Chia Te Bakery

Good place to get souvenirs in Taipei. The classic pineapple pastry and the scallion nougat cookies are really good. Some may have pork, so check before buying, if you have allergy.

If you want to buy their Pineapple Pastries AND Wife Cakes, you need to queue in as early as 7:00 AM. I went at about that time, and there was already a queue once I got there. Anyway, at 8:30 when the bakery opens, the line moves pretty fast. I would suggest that you already have what you want in mind so that you’ll be able to check out much faster. I was able to leave the store at about 9:15 because it took me awhile to decide what to get. Not bad. Verdict on what I bought: I’m not too much of a fan of egg flavoring in pastries, so I skipped out on buying a box of the Egg Yolk flavored pastries, and I’m glad I did. If you’re not a fan of those, you can definitely just buy individual packets for you to try but I wouldn’t recommend getting a box. I bought a box of the mixed Pineapple and Pineappple-Cranberry Pastries and MY GOSH — they were quite literally one of the best pastries I’ve had in Taiwan! I will definitely get more of these the next time I’m going back to Taiwan. And the WIFE CAKES were really good as well. Make sure you get the wife cakes because they’re limited!!! Overall, I’m quite happy and satisfied with what I bought! Chia Te is definitely one of the spots you should go to in Taiwan!!!

Amazing pineapple cakes and must have souvenirs if you’re visiting Taiwan/taipei. Expect to see a long line but it goes quicker than you would think. They have a large selection of pastries but I can only recommend their pineapple cakes there. They’re a cut above the rest and you can get them in very large servings. Do note that they have an expiry date and should be consumed within a week. I really recommend to have it within the first three days because of how status they are. The prices are bit more compared to your usual pineapple cakes at the supermarket.

Chia Te is really the OG of Taipei pineapple tarts. The queue everyday shows that. If you don't want to queue, there are 2 ways 1. Come at night, about 1 hour before closing. Cons only have the basic items/long shelf life items, e.g. pineapple tarts, maybe sun cakes, sesame pastries. 2. If you are in Taipei at least for 4 days, order on your 1st day & collect on your 4th day. Order collection can only be done 3 days after ordering. If you want to soak in all the atmosphere of buying pineapple tarts at Chia Te, then come in the morning. Either from opening time at 08:30 (queue already formed before opening time) or at about 09:30-10:00. This is when some of the short life pastries will come out fresh. Usually it will disappear very fast. I still couldn't get the pork mung bean cake that I've been eyeing. Service is pretty good. There are staff to watch the door, and staff to help you if you need any help. You can create you own set or buy the pre-packed set. Note there are separate boxes for pineapple tarts & pastries, you can't use tart box for pastries & vice versa, just ask the staff. Payment can be done with cash / card. There is no tax refund here. Chia Te also provide packing boxes for extra fee. Tips: if you are buying pineapple tarts for yourself, I suggest to check out the plastic box tarts. They have shorter shelf life & some maybe a little bit crushed. It's much cheaper NTD 350 for 12 pieces and still tastes the same, just sans packaging.

First time here in their actual shop, their Pineapple cake and Sun biscuits (Limited stocks per day) are my favorites here. If you have time, visit their shop. The varieties are so much more especially the sun biscuits are limited in stock. Was lucky to get the last 2 boxes. 😃

The best pineapple pastries in Taipei. The one and the only store.but you can get at some minimarket with higher price. Usually there are a long queue. Just come early at morning for shorter queue

One of the best cranberry tart ever. And now due to mid autumn festival they also sell mooncakes. Looks like long queue but they move fast. You can also buy boxes to pack your goodies for easy travel. Definitely recommend

Still my favourite Pineapple Pastry from Taiwan after all these years. It seems like there is always a queue, but it does move steadily as they only allow a certain number of customers in the shop at a time so you have an enjoyable shopping experience. Get an order list while you wait, so you know what you want to buy. There are other pastry souvenirs too, with some that are limited per person

Chia Te is one of those places that everyone recommends to get the traditional Taiwanese pineapple pastry. I believe the hype and decided to check it out for myself during my visit. According to the hours on Yelp, they open at 8 AM and so we decided that we had to leave and get there by 7:30 to wait in line. The line is truly as they describe in various places - if you don't get there early, you may have to wait in line for a while before you can get into the store and risk not being able to get some of their delicious pastries. Luckily, they actually open at 8:30 and so we were there in plenty of time but we were already at the start of the second line by the time we got there. They let the first wave of people go in when they first open and they control the flow into the store. Luckily, we were able to be the last ones to be let into the store in the first wave! Certain pastries are limited to a max of 2 boxes per customer: The Wife Cake and the Milk Cake. Their wife cake is definitely one of the best Taiwanese pastries I've had and one of the best of its kind. It's flakey and not overly sweet. The subtle sweetness of the pastry lingers on your tongue and it is simply delicious. The various fruit filled pineapple pastries also piqued my interest and l can't wait to try the different fruit fillings. They also have other traditional Taiwanese pastries like sun cakes and egg tarts. I think it's one of those experiences you need to have when you come to Taiwan. People may argue that Sunny Hill has better pineapple pastries. My opinion is that they are both delicious and there's nothing wrong with enjoying both. The place can get busy, but the cashiers and the other people on the floor helping people are super efficient and they maintain a calm atmosphere in the store. We were in and out pretty quickly. I'd recommend coming here for sure.

