Ultra-popular Tokyo-style afternoon tea hits Taiwan with a focus on Hawaiian-Japanese pancakes!

Text and photos byPingzi

In recent years, a Japanese trend has swept through Taiwan. On November 15, 2015, the Taipei Xinyi District Xinyi Breeze branch opened. MOKUOLA DexeeDiner chose Unit B2 of Building A3 at Xinyi Breeze, focusing on Hawaiian-Japanese pancakes that made their way from Tokyo to Taiwan. The pancakes are rich and melt-in-your-mouth, paired with the store's signature Japanese-style fruit tea—delivering a strong Hawaiian vibe. Pingzi feels this is an afternoon tea experience worth recommending.

You might not be familiar with the brand MOKUOLA DexeeDiner, but frequent travelers to Japan have likely seen it. MOKUOLA DexeeDiner specializes in Hawaiian-Japanese pancakes. Aside from its six branches in Tokyo’s Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Yurakucho, Chiba, and Yokohama, it also has two overseas locations in Bangkok, Thailand. From the escalator at Building A3 of Xinyi Breeze, head down to B2—you’ll find the restaurant on your left.

Just days after opening, the place was packed with customers and bustling with activity, giving you a sense of just how popular and delicious it is.

The semi-open space offers a clear view of the entire interior, which is actually quite spacious. However, the seating is arranged relatively close together, likely due to crowd management—but it’s a bit of a shame. Still, the hope is that everyone can line up and get a seat.

The seating area features comfortable sofa zones, minimalist wooden tables, and cozy two-seater spots—all designed for guests to fully enjoy the experience. With a strong Japanese aesthetic, it’s the perfect afternoon tea ambiance for sweet-toothed ladies, best friends, and elegant women.

Just seeing such a large space, so newly opened, already drawing such crowds, makes Pingzi even more excited.

The walkways are actually quite wide, making it easy to move around without bumping into others. The venue is divided into upper and lower levels, with wooden flooring throughout.

You can see the kitchen prep area nearby. The open-concept design reflects a recent trend emphasizing healthy eating and transparency for peace of mind.

The brand wall in front of the counter is a fresh grass green—a very clean and refreshing style. It’s been a while since we’ve seen branding in this color scheme. You can really feel the passionate charm of these Hawaiian-Japanese pancakes brought over from Japan.

At the entrance is the reception area, where you’ll need to queue. Nearby, you’ll see a display window showcasing samples of all the ingredients used in the store. Just looking at them is appealing. Japanese restaurants really pay attention to this kind of visual packaging and imagery—you can tell what each dish looks like just by the samples. So thoughtful.

Looking at the food in the display window, sweet-tooth Pingzi found it hard not to be drawn in.

If you’re not sure what to order, a large sign nearby helpfully displays an overview of the delicious items on the menu.

Just looking at this well-designed menu—with such beautiful photography—it already looks delicious. You can probably sense the restaurant’s dedication.

The menu is richly illustrated, with two separate booklets: one for savory dishes and one for sweets and drinks. The restaurant specializes in pancakes and Hawaiian hamburger rice bowls. Pingzi loves Japanese restaurants for this very reason—the photos are beautifully shot, and every item is displayed. Whether or not you can read Chinese, you can confidently order without language barriers. It’s very thoughtfully done.

Most pancake shops mainly offer sweets, but here you’ll find savory options, salads, and fried foods to satisfy all your cravings.

The last page features an introduction to the beautiful scenery of Hawaii.

Since Pingzi and her best friend had already eaten lunch, they were ready to dive into the sweets. Here, you absolutely must try the MOKUOLA DexeeDiner pancakes—their signature item: classic thick cream paired with fresh whipped cream pancakes. Priced at 180 TWD, it’s a must-order.

For pancakes to be delicious, it all comes down to controlling the flour and the cooking process. The texture here is similar to our usual egg waffles, but denser and thicker. The outside is golden and crispy, while the inside is soft and fluffy. Yet, despite being rich, it doesn’t taste dry. The buttery topping adds another layer of flavor, and when dipped in specially prepared, fragrant maple syrup, there are multiple ways to enjoy it—non-greasy and refreshingly tasty.

One thing especially worth mentioning about these pancakes is that the cream on top isn’t greasy at all. Unlike most cream toppings that don’t sink or collapse even after an hour, this one is designed for healthy eating and will start to deflate before long. Friends who love taking photos should snap away quickly. The blend of sweet and salty flavors is truly unforgettable.

Another option is the banana-flavored pancake.

Just looking at the thick layer of cream, which still isn’t greasy when you eat it, is sure to bring you a lot of comfort.

The cream is paired with bananas and walnuts on the side—super fragrant—with a sprinkle of caramel aroma that’s simply irresistible.

For drinks, Pingzi opted for a freshly blended juice series called “Tropical Sunrise,” priced at 180 TWD. It includes mango, pineapple, pomegranate, and is packed with actual fruit pulp.

Next to it is a floral arrangement reminiscent of hibiscus, adding a lot of charm. The drink isn’t overly sweet or sour, with a rich fruity aroma that’s extremely enjoyable. Just looking at this drink, Pingzi could already feel the warm Hawaiian hospitality. The vibrant colors give off a carefree, joyful vibe.

Her best friend had coffee, which was rich and not bitter, with very smooth foam on top.

And so, the two of them enjoyed their afternoon tea, chatting about life while savoring the Hawaiian-Japanese-style pancakes. It was an absolutely delightful time. For all you sweet treat lovers out there, make a pilgrimage here someday—you’ll definitely get hooked after just one bite and remember it fondly.

MOKUOLA DexeeDiner
Phone: (02)2723-7837
Address: No. 68, Section 5, Zhongxiao East Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City (Breeze Xinyi A3, B2F).
Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/MokuolaTaiwan/.

upssmile萍子（up’s smile向上微笑）！
She is a designer and also the photographer behind “旅食设影” (Travel, Food, Design, Photography) for Up’s Smile.
Passionate about travel, food, design, photography, and movies.
Blogger:http://upssmile.com/

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