A Taiwanese bread shop in Tamsui! Hiding the ultra-popular "pineapple buns" that burst with flavor

Text & Photos /Old K

After finishing the giant steak at Fanpolin in Sanzhi and getting ready to head home, I suddenly remembered there’s a very popular pineapple bun shop in Tamsui. It was on the way back, so I thought I’d check it out.

The sign isn’t very noticeable — we drove right past it XD Guess the Tamsui Credit Cooperative next door is easier to spot XD

It looks like a pretty ordinary Taiwanese bread shop, not much different from the ones near my place XD Could there really be amazing pineapple buns here?

Yup, definitely a classic Taiwanese bread shop. Besides pineapple buns, they have other types too, but today I came specifically for the pineapple buns. I heard they offer over ten different flavors here — let’s take a look.

Original pineapple flavor, one for 18 NT$, which is pretty cheap.

There’s also bursting pineapple filling and peanut Q-heart — these three in total. I asked the owner if there were any other flavors, and he said the others would take another twenty minutes. I was in a bit of a hurry and couldn’t wait that long, so I just bought all three and left XD

In total, I bought six pineapple buns.

Original pineapple (18 NT$)

Since they had just come out of the oven, they were still warm when I ate them in Taipei. The outer crust was crispy and the inside was soft. The sweetness level wasn’t too high either. Compared to other pineapple buns I’ve tried, these were quite tasty — not oily like some cheaper ones.

Peanut Q-heart (30 NT$)

It’s a peanut-filled, chewy-textured pastry. There’s also some added creamy filling inside.

The peanut filling is more towards the center, so if you peel it like this from the left, you won’t get to the filling XD The hard crunchiness of the almond on top is a bit different from the crispness of the pineapple bun’s crust, adding more texture.

The cream is layered beneath the peanuts, not just on the surface. There are also some crushed peanuts inside, giving it a slightly richer taste. For me, it’s a bit too sweet, but those who love sweet treats will probably enjoy it.

Bursting Pineapple (30 NT$)

The bursting pineapple buns are a bit smaller, and I got two at a time. These were reheated the next morning.

Even before they got super hot, you could see the filling bursting out. Butter lovers would probably go crazy for this XD

Old K’s little tip: Cheap and delicious — no wonder it’s so popular. Too bad it’s so far away. This time I only managed to try three flavors, which felt a bit limited XD If I pass by again, I’d love to try the other flavors. Unless you’re absolutely obsessed with pineapple buns, it’s worth stopping by for a bite if you’re in the area.

Kuangtai Xiang Western Pastry & Bread Shop
Address: No. 347, Section 3, Danjin Rd., Tamsui District, New Taipei City
Phone: 02-2622-3015
Business Hours: Weekdays 7:00–22:30, Holidays 7:00–19:00

Old K
Keep the eating going, Old K !
Blog　Fan Page