Taiwan is known for their pineapple cakes and Chia Te Bakery is the place to get them! I've had two other brands of pineapple cake, but they weren't as good as the ones from Chia Te. The outer crust isn't dry, but buttery and flaky and the filling is so good. There was a line to get in, but it moves pretty quickly. When I got in, I was overwhelmed. They have other pastries and I wasn't sure what to get so I only got a box of 20 pineapple cakes. I would like to try their melon cake and wife cake.

The line here reminded us of Porto's Bakery in Southern California. The pineapple cake is the hot seller similar to Porto's cheese roll. Be ready to wait in a long line that snakes back and forth in front of Chia Te until you reach the front door where a worker performs crowd control by letting a few people at a time. You have the option to create your own custom box or bring a filled-out list to the one of the four cashiers. They don't sell a mix at the cashier, so create your own if you want a variety pack for yourself or as a gift. Personally, the cakes are too dry for my taste and I prefer the Old Wife Biscuit and the Green Onion Nougat Cracker. You really need coffee or tea with these cakes. The order form has shelf lives for each item type, thus they make good gifts if you're not immediately flying. Chia Te is a famous place but honestly there are so many options that it's hard to differentiate between the various choices.

The best pineapple cakes! There's also a version with egg, which is delicious. Be prepared for the line. Wife cakes sell out by noon so go early.

Always have to stop by here for treats when visiting Taiwan! They're mostly known for their pineapple cakes but they have a bunch of other pastries and goodies as well. There's usually a line to get into the store but it moves fairly quickly. They have tape on the ground right outside directing the line flow so make sure you follow that when waiting. Once you get inside, there are trays for you to use to grab individual items and a form to fill out for gift boxes. When you get to the register, they'll grab all the gift boxes for you from behind the counter. If paying with card, make sure to choose payment in NTD and not USD for a slightly better rate! Besides the pineapple cakes, they have a cranberry flavored cake which is really good and one that was new to me was strawberry! I also bought their green onion crackers with nougat. Definitely a place to visit if you're in Taiwan!

Was lucky enough to enjoy some of their pastries again recently when a friend brought some back from Taiwan. It's true that nothing in the states can compare. If you're a fan of pineapple cakes this is one of the top spots to try. I remember trying other local bakeries both in and outside of Taipei during my last trip to Taiwan and just thinking--most other bakeries have far to go to meet the standards they set here--especially the exterior "crust" portion. It's moist, buttery, yet still a bit crumbly here, almost like a lightly sweet short crust. Most other places it's straight up dry and falling apart once you bite into the pastry. The 喜餅 (wedding pastry) and 綠豆椪 (green mung bean pastry) are quite good here too. These are flaky on the outside with a decent amount of crumbly, moist sweet or savory filling inside. They have different fillings though the ones I tried were sweet for the wedding pastry - this one had sweet green mung bean paste, candied walnuts, and flaked coconut, and savory for the green mung bean pastry - salty mung bean paste with minced marinated meat in both curry flavor and braised pork flavor. That being said traditional Chinese pastries are quite different from Western pastries, so if you're new to them keep an open mind! They are much less sweet and tend to be drier comparatively--like less cream/mousse and rich cake textures. It's different though also delicious in a different way.

A lot of hype for these pineapple cakes means there's always a long line out the door, and that popular items sell out within an hour or two (sun cake, moon cake, wife cake). We were able to snag the last two boxes on sun cakes but the others were sold out. We arrived about 45 minutes before opening and probably waited about 45 minutes, which I didn't think was too bad. They let a certain number of people in to the store at one time (it is not too crowded at all) and once in, you are free to wander around as slowly as you want. If you spend a certain amount of money (4000 NTWD or ~$120 when I was there), they will box up everything for you and you can either directly check that box as luggage (that it what we did). They call it a "free carton" but that means free shipping box. The cakes themselves make great gifts and are about $1 each and you can get boxes of either 6 or 12 (you can mix and match flavors as well). My favorites are the original pineapple cake, the melon pineapple cake, and the sun cake. One day I'd love to try the moon cake or the wife cake, but not sure I'd be willing to stand in line any longer than I did. Having had other pineapple cake, I do have to say Chia Te stands above the rest (I actually thought I didn't like them until I had these, and ended up eating two of the boxes that I had planned to give away). The cake is more moist and less flaky/crispy here than some others that I've tried. Do note the expiration dates, which vary from 2-6 weeks depending on the product.

