Danbing, often known as scallion pancakes or Taiwanese egg pancakes, provide the ultimate Taiwanese breakfast experience. Danbing is a thin, savory pancake loaded with a variety of tasty toppings that is a beloved mainstay of Taipei’s dynamic food scene. Enjoy this delectable breakfast treat and experience the spirit of Taiwan’s culinary tradition. This article will focus on Danbing, but do not overlook the incredible Cong You Bing – a scallion oil pancake bursting with aromatic scallions and other mouthwatering additions. Danbing and everything it has to offer.
What are the best Danbing offerings in Taipei? What are the best fillings? Where should you go for creative offerings? All of these questions and more will be answered in this ultimate guide to Taipei Danbing.
What is danbing?
Danbing is a thin Taiwanese savory pancake that is fried till crispy, topped with an egg, filled with your favorite toppings, folded up, and sliced into rings.
What is the best filling for danbing?
The best filling for danbing is an age old question. Egg is a staple, but many like sweetcorn; tuna mayonnaise; bacon and cheese; or hash brown.
What is the best danbing in Taipei?
The best danbing in Taipei depends on if you want a chewy skin or a crispy skin. For the crispy danbing, LOCO Food is a good option to go, but for the chewier texture, 喜多士 is unmissable!
Table of Contents
I am a big fan of the crispy skin type of Danbing. Hence, this post is mainly focus on the crispy skin Danbing. If you are also interested in the crispy skin type, keep reading and you would definitely get inspired!
Crispy Skinned
BOX巴克斯手工蛋餅
These delicious Danbing from Box are crispy, and don’t taste greasy in any way. They are packed full of fillings and are really reasonably priced. Excellent value for money here! Some of the best ones here are the Mixed danbing (綜合蛋餅 – zòng hé dàn bǐng), Chinese cabbage (高麗菜蛋餅 – (gāo lí cài dàn bǐng), or their spicy Korean kimchi and bbq pork (韓式泡菜燒肉蛋餅 – hán shì pào cài shāo ròu dàn bǐng)
天母豆漿
That dry, crunchy skin is what you’re going to find here in Tianmu. When I say dry, I mean that the skin isn’t drenched in oil as it is fried. It gives it that smoky, crispy flavour. Their mixed danbing is what you’re going to want to start out with here, containing cabbage and leek with egg. All of their dishes should feature their house chilli sauce, which is hot, hot, hot!
長勝君捲蛋餅專賣店
Come here for their crispy offerings with inventive fillings. They pack their breakfasts full here, so come hungry! Right near Nanjing Fuxing, this place is known for great flavours such as the one pictured above – their Mexican spicy chili beef flavour. It may be a little bit more on the expensive side for a single breakfast order compared to others around the area, but it’s worth it for that variety of flavour.
Extra Crispy
山豬蛋餅
For those of you wanting an extra crispy Danbing, then look no further than this spot right in Qinguang market near Zhongshan Elementary School MRT Station. If you want a crispy, spicy, meaty breakfast then come here and order the salted wild boar 山豬蛋餅 (shān zhū dàn bǐng) . Or, if you’re feeling like trying something weirdly different and delicious, then make sure to check out their egg, peanut butter and bacon with condensed milk 嫩蛋花生培根蛋餅 (煉乳) (nèn dàn huā shēng péi gēn dàn bǐng (liànrǔ)).
One thing to be aware of at this place is the spice that they add. It tingles the senses and is quite powerful. I would air on the side of caution and state that you only want a little spice on your food, if any at all.
- 我只想要一點點辣 – wǒ zhǐ xiǎng yào yī diǎn diǎn là
- I only want a little spice.
- 我不要辣 – wǒ bù yào là
- I don’t want any spice.
LOCO Food
I’m a big fan of the crispy skin at LOCO food. I really think they have the skin on point, here. So much so, that I outlined it as 1 of the best in Taipei! Here’s a brief look at the article:
What are the best Danbing offerings in Taipei? What are the best fillings? Where should you go for creative offerings? All of these questions and more will be answered in this ultimate guide to Taipei Danbing.
Read the whole article here: https://eatingintaipei.com/loco-food-danbing/
There’s not much more I can say after that, is there? You’re not going to go wrong at LOCO food.
GURU House
So the best thing about Guru House is that they have other breakfast offerings that navigate away from the danbing, such as breakfast/brunch sandwiches, panini, or even pizza. But I still had to talk about it here because there’s is just THAT good. They have recently closed their branches in Taipei, but they still have a branch in Yonghe right next to No.4 park behind Yongan Market MRT station. It’s worth the trip, TRUST!
