Urban legend in the bread world: Can’t get it without queuing – the ultra-dreamy sea salt butter roll

Reported by Yu Jiayun / Taipei

When you hear you have to queue for 30 minutes to an hour just for a piece of bread, you might think, “It’s just a bread – is it really worth that much time?” But if you ask those who can’t resist biting into a sea salt butter roll the moment they step out of the store, eight out of ten will tell you, “Absolutely worth it!” Through word of mouth, this legendary sea salt butter roll – which you can’t get without queuing and is sold out after 5 p.m. – has taken over Taipei’s bread scene and become a true urban legend delicacy.

▲ The one-cannot-get-without-queuing sea salt butter roll from Yihe Tang. (Photo / Reporter Yu Jiayun)

▲ Yihe Tang’s branch in the Eastern District.

This Yihe Tang Bread flagship store, tucked away in an alley in Taipei’s Eastern District, belongs to the Daohoku Group along with the well-known Daohoku Udon. From the shop’s decor, you can immediately feel a strong Japanese atmosphere. The breads sold here mainly feature Japanese-style varieties, though there are also some French pastries and classic bread flavors to choose from. All of Yihe Tang’s breads are baked on-site in their in-store bakery kitchen, ensuring freshness and handmade quality that you can see – not to mention the constant enticing aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through the store.

▲ The store remains crowded even on regular weekdays.

▲ A bread baker prepares bread on-site.

Speaking of Yihe Tang, you simply can’t skip its star product – the sea salt butter roll. Getting your hands on these freshly baked and limited-edition rolls requires patience, and you definitely shouldn’t come too late. If the rolls aren’t ready when you arrive, you’ll need to pick up a number. Baking times vary, and each person is limited to 10 rolls. Normally, they’re all sold out by around 5 p.m.

The freshly baked sea salt butter roll comes with a golden crust, and the steam wafting off it fills the air with rich buttery fragrance. And the very first thing you should do when you get your hands on one isn’t taking a photo – it’s taking a bite while it’s hot. The crispy outer crust and the soft yet slightly chewy bread only get more delicious the more you eat, while the inner layer of A-shi (Akita) butter and the French fleur de sel sprinkled on top deliver a subtly sweet and salty flavor that makes it hard to stop at the last bite.

▲ A freshly baked sea salt butter roll.

▲ Tastes even better when eaten hot.

▲ It contains A-shi butter.

Besides its signature sea salt butter roll, the other breads in the store are equally outstanding. There’s the Japanese-style red bean bread, perfectly balanced with red bean filling; the caramelized chestnut filled with homemade chestnut paste; soy milk bagels; and various flavors of canelés, all of which are fan favorites. There are also healthier options like sugar-free, oil-free breads, so bread lovers can enjoy a different taste every day.

▲ The Japanese-style red bean bread is sweet but not cloying.

▲ Sugar-free and oil-free bread is healthier.

▲ Various flavors of canelés.

Yihe Tang Bread Flagship Store
Dunhua Branch: No. 34, Lane 233, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City (02) 8773-6965
Open daily 10:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Qili Branch: No. 123, Section 4, Bade Road, Songshan District, Taipei City (02) 2528-0096
Open daily 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
A11 Branch: No. 11, Songshou Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, B2 of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A11 (02) 2723-0893
Open 11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m., 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. on the day before holidays