbage, adding dried shrimp, Chinese chives, and pepper to stir-fry. By chance, she created a cabbage filling that turned out to be surprisingly savory and delicious. (Photo by Wang Wenji)

Fengyuan’s Master Wu’s wheel cakes come in as many as 12 flavors, priced between NT$12 and NT$20. (Photo by Wang Wenji)

Fengyuan’s Master Wu’s wheel cakes are located opposite Fengdong Junior High School. They are known for their crispy crusts, bursting fillings, handmade ingredients, and affordable Taiwanese snacks. Currently, there are four sweet flavors: red bean, butter, taro, and sweet potato, with additional options like pearl or OREO toppings. Savory options include pickled radish, cabbage, golden tuna, and cheese egg. In summer, ice cream is the bestseller, totaling 12 flavors priced from NT$12 to NT$20.

Owner Liu Yuying used to do odd jobs but started selling wheel cakes five years ago because she loves experimenting with cooking. She focuses intently while baking, calmly pouring batter and adding fillings. Even when customers order all 12 flavors, she handles it with ease. Liu recalls that when she first started, she would get flustered with too many customers, often burning her wrists and arms on the griddle. Now, she’s a master multitasker.

Master Wu’s wheel cakes are located in Fengyuan’s prestigious school district and only operate during afternoon tea hours. The queue is longest around 5 p.m. when students finish school. Wang, who works in insurance, says she makes a special trip here during her afternoon client visits to buy the cakes and share them with clients. Her favorite is the pearl butter flavor, which has a sweet buttery taste and a chewy texture. The taro flavor offers the best value, with its soft, fluffy taro filling providing a satisfying fullness.

Liu Yuying says that elders love classic flavors like red bean and butter, while students prefer the varied pearl butter flavor. At its peak, they sell 200 cakes a day. Other bestsellers include the cheese egg with a whole fresh egg and the seafood-rich golden tuna. She also developed the OREO flavor, using buttercream filling with a whole piece of chocolate biscuit in the middle.

In summer, the ice cream flavor is the bestseller. The cake crust is prepared first, then cooled before being filled with a scoop of ice cream. Seeing that customers love trying new things, Liu Yuying, who is of Hakka descent from Miaoli, uses high-mountain cabbage, adding dried shrimp, Chinese chives, and pepper to stir-fry. By chance, she created a cabbage filling that turned out to be surprisingly savory and delicious, which became a hit with male customers.

The 12 sweet and savory wheel cake flavors are priced from NT$12 to NT$20. Liu Yuying says she often sees students hesitating at the stall. When she asks, they confess they don’t have enough money. She tells them, “It’s okay, take it and eat first.” Later, the mothers often come back feeling embarrassed to pay. Dubbed a “compassionate shopkeeper,” she humbly says that it’s most important for the kids to have a full stomach—small change doesn’t matter.

Address: No. 146, Fengdong Road, Fengyuan District, Taichung City

Business hours: 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Closed: Announced at the store