The famous Chia Te store - there's always a line outside and luckily when we came we were quickly ushered into the store. I love that you can pick and choose what pastries you want individually which lets you try a variety of goods. We got boxes of pineapple cake to bring home but also some interesting pastries to try ourselves. I loved the green onion nouget cracker, pineapple cake with egg yolk, sun cake, and pork floss cake. Everything was super yummy and I can see why people are willing to wait in queue.

Only my second time visiting while in Taipei. We came on a Thursday right before 5p and there was already a long line but it moved fairly quick, only about 20mins wait. Only thing is by then they are out of sun cakes and wife cakes which are the two I wanted to try in addition to getting other items as gifts. The paper menu is preset for quicker ordering but you can also grab an empty box once inside and put together your own with their assorted flavors without using that paper menu. So don't feel like that's your only selections. Works like a bakery, once inside you pay for whatever you want to get individually

One of the most popular places for pineapple cakes in Taipei! Came here at 9am and there was a huge line already! Waited 1.5 hours before getting inside the store. Inside the store was very cramped. Be sure to be patient and considerate of others. Other than pineapple cakes, they offer other pastries. My favorite from there was their green onion nougat cracker. Highly recommend to try and definitely eat while fresh before it gets stale. Maybe it was an off day for them. The pineapple cake was super dry and over baked. It wasn't soft at all. If you are ordering a lot of boxes, will recommend filling out the ordering form. Hand it to the cashier and they will pack them for you. They take credit and cash.

NEED TO COME EARLY! All the unique interesting pastries were gone by 11 and the worker said they were sold out in the morning already, they do not make extras of certain pastries like the crispy pies. Almost everyone we saw here were coming out with big bags of pastries. Definitely need to stop here when in Taiwan, it's so fresh, tasty and inexpensive. The place is really small and hectic. Some workers spoke English which was very helpful.

Not worth spending time and money for this bakery store! Quality not really good, taste so so, clerks service terrible, long line waiting outside and occupied public space, shopping environment too small and not friendly for customers. Also, price not really good compared with their product qualities and packages, actually I would say this is dishonest business!

If you want to get the 太陽餅, 老婆餅 (sun cookie and wife cookie), good luck. You're gonna have to start lining up at sunrise or something. Otherwise, there was a small line this past Sunday afternoon to grab their 鳳梨酥 (pineapple pastry) or other tasty packaged goods! Upon walking in, you can grab a sheet of paper and pencil to mark down what you want (if you want boxes/cases of pastries) before bringing it to the cashier where they grab what you need from the back. Individually, you can grab them while walking around the store. The 鳳梨酥 is a classic, so I got a good amount of these to bring back as gifts (and for myself). They last for 40 days, too, so you can buy 40 for yourself and enjoy one everyday if you really wanted to. I also bought some 蔥軋餅 (green onion nougat cracker) which I feel like is pretty lowkey but super tasty. I got to try a 黑芝麻餅 and my only regret is getting one and not more. 佳德鳳梨酥 (Chia Te Bakery) is the spot for pineapple cakes and other pastries. I'd definitely recommend and the line for them is worth it. You can never spend enough here, haha. They make amazing gifts!

Chia Te is the most famous bakery for pineapple cake and is located on Nanking East Road. The bakery is actually in a building and owned by the proprietor. It's really crazy that people line up down and wait literally an hour just to get in. The line snakes around the front then down the block. They are efficient and pass out order slips as you get closer to the entrance. Then after your purchase there is a counter dedicated to bagging or boxing up the goods. Lots of foreigners buy by the box load to bring back as gifts.

The pineapple cakes are so freaking delicious! The wait on a Tuesday evening was about forty minutes but they are totally worth the long lines. They use the fresh fruit pineapple rather than the jam to make the cakes. Also have seasonal flavors like cranberry and egg yolk filled ones. These make classic Taiwan gifts to give to friends and family.

One of the best pineapple cake stores in Taipei ! There's always line at checkout, however, coming on weekdays does help for speed at checkout. Other than pineapple cake, they have variety of fruits cake s and other pastries. And most of them are delicious and I do feel the wait time at the checkout line is worthy! The cashiers are friendly and helpful. All major credit cards are accepted here, making foreign customers lives easier!

Every product looks nice and good, but compare with selling price, all packages not really worth, because giving me feeling very cheap and quality not really good. Especially for long line outside store. Actually, shopping environment not let me feel comfortable and friendly. I would say this bakery store whole designs not friendly to all consumers. Also, if some popular products sold out, then the store should let the customers who are waiting at long line, then the customers can make their own decisions, still going inside or just leaving! Not really recommended!

100% worth the hype and line although you have to come early at opening if you want the sun and wife cakes because by the time I arrived at noon on a weekday, they were already sold out. I came at another time near closing and the line was a lot shorter and still plentiful of pineapple and other cakes left. When we exited the store, the line was gone. There are forms and pencils near the entrance to fill out if you know you are going to buy by the box. This speeds up the checkout process a lot. They also show the shelf life of each pastry on it. I can confirm the pineapple cake is the best I ever had. The crust has a crispness to it and the filling is so fresh (hence their shelf life of only 40 days!). It is not as doughy as the ones I've had in the grocery stores. Although the line can get long, I recommend stopping by at least once as these make for great souvenirs.

