Breakfast is by quite a considerable way the most important meal of the day. How many times have we heard this again and again? Well, I’m here to tell you that Taiwanese breakfast is a 24-hour-a-day kind-of-thing, and you absolutely need to get involved! Traditional food at breakfast could take the form of soy milk, flaky pastry, noodles, rice, steamed soup dumplings, or the absolute family favourite – the danbing! (Read more here about my previous post highlighting all about the incredible danbing)
Discovering the Top 12 Danbing for Irresistible Taiwanese Breakfast in Taipei
But, with so much choice, what are some of the top things to go for? Well, YongHe World Soy Milk King has them all lined up for you, so let's take a look.
Want to learn more about Taiwanese breakfast?
Where Can You Find the Best Taiwanese Breakfast? Here Are My 2024 Top Picks!
Table of Contents
A short walk from Dingxi MRT station in Yonghe, lies this sleeping giant steeped in history and nationwide glory - Yonghe's Shi Jie (world) Soy Milk King. I am not exaggerating when I say I have been here countless numbers of times, day or night.
This traditional Taiwanese breakfast restaurant, established in 1955, holds the distinction of being the first soy milk place in Yonghe and the pioneer in offering 24-hour service. This place essentially solidified Yonghe's reputation for soy milk, which is why you'll find so many soy milk shops with "Yonghe" in their names. You're likely to find stores as far down in Taiwan as Chuanghua County (and maybe further, but this was as far down as I could find one). Seemingly the hallmark stamp of quality for soy milk in Taiwan is 'Yonghe'.
Over the last few years they have also gone through some much-needed refurbishment, and it's looking much nicer on both the inside and outside.
Inside, gone are those awful plastic yellow stools and tacky decor, and in is lots of wood and classically traditional food wares specific to Taiwan such as bamboo steamers. A lot of places claim that they are the king of soy milk/soy milk king 豆漿大王, and also claim that they are from Yonghe (the jury is out on whether they are or not). But most of them are either average or just poor imitations. This is the original OG of Yonghe Soy Milk, and is well worth a trip to Yonghe for.
How to order at Yonghe World Soy Milk King
There are 2 sections at this place, the outdoor has one ordering counter which is for take out (外帶 wài dài), if you'd like to eat in (內用 nèi yòng), if there's no line outside of the entrance, simply go in and here are what you'll expect:
- The staff will ask you how many people will eat in (幾位內用 jǐ wèi nèi yòng?), simply using your fingers to show them the number is fine.
- Sometimes when it gets busy and the staff are not available, you can go to the counter, grab a menu, and find a vacant seat to sit down by yourself.
- Once you're seated and decide what you want to order, go to the ordering counter to pay, and you'll get a beeper, when your order is ready, the beeper will start vibrating and you can take it to the pick-up counter and take your order (see the pic below).
Next to the pick-up counter on the right side is a sauce station and a place to pick up your cutlery.
For taking out, here's what you do:
By scanning the above QR code you can add the restaurant on 'Line' and you can either process a take out order or you can check out the most up to date version of their menu. Each table has the QR code, if you are eating in but you also want to take out afterwards, you can pre-order first and go to the take out counter to pick up later (You'll have to use Line Pay to pay for the online order first).
Alternatively, if you only have cash or you want to flex your Chinese speaking muscles, you can get your order in at the take out section outside.
Once you have finished ordering you will get a receipt with a number on it. Once your number is called, you will head to this hatch to collect your order. The ordering process here is streamlined, and thankfully doesn't require too much command of the Chinese language.
The menu at Yonghe World Soy Milk King
You can also check out their website for the most updated menu with price, it is in Chinese, English, Japanese, and also Korean.
Inside the Yonghe World Soy Milk King restaurant, there is always an abundance of people, yet the atmosphere never gets too energetic. The kitchen staff is very competent, efficient, friendly, and fun. They don't speak English, but it really doesn't matter because they're quite happy to offer things up for you to try! Having this English menu really helps when all you want is some of the best soy milk in Taipei.
There are plenty of tables inside, but sometimes it does get so busy that you may have to wait if there is more than 4 of you on the weekend (no more than 10mins). Above is what we ordered.
My recommendation for the 2 drinks you should try here are:
- 冰清漿 （無糖） bīng qīng jiāng (wú táng) - Cold soy milk (no sugar).
Without sugar is how I take my soy milk. It keeps it fresh and healthy. Without sugar, it has an earthy, slightly burnt, lush green taste to it, with a milky smooth finish. Cold, it is very refreshing and just what you want on those sunny days. Hot, and it's just what you want in the winter. When heated it gets a little thicker but still maintains all of those fresh and pure flavours that I've come to love in this wonderful drink.
- 溫豆米漿 wēn dòu mǐ jiāng - Warm soy and rice milk mix.
