One of Banqiao’s Top Four Dessert Shops!* Limited-time pop-up white cheese mille-feuille with sweet and tangy flavors

Written and photographed byXiao Hu’s Dream Food Blog

I’m not sure if you’ve heard of the “Banqiao Top Four Desserts,” to be honest, I don’t know when or where this term originated. This is the last one I’ll be sharing with you, Xiao Hu. As for which four shops they are, let’s keep that a mystery for now—I’ll reveal them at the end of the article.

I first heard about this dessert shop, “Dao Ting Sen,” from my coffee mentor, also known as the unofficial neighborhood mayor of Banqiao’s food scene, “Coffee Uncle.” Later, I saw several introductions in newspapers and magazines, learning that it’s run by two very creative young women, so I begged my mentor to take me there.

Frankly, I have some opinions about the exterior of this dessert shop—it doesn’t look like a dessert shop at first glance. Personally, it seems more like a store selling high-end fashion furniture. The whole place is based on “white,” looking bright with a somewhat transparent cleanliness.

The small blackboard at the entrance writes about limited-time pop-up desserts... it makes you feel an irresistible urge to order and eat them... Especially the Hatcho miso cake roll... although I’ve had desserts made with Hatcho miso before.

The desserts in the shop are all displayed on the counter, and the drinks are written on the small blackboard next to it, so once you find a seat, just come over to order.

The light from the right window seems unable to penetrate the pristine whiteness inside, creating a sense of conflict I can’t quite put into words... It’s somewhat fashionable, even a bit sci-fi... I’m not great at describing what I see... Maybe I’m just not very design- or fashion-savvy, haha XD

But I really like this temporary seat they pulled together—it has a homely cleanliness and a relaxing vibe, which I enjoy.

Alright, let’s take a look at the cakes in the display case—not many, but each one looks very delicate. These French pastries all carry a strong personal style.

Also, these two are the today’s and limited-time desserts on the small blackboard at the entrance: plain vanilla mille-feuille and sesame-yuzu white cheese mille-feuille. We naturally went for the latter. For your information, this mille-feuille is made to order, so you might have to wait a little.

Little Sweetheart – 150 TWD

True to the shop’s clean aesthetic, the round, plump ball has a cute, girlish charm.

This dessert is impressive—the outside looks simple, but when you cut into it, you find quite a layered cross-section. And when you taste it, the flavors are even more layered than you’d expect. First, there’s a faint Earl Grey tea aroma that gradually fades, followed by a slow emergence of wine-like notes, and finally the sweet and tangy flavor of raspberry jam, along with the subtle tartness of hibiscus bits. Texture-wise, the first half is entirely mousse-like, with a slightly cheesy melt-in-your-mouth feel. The middle part occasionally feels like jelly, lightly clinging to your lips and tongue, and the base has a slightly tangy note. You can finish half of it in one go without feeling overly sweet—it’s completely different from any “French dessert” I’ve had before. This first cake truly amazed me.

Zhinv (Weaving Maiden) – looks a bit like a giant Ferrero Rocher XD (160 TWD)

The equally round ball initially left us unsure of how to cut into it...

After completely ruining its appearance by cutting into it, the first small bite only revealed the taste of chocolate—sweet turning to bitter, even with a slight sourness in the aftertaste, which I actually quite liked, even though I’m not usually a fan of chocolate cakes. But the second bite revealed a hint of berry tartness, and even what might be a faint trace of coffee and milk flavor. Texture-wise, the outer layer is very light and crispy, then there’s something like raw chocolate that clings slightly, followed by the mousse-like melt. Overall, I quite enjoyed this chocolate ball dessert.

Very much looking forward to itHatcho Miso Honey Vanilla Cake Roll

First, the appearance of this cake roll is slightly drier than I expected, but not enough to be off-putting. Paired with fairly smooth whipped cream, the texture is decent and quite good. In terms of flavor, the outer cake has a nice aroma, and the middle whipped cream is silky, smooth, and lightly vanilla-flavored. BUT… the most crucial and most anticipated part—the “Hatcho miso”—isn’t as strong as I hoped. Unless you dig straight into the middle, the “Hatcho miso” aroma isn’t very noticeable. But maybe the dessert chef was worried that the miso flavor might be too strong for most people to accept? So it seems they added a bit of honey to adjust the miso taste. In conclusion, it’s overall delicious, but I wish the flavor and aroma of the Hatcho miso could be more pronounced in the mouth.

Sesame-Yuzu White Cheese Mille-Feuille – 180 TWD

The first bite is dominated by a bold tanginess—it’s like a mix of yuzu and lemon, or perhaps both. Then you notice the sesame aroma taking over, followed by the crisp, toasty aroma of the crust and a hint of malt-like sweetness, along with the sweet and tangy notes of the cheese after chewing. Whether it’s the flaky crispness of the mille-feuille or the overall layered flavors, it’s definitely one of the most well-executed mille-feuilles I’ve had.

My friend ordered something—I think it was fruit iced tea. Honestly, I can’t even remember if I drank it...

Speaking of coffee, I’m still a bit of a novice, but I’ve at least progressed to enjoying more acidic coffees. I don’t know the name of this one, how it was roasted, or even whether it was pour-over or machine-brewed—but its predominantly acidic yet pleasantly bitter and aromatic flavor is something I absolutely love.

Dao Ting Sen French Pastry Shop
Address: No. 86, Guixing Rd., Banqiao District, New Taipei City (a 5–6 minute walk from Asia Eastern Hospital Station)
Phone: 02-29588806
Business Hours: 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Closed on Tuesdays)

"Xiao Hu’s Dream-Eating Web
If “eating” is just about filling your stomach, then “food” would be far too boring~~