Donghe Steamed Buns are the signature pork buns on Highway 11, Taitung, tracing to 1954 when founder Yang Jin-dun's Donghe Hotel hired a Fuzhou chef. By six in the morning, a line of cars already forms outside; plump white pork buns fresh from the steamer, chewy skin and juicy filling, have become a landmark on Highway 11 after the buns eclipsed the hotel's original business.
According to multiple local reports, Donghe Steamed Buns trace back to 1954, when founder Yang Jin-dun opened the "Donghe Hotel" across from the Donghe police station in Donghe Township, Taitung County, and hired a Fuzhou chef to make buns as a breakfast side dish; the buns became so popular with travelers passing through that they eclipsed the hotel's main business, and the shop transitioned into a dedicated bun shop that has continued for more than seventy years.
What are Donghe Steamed Buns?
Donghe Steamed Buns refers to the Fuzhou-style pork buns sold by the "Donghe Bun Shop" in Donghe Township, Taitung County (Donghe Township is not an urban area; it sits along coastal Highway 11). The skin is thick and springy, the filling generous, and the juices plentiful. Other items include vegetable buns, plain steamed buns, and soy milk. The standout is the pork bun — about the size of a fist, filled with a mix of fattier and leaner ground pork and scallions, steamed until the skin turns slightly translucent. Bite in and the juices burst. Other old-established shops such as "Chan Ji" also operate locally, but the Donghe Bun Shop on Highway 11 remains the definitive highway landmark.
Why Donghe? Donghe Steamed Buns trace back to 1954 and the "Donghe Hotel," which hired a Fuzhou chef to make buns for guests' breakfast. The buns became so popular they took over from the main business; the hotel eventually closed and the bun shop remained, becoming Donghe Township's landmark. Highway 11 is the east coast coastal highway, and Donghe sits midway between Taitung City and Chenggong — a natural rest stop for long-distance drivers. Opening at 6 a.m. is a product of highway culture, and waiting an hour in line is not an exaggeration.
How to eat it the authentic way
Local knowledge
Verified sources (sponsored content filtered)
- Traces back to the Donghe Hotel of 1954, where a Fuzhou chef's pork buns eclipsed the hotel itself and became the main draw.
- An early-morning queue institution on Highway 11 — the defining east-coast highway landmark.
- Donghe Township is not an urban area; it sits midway on the coastal highway between Taitung City and Chenggong — a representative food of east-coast highway culture.
Practical tips
- Opens at 6 a.m. and closes when sold out — often gone by midday on weekends. Get up early.
- The quality difference between the Donghe flagship and any branches elsewhere is pronounced. Eat it on the spot in Donghe if you can.
- Parking space outside the shop is limited and can get congested on weekends. Coming with a group in one car is more convenient.
Data compiled from the Taitung County Government Department of Transportation and Tourism Development, township and village farmers' associations, and large-scale public reviews. Sponsored listings have been filtered out. Photos will be replaced with exclusive channel footage after Dio's on-site shoot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Since when has Donghe Steamed Buns been selling buns?
Donghe Steamed Buns traces back to 1954, when founder Yang Jin-dun opened the "Donghe Hotel" in Donghe Township, Taitung County, and hired a Fuzhou chef to make buns as a breakfast side dish.
Was Donghe Steamed Buns originally a dedicated bun shop?
No, it began as a hotel restaurant that sold buns on the side; the buns became so popular with travelers that they eclipsed the hotel's main business, and the shop later transitioned into a dedicated bun shop.
Is Donghe Township in Taitung City?
No, Donghe Township sits along coastal Highway 11, between Taitung City and Chenggong Township, and is not part of Taitung's urban center.
Sources
- 【台東美食】東河包子｜台11線必停老字號 — 起源1954年、創辦人楊金盾與福州師傅故事考據