The best pineapple cakes in the entire world--you cannot come to Taiwan without getting them. When you see the huge line, DO NOT even think about getting a different brand because you don't want to wait in the 2-hour line down the block for it. You'll just go back home thinking that pineapple cakes are and will always be dry and crumbly with a bit of moist pineapple jam saving every bite in between--which is a huge lie. I grew up eating every other brand and thinking it's pretty good but I always wished it was less dry but maybe that's just the way it is. I repeat-- DO NOT GET ANY OTHER BRAND. Once you stock up on at least $3000 NTD of Chia Te pineapple cakes (to make your wait "worth it") you will realize that there is ALWAYS a reason why there's a long impossible line for this coveted bakery. The pineapple filling to "cake" ratio is perfect and the filling is deliciously pineapply with the perfect balance of flavor and sweetness. However, it is truly the cake part that takes this beloved pineapple pastry home. It is buttery and moist and it makes you wonder where has this pineapple cake from heaven has been all your life. If you like delicious pastries, make it a priority to come here and your taste buds will thank you forever.

We stood in line for a whole hour in front of the Chia Te bakery during our recent trip, it's famous for the pineapple cakes which is a popular gift to bring home; there are also many other mouth watering goodies to choose from and can be a little overwhelming. Everyone was well behaved while patiently waiting for the group to be let in, once inside we picked some more one off items either with short shelf life or some meat content not allowed in the US (to eat) in addition to the boxes of pastries already marked on the order sheet. A restriction of 50 boxes pp is posted and If you reach a certain $ amount then free packaging is offered using a special machine and the large cardboard box is good for airline check-in. Normally not a dessert person, the fresh made pastries we tasted within hours were indeed very yummy. Needless to say, friends and family members in the US were also quite pleased with the gifts.

Always make a pit stop to ChiaTe when I come to Taipei. Last time I was here pre-COVID and there wasn't a queue but this time there were about 15 ppl ahead of me when I got there at 8:30am! Love their Mochi pork floss pastry, all their pineapple cake variations and tried their new 3 Q and Mochi red bean pastry. All delicious!

Popular by demand, Chia Te is a must visit in Taipei for pineapple cakes. I also love their scallion crackers with cream filling! The line builds up & can look intimidating but I swear it moves quickly.

What's a trip to Taiwan without bringing back a boatload of pineapple cakes for yourself and loved ones? And what better pineapple cakes than the ones at Chia Te. I've tried quite a few versions of pineapple cakes but find myself always coming back to Chia Te. These to me have the perfect texture of pinapple filling, with just the right chew, and taste absolutely scrumptious. Honestly, if there was a time to use that word, it would be now, to describe it. There are also different filling options available - recently I tried strawberry and melon, and was pleasantly surprised. Nothing too overpowering in taste, while still being flavorful. Expect a line almost every single time you stop by...but it moves fairly quickly. I like that they control the crowd inside as I can see it getting hectic. The cashiers have their 6, 12, and 20 pineapple cake boxes pre-packaged for purchase but within the bakery you can scope out the individual "other" flavors and other pastries both room temp and in the cooler. Moon Cakes, Wife Cakes (flaky sweet goodness), and even their strange-sounding "Green Onion Nougat Crackers" which are similar to what we in the States know as sour cream and onion flavor, are also popular. Again, no Taiwan trip complete without stopping by local landmarks like this, popular with tourists and locals alike.

Great bakery. Definitely will revisit the place when I come to TW next time. Personally, this place is better than the others.

Ended my trip in Taipei by buying the most delicious pineapple cakes and pastries from Chiate bakery! Made fresh with the aroma of baked goods wafting down the streets. We bought different fillings of pineapple cake, sun cake, moon cake, and other pastries that caught our eyes. So delicious, highly recommend a visit to this place for traditional Taiwanese pastries! It's also great for souvenirs and gifts to bring home. I recommend going as soon as the store opens because there are long lines of people. Take the Nanjing Sanmin MRT exit 2

This bakery is AMAZING! ChiaTe is one of my favorite bakeries in Taipei, Taiwan. Their pineapple cake is the best in my book. Different bakeries all over Taiwan have their own versions of pineapple cakes, but ChiaTe's pineapple cake ranks supreme in my opinion. Not overly sweet, slightly buttery with a slightly chewy pineapple filling, we just can't get enough! Their sweet buns, sponge cakes and other fruit-filling cakes are also delicious. There is always a line out their doors. If you are ever visiting Taipei, Taiwan, take out the time to visit one of ChiaTe's locations. You will not be dissapointed!