You must make sure to get the 3 cheese option that they have. You’re going to get some cheddar, mozzarella, and Jake (I think they mean Monterey Jack, but I will put it as it is shown on the menu) stuffed up in there. These 3 cheeses have slightly different melting points, so you’re going to get some runny, stringy, and chewy cheese all right there sandwiched within their extra crispy skin. It’s a real treat!
Deep-Fried
津津豆漿
In Datong district just north of Daqiaotou MRT station, you’ll find this unassuming breakfast store that serve up deep-fried Danbing for your tasting pleasure! They’re all incredibly reasonably priced and even though they’re deep-fried, they still taste nice and fresh. There’s only one flavour here – Leek. Leek are chopped finely and stuffed inside the extra crispy deep-fried skin. Smash some hot chilli sauce over the top of it, and you’re winning!
三重蛋餅大王
Nothing looks like the typical deep-fried Danbing than this offering in Sanchong. You’ll find this popular breakfast store just a 5 minute walk from Taipei Bridge station. Another incredibly reasonably priced breakfast is what awaits you right here. For less than $50 you’re going to exit this breakfast shop feeling satisfied. Here they make the skin and then drop it right there in the bubbling hot oil. What you can notice is that the skin on these is slightly more sticky and wet than on others, maybe that is to make up for the fact that it will be deep-fried, so they don’t want it to become brittle.
Once the deep-frying is underway, an egg is cracked right there into the oil, and a handful of a green onion mixture is flung into the center of the deep-frying egg. The egg encapsulates the green onion mixture and then the skin of the Danbing is maneuvered on top of the egg so that it sticks together. After a period of time, it’s released from the oil and served on a plate. Lashed with some chilli sauce, you’ve got a deliciously (albeit not too healthy) hearty breakfast!
Thick-Skinned
喜多士
I love my thick Danbing. In fact, a crispy thick Danbing is one of my weekend rituals. Washed down with a coffee and a little bowl of fruit (to balance out the bad calories), and maybe a yogurt on the side. What a winner!
Here right near Xingtian Temple is this incredibly unassuming breakfast store. As you approach, you’ll find the owner rolling out the flour mixture and stretching the dough to make the Danbing skins. He seems to be doing it non-stop for hours, as this place has a constant steady stream of orders throughout the morning. The texture on these ones is more on the chewy side than the crispy side, but the flavours are so typically old-school classic that it just hits the spot. I like mine with that salty chilli bean sauce that they have, and a little dash of that thick soy sauce, too – YUM!
石牌無名手工蛋餅
This place right up in Shipai is so similar to the one at Xingtian temple above that I feel like it could be a brother sister combo. The Danbing look exactly the same. Similar levels of thickness, similar skins, and similar flavours. They’re great, and if you live nearby or this place is more convenient for you, then you should absolutely eat here. Their peanut soup is also the signature dish, remember to try it out.
Variations
天津蔥抓餅
So we all love Yongkang Street for the incredible variety of souvenir shops, restaurants, tea shops, and of course the original Taiwan OG of DinTaiFung! If you’ve been there, then you have probably also noticed that there is always a line at this amazing place. My rule here is that if the line is any less than 5 people deep, then I am joining it. That’s not to say that it isn’t worth a 6 or 7 people deep line, but that’s just my hard, fast rule for lining up at places like this.
What you’re getting here isn’t an actual Danbing. What you’re getting here is a 蔥抓餅 cong zhuā bǐng. What is this, I hear you ask? This is what you eat if you upgrade from a Cong You Bing – a scallion oil pancake You’re getting more layers, you’re getting more crisp, and you’re getting more decadence. Right here on Yongkang Street, you’re also getting it filled with your choice of fillings such as basil, cheese, and/or ham. It’s basically a Taiwanese Shawarma/Burrito, and I am all there for that.
雄記蔥抓餅
If you’re not in the Yongkang Street neigbourhood but still need a fix of that incredibly flaky, layered 蔥抓餅 cong zhuā bǐng, then this night market offering at Gongguan night market will set you right. Go all out here and get egg, corn, ham, and cheese. I mean, you might as well, right?
The Bottom Line
Taipei breakfast is the bomb. There are so many offerings. Danbing is incredible, and you should all go and try at least 3 of these from the list above. When you do, tag me on Instagram and let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Insider Tips
Did you know that you can add almost anything onto a Danbing at a breakfast store? Yes, you heard it right!
If you want egg, corn, hash browns, bacon, cheese, tuna, and onion all on the same Danbing, then you should absolutely ask for it.
If you want double eggs and lots of chilli, then it’s yours for the taking.
What you should also do is make your own Danbing at home. It’s so simple to do, and means that you can have it absolutely every single day. Check out a great recipe here.