26 whole strawberries!! The Shilin Strawberry Cake that draws huge crowds and sells out in seconds starting at 5 AM

▲ The snow-white whipped cream perfectly balances the tartness of the strawberries, making it sweet without being cloying. (Photo/IG user)619.eeProvided, please do not repost or screenshot without permission to avoid copyright infringement.

Reporter Zhu Xiaoyuan / Interview & Report

Winter is all about strawberries—what else would you do?! Lately, if you’ve scrolled through IG, you’ve probably seen Xuan Yuan Cake from Shilin: a fluffy sponge cake slathered with generous whipped cream and topped with a whopping 8 whole strawberries. Just looking at it makes your mouth water uncontrollably.

▲ Netizens say they lined up as early as 5 AM, and the queue was already massive. (Photo/IG user)wendycatProvided, please do not repost or screenshot without permission to avoid copyright infringement.

Every winter, Xuan Yuan’s “Double-Layer Strawberry Cake” is definitely one of the most anticipated items on the must-eat list for strawberry lovers. Getting your hands on one is no easy feat. The cake can be ordered online in advance or bought in-store, but once the ordering form goes live, it usually sells out instantly, and pickup can take 3 to 4 months. Meanwhile, the in-store lines just keep getting longer, with some people showing up as early as 4 or 5 AM.

▲ Both single-layer and double-layer cakes use whole strawberries. (Photo/IG user)carol__0425Provided, please do not repost or screenshot without permission to avoid copyright infringement.

The shop explained that due to fluctuating strawberry yields, they can’t confirm exact daily stock levels, so they limit customers to purchasing only two types of cakes per visit, hoping for everyone’s understanding. Still, that hasn’t dampened the public’s enthusiasm for the strawberry cake. The moment fresh strawberries melt into the whipped cream in your mouth, everyone who’s tried it says it’s absolutely worth it.

▲ Because %plus uses freshly picked strawberries, the shelf life is only one day. Those who wait so long to get their hands on one shouldn’t hesitate to eat it lest it goes bad. (Photo/IG user)jessica_loves_yum_food、fionn_twProvided, please do not repost or screenshot without permission to avoid copyright infringement.

Xuan Yuan’s popular items include the single-layer “Snowy Strawberry Cake” and the double-layer “Strawberry Cake” in three flavors: original, chocolate, and matcha. The ingredients are simple, but the combination of whole fresh strawberries, refreshing and not overly sweet whipped cream, and soft, fluffy sponge cake still wins over many—a love at first bite that makes the wait worthwhile.

▲ Watching the strawberries lined up so neatly is seriously heartwarming. (Photo/IG user)choueanne80Provided, please do not repost or screenshot without permission to avoid copyright infringement.

Shilin Xuan Yuan Cake Exclusive Store
Address: No. 15, Section 1, Tonghe East St., Shilin District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2881-9256
Purchase Hours: In-store sales only on holidays / Number cards given out at 7:10 AM, pickup around 7:40 AM by number, limit of two types per person