Unsweetened soy milk is quite a unique taste, so if you don't like it I would suggest getting it mixed with rice milk instead of just with sugar. The addition of brown rice milk makes the consistency a lot thicker and feels almost medicinal when hot. However, when cold it can still be quite refreshing and also quite sweet.
I couldn't resist but to take one of these table spread pictures. More often than not all of the food will arrive at the same time. So it's perfect to get one of these pics.
Clay oven roll with green onion and egg
燒餅夾葱蛋 shāo bǐng jiā cōng dàn
This is a staple order for me at any Taiwanese soy milk breakfast store. I can't resist the flaky pastry with the chewy yet crunchy texture that gives way to a deliciously fried omelet-style egg filling with little pops of green onion flecked throughout. Slap some spicy chili sauce inside and you've got me.
If you love flaky clay oven roll (shaobing), Ms Cin Soy Milk is another soy milk place that you should try, The shaobing is crunchy and flaky with lots of white sesame on the top, and the best thing is that you can have their signature deep-fried meat balls in the shaobing. Really satisfying.
Taipei breakfast – Ms Cin Soy Milk 秦小姐豆漿店
Taiwan radish pastry with green onion egg
蘿蔔絲蛋餅 luó bo sī dàn bǐng
Unlike the radish cake you may know from many Taiwan soy milk breakfast shops, this one is finely sliced radish served inside a flattened 餅 (餅 translates to cake, but it isn't a cake in the Western terms of a cake, it is more like a flat hollowed out dough) and topped with egg. The slices of radish are simple but delicious, and the 餅 allows for a contrast in texture, with the egg on top adding richness and lifting the dish altogether.
Make sure to slap some of that chilli sauce on the side for dipping, too. It's pretty salty, and lightly spicy, but well up there for a mild kick for breakfast.
Yum. Here you can clearly see that daikon radish sandwiched inside there. Quality food.
Savoury soy milk with egg
鹹豆漿加蛋 xián dòu jiāng jiā dàn
Not for everyone, but I do like it every now and then. Savoury soy milk often contains what is essentially curdled soy milk, crunchy fried dough sticks, green onions, tiny little shrimp, and probably some eggs, too.
It's not winning any beauty contests. But, then again, we eat a lot of disgusting-looking food that turns out to be absolutely divine. Take Uni for example. I mean, it looks revolting. It looks like a tiny little orange tongue from a kitten. But, I would eat it every single day if I could afford to do so.
I've tried a couple of savoury soy milk in Taipei, and if you also enjoy savoury soy milk like me, you should visit Fuhang soy milk and try out theirs.
Taipei Breakfast – Famous Fuhang Soy Milk 阜杭豆漿 and 2 of the Top Dishes to Get There!
Salt and pepper rice roll (half savoury, half sweet)
椒鹽飯糰 jiāo yán fàn tuán
I'd typically classify this more as a filler than a staple dish at this spot. Inside you'll find a mix of salty and sweet fillings such as peanut sugar, fried dough stick, and pork floss. Honestly, I don't mind it, but I like my rice roll to be a little more delicate and less compact than the ones they do here. Having said that, these would easily fit in the water carrier section of your backpack if you are going on a hike, and the fact that they have no meat inside makes them infinitely safe to carry for a good few hours before you consume them - ideal energy supplement if needed.
Now we are on to the part that I love - the sweeter things in life.
Sweet malt cake pastry
麥芽甜餅 mài yá tián bǐng
Around 15cm in length, this malted sugar pastry is quite different from other pastries I have had before. It puffs up quite a lot, and the center has a smooth layer of malt sugar. The malt sugar uses the pastry to counteract the sweetness, with just the right amount of sweetness that is not overpowering .
If the pastry is hot to the touch, I recommend leaving it for a few minutes to cool down. As the sugar is as hot as the sun! (I learned the hard way, several times) It's a perfect afternoon snack with a cup of your favourite hot beverage (I recommend tea, but then, of course, I would - I am English).
Coconut Layer Cake (cold)
千層糕 Qiān céng gāo
Served cold, this coconut-flavoured layer cake is a real out-there breakfast order. I'd have never previously thought of having a cold coconut cake for breakfast, but I will now. Clearly made with lots of eggs and coconut, this cake is refreshing and pairs beautifully with the slightly sweet brown rice and peanut milk.
The Bottom Line
What's the best dish? The best dish at Yonghe World Soy Milk King: is the 蘿蔔絲蛋餅 luó bo sī dàn bǐng Thinly sliced radish cake with egg - I know it's called World Soy Milk King, but this dish is just awesome. If I am in England, this is the breakfast I miss. Recently I was away for a few weeks, and my first breakfast when I came back was this. I just couldn't wait!
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