Taiwan is known for their pineapple cakes and this is the place to go! There's usually a line but it moves quickly. Once inside, grab a box (different sizes, 6, 12 or 20) and pick the different flavors and fill it up! ChiaTe pineapple cakes can be found at supermarkets and at the airport, however, it's only the regular pineapple flavor. If you want a variety of flavors (strawberry, cherry, melon, salted egg, plum, longan etc), then come here. One thing to keep in mind are the expiration dates. Some of the cakes are only good for 2 weeks so I'll suggest you come here on your last day in Taiwan. If pineapple cakes aren't your thing, they also have sun cakes, wife cakes and best of all, green onion nougat crackers! They come in different nougats too (original, sesame and cranberry). Yum!

The real question is: Sunny Hills or Chia Te? I'm sure all of you foodies are dying to know the answer to the best pineapple cake in Taiwan. (Sorry, I don't mean to exclude many others but I'm just picking two of my favorites). Chia Te's version is light, buttery and melts in your mouth. Best description I can compare to is Krispy Kreme's glazed donuts as they are also light and easily eaten in one sitting. Sunny Hill's version is slightly bigger, denser, with more of a crumbly cookie outside and heavier feel. Make no mistake about it, they are just as good as Chia Te and it's just preference based on the taste. So I would put Dunkin Donuts as the comparison here since they are more cake like and denser. As for this place, it's easily off the MRT about a block away. The store has I believe five or six registers and all the packaged pineapple cakes are behind the counter. I bought the smallest one that comes six in a box and you can get a cute gift bag to go with it. Oh, and make sure you get the egg tarts here. (Along with other baked goods too) It was incredibly good without the heavy egg feel. The crust on the egg tart was dense and cookie like (Ironically) and it's probably the best I have tasted. As for the pineapple cake, that judgement is strictly up to you but I would say this place would be in my top 3.

They have some FIRE Pineapple Cakes BUT also their Green Onion Nougat Crackers are like CRACKKKK. I honestly like it more than the pineapple to be honest. Their Moon/Sun Cakes are also very popular, along with their Wife Cakes. Very flakey and breaks apart as soon as you bite into it. This is the only location so you best believe they're super busy all the time. I had to try a few of the items before purchasing just to make sure it was good, so I'm happy that they sold individual pineapple cakes and crackers. Fill out the form with your order and bring it to the counter. They usually provide extra gift bags as needed. Perfect gift to bring back home! Highly recommend!

This very popular pineapple cake maker is always packed with customers. Long waiting line is a good indicator of its popularity with locals and tourists. I have tried the goods in the past and really liked them. Recommend visitors check this place out and perhaps take some goodies home to share with family, loved ones, and friends. Oh, their goodies are not limited to pineapple cake. Therefore, do not overlook all their offerings.

This is a great place to go to if you want to bring back some Taiwanese pastries back home. ChiaTe is known for their pineapple cakes, but they also have milk cakes, wife cakes, nougat green onion cookies, egg tarts, and much more. Because they are so popular, the lines can get really long, and especially on special occasions it may take hours in line. Everything is also super cheap, ranging generally around NT$30 per piece. You can either get everything individually or in sets where you can take a box of your own and fill them up with the individuals of your own choosing. Personally, my favorites are the wife cakes, which are these flat, flaky pastries filled with mochi, and the nougat green onion cakes, which are both sweet and savory at the same time. The only downside about these pastries are that because they are made fresh, they only last for a few days so it is best to eat them right away. Otherwise, just make sure that you're not waiting too long before taking them back home or to your friends to share.

The place to go to buy your pineapple cakes and other treats either to enjoy for yourself or to bring home as gifts. The pineapple cakes are so delicious. I also got some of the cranberry and pineapple cakes, and while good, i honestly didn't like them as much and their shelf life is shorter which you might need to think about if you have another leg of your travel before getting home. Next time I'll probably just stick with the pineapple cakes. The line is long when you get there, but they know what they are doing there and it moves pretty fast. While you're waiting in line, you'll be handed a piece of paper to be able to mark down your order and if you want a pretty standard order you just stay in line and they'll take care of you at the register. Or, if you want to mix and match more things that they have in the store then you can grab a basket or tray to help yourself to the items you want around the store. All in all a pretty painless experience despite the line, and worth a stop to bring home a box of pineapple cakes for your friends.

I received a box of pineapple cake from a coworker as a gift.The shortbread cake is moist and has a nice firmness to the outer crust of the cake. The filling is also a tad sweet but not overly so. Some places filling is sour and that is not something I like. These pineapple cakes are definitely in my top 3. I can't say I've tried them all but I have at least sampled the most famous ones. I can't speak for the bread and other baked goods as I didn't try them. They also offer a wide variety of pineapple cake flavors where they will add things like walnuts, cherry, and cranberry in the filling. My favorite is still the original flavor.

The Chia Te pineapple cake just brought from Taiwan has a fresh, lively taste. It's pleasant to experience. On the other hand, it doesn't particularly exceed the taste of similar pineapple cakes one can experience in New York's Chinese restaurants and dessert spots. Perhaps the Chia Te cranberry pastry to try next will outdo the pineapple cake.

ChiaTe! This was first on my list for my "places I gotta go to" on my list and this was a fun place to hit up. It's pretty close to the MRT station and when I arrived here, I saw a line. Yep. They have to limit how many people go in sometimes but the wait isn't too bad. Sooooo... don't know Mandarin or Taiwanese? Yeah, if you're doing boxed sets and do not need anything individualized, you're gonna want to either a) Find the paper that has all the different boxed sets they have or b) just go straight to the register. They understand simple English here. Wish I knew that! I was so lost and I was like.. WAIT WHERE ARE THE BOXED SETS before figuring out that those are only in the back. So while in the crowd, I just kept looking at the variety and was surprised. They have a huge variety of pineapple cake (with many different flavors, like CRANBERRY :O). I elected to go with the original because ..well OG. I did however venture out of my zone and I even got pineapple pastry with egg yolk. The OG is so good. It's what I think of when I think of pineapple cake. It's buttery and has a slab of fresh pineapple in the middle. It doesn't melt in your mouth but it just crumbles in there. Sigh. Ugh. So good. My coworker gave me the cranberry one and I was surprised at the vibrant flavor that it produced. Their egg yolk is absolutely divine and actually overpowers the pineapple taste but the shocker is that they put a good amount of pineapple in their cake so that some of the flavor can be hidden. It's so fresh so good. I wish I had gotten their egg tart (can't believe I didn't see it hmm) or tried one of their Old Wife cakes, because they looked interesting. The only negative was that I saw a 5 day shelflife for some of the things so I was like... I don't think so :/ Pineapple cakes have a 3 week shelf life btw. If you have 600NT+ of purchases, you can pay with CC. Also for me personally, I like both this and Sunny Hills. They're both delicious and different. I shoulda bought more xP When in Taiwan tho.... :)

When you think of Taiwanese pineapple cakes, Chia Te is the one that comes to mind. The place was packed on a weekday morning, full of people looking to buy the different kinds of cakes and baked goods sold here. They sell sun cakes, egg tarts, wife cakes, mochi cakes, along with the famous pineapple cakes. There are other fillings instead of pineapple including cranberry, longan, and other flavors. Take your pick! You pay up front after marking on your paper what you want and they will pack up your cakes into boxes. Definitely a place to buy souvenirs for family and friends!

This place has a long tradition of being one of the better pineapple cakes in TW. They also have other tasty pastries such as wife cake, sun cakes, egg tarts, nougats etc. all worth a try. There is always a line but they do manage it pretty well. If you already know why you want fill out the form and head to the registers. They will fill our order without having to pick up the items one at a time. Of course if you want to take a look at everything they have displayed and individual items as well. They also have a delivery service that will send it to a location of your choice for a small fee so you don't have to lug it around. They will also do a packing service for you in the left side of the store. Note - now a days there are pretty good pineapple alternatives in TW so if you don't want to battle the crowds you can try some place such as sunny hill. These can be found in Taipei 101 shopping areas. Quicktip: in some 7/11 stores line in Ximending you can fine Chia Te items. Just be aware of the expiration dates though.

Everything was pretty good, except for the cranberry tart which was too sour. The line looked long but the wait was less than 30 minutes. You first get a order form and a pencil from the server at the door, and then wait for your turn to go inside and hand the form to the cashier. You can also get singles once you go in, if you want to try different styles of cakes but don't want to commit to a box of 6 or 12. They take Visa, MasterCard and UnionPay. Cash is also accepted of course. The airport doesn't sell this particular brand but you can order from their website and pick it up at the airport.

One of the Taiwanese people's favorite pasttimes is to stand in obscenely long lines for food. And I'm not talking about the kind of food that would provide rationed sustenance in the time of war, but the overly-fattening, buttery, sweet and sticky kind of pineapple cakes, Chinese pastries and desserts that ChiaTe has to offer. Right before the Chinese New Year, ChiaTe was packed. According to their holiday schedule, ChiaTe was even open for on Chinese New Year's Eve. Two days before the CNY, the line was down and around the block, and though the line was moving briskly, it still took me a little over an hour to get inside. Lauded as THE place for pineapple cake finery, ChiaTe has only two major retail outlets in Taipei - this location in Taipei and another in Hualien, though they will ship anywhere, as well as take orders online (only over a certain $$ value) for pick up in one of their stores. I've had plenty of pineapple cakes from other places, but have found ChiaTe to have the butteriest cake crusts with the most flavorful pineapple paste inside. The ratio of pineapple paste to crust is also generous. Despite the crowds, employees were posted outside the store with pencils and menus for you to write down what you wanted to buy in advance to avoid freaking out in the store. Upon entering, another employee directs you to the fastest checkout lines, according to cash or credit, and one even let told me that everything I wanted (only pineapple cakes) could be purchased at the cashier instead of off wrestling them out of the weak and infirmed hands of other customers who also needed their pineapple fixes. I was most impressed by how the staff and management handled the zombie apocalypse of consumer purchasing, aka. the Chinese New Year. Though a few items were out of stock - and this was related to us on a posted sign, as well as by employees upon entering. Despite some shelves being nearly empty, other employees in the back kept bringing out FRESHLY-MADE pineapple cakes- ChiaTe's signature pastry, while ladies at the check out counters filled boxes of pineapple cakes with amazing speed. The pineapple pastries are offered in boxes of 6 (NT180), 12 (NT360) and 20 (NT600). Besides PINEAPPLE, one also has other flavor options, like pineapple/cranberry, pineapple/cherry, mixed fruit, and so on. And besides the usual pineapple style cakes, ChiaTe has expanded to mini moon cakes, different flavors of beans with egg yolk in cripsy pastry, as well as sun cakes and even almond cookies. The latest thing ChiaTe was pushing was their onion cracker filled with an oreo-like white filling. Employees were even giving us samples while we waited in line. After spending almost the entire morning at ChaiTe, witnessing other customers take away their purchases by push carts, or banging their way out of the store with half a dozen bags dangling from each arm, yours truly - boasting an IQ of something inbetween a reused beer coaster and a pair of toenail clippers - purchased LESS THAN NT2000 worth of pineapple cakes. Don't make the same mistake I did.

ChiaTe should be the first brand you think of when you think of "best gifts to give from Taiwan". I've actually always been a fan of Sunny Hills instead (about a 10 minute walk from this location) but ChiaTe definitely appeals to the common people and have a lot more variety in flavors and pastries. I came here on a chill weekday, expecting nobody. Nope...lots and lots of people! Resulting in a controlled fashion of a line, which I waited for about 15 minutes. This place is literally like a mini factory- as people are crazily grabbing things off the shelf, the ladies come out with more trays of hot pastries and fresh items. There are different categories to choose from: -"cakes" or "酥" (which they are known for) -"cookies" or "餅" (which are also famous) -pastries (i.e.: bread, egg tart, moon cake, honey bread etc) Then these categories are further divided into flavors and types...which you lol have to discover for yourself! Luckily there is English, for my non-Mandarin friends, and they also tell you on the labels how many days these can be preserved for. (Usually between 5 days-1 month) People love giving these as gifts, so if you have no idea what to get, they have prepackaged boxes of single flavors (pineapple, cranberry, egg yolk) by the cashiers. Aka, skip the shopping and go straight to one of the five cashiers. I highly recommend these items: -Cranberry cake (蔓越莓) -Pineapple cake (鳳梨酥) -牛奶酥餅 -老婆餅 (like 奶油酥餅, but it has mochi inside as well) The egg tarts looked amazing which I will be back for!!!

It's always so packed, but they remain well stocked of all the pastries and cakes. Many times, you'll see a line out the door, but the staff regulate the customers really well and work so fast, so it will not be a long wait. Chia Te's Pineapple Cakes are THE STAPLE to buy here, many tourists come here when they visit Taiwan to buy this and gift it to their friends and relatives back home. Also recommend you to try the Milk pastries, so soft and flaky!!

A popular bakery, ChiaTe rose to fame when it won awards in pineapple cake contests. This is also a tourist attraction for many foreign visitors... you often see busloads of Chinese and Japanese tourists invade this small shop. At times, the bakery will limit and monitor traffic to ensure everyone has breathing room here. If you're getting the same item in large quantities (box of 6, 12, or 20), just go up to the register to order and pay. They have 3-4 checkout lines, some accept credit card and cash. If you want to try various items, you can mix and match in various boxes too. Aside from the famed pineapple cakes, they also have bread, Cantonese moon cake, various traditional cakes, wedding cakes, nougat candy. Recommend: 原味佳德鳳梨酥 Pineapple Pastry 蔓越莓鳳梨酥 Cranberry Pineapple Pastry 鳳黃酥 Pineapple & Egg Yolk Pastry 老婆餅 Wife Cake This bakery has only one location, but you can get select products (boxed pineapple cakes) at 7-11 in Taipei Station, Taoyuan Airport, and ShongShan Airport. If you can't make it to the shop, can check out those 7-11 to see if they have the pastries in stock when you have a layover. Overall, ChiaTe makes good pineapple cakes, but I wouldn't say they are the best. After all, Taiwan is known for pineapple cakes, and there are many bakeries/shops that make good pineapple cakes too. Dock a star for the chaotic shopping experience in the crowded shop. TIP: 1. The pineapple cakes make great souvenir/gift travelling from Taiwan. To maximize luggage space, you can pack 7-8 cakes into the small 6-piece pineapple cake box or fit 20-21 cakes into a 12-piece box if you take out extra padding. 2. Group tour visitors have the option of pack up their treats in bank box size cardboard box, so it's easier to check in as a piece of luggage or bring as carry on. 3. If you are going on your own, make sure you can carry the goods back to wherever you're staying or have someone transport you. I had to hand carry 6 large packed boxes of heavy cakes and walk for a long time/distance, not pleasant in hot humid weather. The red marks from hand carrying the pastries from Taipei back to where I stayed, after metro ride, train ride, and walking back home lasted for a few days too. 4. Online order is available for shipping within Taiwan, China, or Hong Kong. For shipping within Taiwan, it akes about 4 day to process, and they ship it out on the 3rd day of receiving the order. This is totally worth it, even with the shipping charge. 5. If you decide to go to the physical store, go early since some items may be sold out, and they can't restock.

5 stars for the food and 1 star for the service. I was in town for about 11 days and I wasn't planning on being in Taipei. The delivery services in Taiwan usually are fast and dependable since it's itty bitty country. I called once I arrived and told them I wanted to place a large order to take back to the states. The gal on the phone asked when I was leaving and I told her it would be the following Saturday. She advised I call the following week since the products have a 2 week expiration period. The following week I called 6 days before I was leaving and the gal on the phone confirmed a Monday delivery. WTF. I'm leaving Saturday!! I told her I called the previous week and the gal advised calling that specific day. I was soo irritated. Since they are so busy she was completely unhelpful. They don't take credit card for their pre orders so not having a Taiwanese bank account is a royal pain in the arse. She told me to find some private shopping service instead but wouldn't refer me or give more details. I ended up making a trip up to Taipei for 4 hours just to pick up their darned pastries and to run an errand. Ridiculous.

Great spot to pick up goodies to bring home! Whether it's pineapple cakes, milk buns, or other pastries, Chia Te is great because everything is packaged nicely for you. The other great thing is they take credit card so go crazy!

Omg. This place is lit. Best place for wife cake. I haven't ate the pineapple cake yet, but the wife cake is definitely worth buying. I'm so sad it only last 5 days and I can't take it back home with me. The filling inside has a mochi kind of texture. It's not overly sweet and the outside is very flaky. The pineapple cakes last for 40 days. The place is packed and filled with customers. The cost is also very reasonable. I just wish they have a store in LA. Do not missed this place!

I didn't know that a pineapple cake establishment could be so popular on a weekday, but that's what my visit showed me. Chia Te has a good variety of Taiwanese baked goods and is famous for their pineapple cakes that are reasonably priced: - Pineapple Cake - Wife Cake (mochi/sugar inside) 30NTD each/ 180 NTD for a box of 6 - Sun Cake (sugar inside flakey outside)30NTD each/ 180 NTD for a box of 6 - Green Onion Nougat (this was actually so good) - Red Bean Mochi Cake (red bean, mochi, pork sung inside flakey outside) Here's a rundown to my visit: 1. When you arrive, you would wait in line (it goes by fast). 2. They hand you a slip of paper for bulk ordering at the counter when you get to the door. If you prefer to try items individually, you also have the option of purchasing individually, they are affordable and cost anywhere between 25NTD to 35 NTD. If you purchase 6 of the "cakes", they pack it in a gift box for you so you can "mix and match" so to speak. The pricing is comparable to buying bulk so you are able to actually do so without losing money. 3. After you've made your selection, you can wait in designated lines to check out, these go pretty quickly. There are two types: cash or credit (which I believe accepts debit as well). Let me just say that, after visiting Taiwan for about a week, this is the first place that I've actually been able to use my Visa. 4. You can request small paper gift bags. You have to pay additional 10NTD (?) for a bigger plastic bag if you need it. And that's all folks! This was a fun and well organized experience, and I would definitely return for more! Cheers!

Number one pineapple cake in Taiwan? Pretty darn close. Pineapple cakes galore. I'm more of a classic 鳳梨酥 girl myself, although a lot of my friends prefer the egg yolk (meh) but those are illegal to bring back overseas (ahem). Come on a weekday when the lines don't go out the door. I came on a weeknight and the lines were short but took forever for each person to pay. They accept card for purchases over 600NT, I believe, but my only credit card that didn't charge for international transactions was American Express, which they don't take, FYI. So I feebly handed over a crisp 1,000 NT bill for my 45 pineapple cakes, which came out to be about 990ish NT. These pineapple cakes are definitely a little more expensive than other brands. The buttery cake, the chewy sweet interior, nothing can compare. In my opinion, while these pineapple cakes are KILLER and delicious, I do prefer the brand I grew up on: 李鴶. You can find both brands originated in Keelung, Taiwan. My mom explained to me that 佳德 split off from their original 李鴶. Next trip to Keelung will have to be a pineapple cake tour, for sure.

Heard about this place while we were visiting Taipei, was told their pineapple was one the best on the island to bring back as gifts. A little bit of a wait to get inside the shop. But once inside everything was easy and everyone was friendly. Got around 12 boxes of pineapple cakes as gifts Enjoy

If you are visiting Taiwan, you have to try all the pineapple cakes while you are there. This would be one of the shops you must try. Their regular pineapple cakes are my favorite. I also tried their pineapple with cranberries, which is also not bad. The plum one is a no-no, I did not enjoy this one because it is salted and sour plum and not sweet. Additionally, there is one with some type of nuts, I did not enjoy this one neither because I felt like the outer shell didn't go well with the nuts. Their milk cakes are pretty good too. The pastry is flaky and has a thin layer of milk custard in the center. I still prefer Sunny Hills over Chia Te but this bakery is the most famous.