Donghe Steamed Buns, Taitung | Taitung Signature Dish

Heading north from Taitung City along coastal Highway 11, past Dulan and into Donghe Township, a line of cars already forms in front of "Donghe Steamed Buns" at six in the morning. Plump white pork buns fresh from the steamer — chewy skin, fragrant filling, juicy inside — paired with a cup of soy milk or warm milk tea. This is the mandatory breakfast stop for coastal highway travelers. From the Donghe Hotel of 1954 to today, these buns have become a landmark on Highway 11.

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

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Fresh from the steamerDonghe buns must be eaten hot from the steamer — chewy skin, fragrant pork, and full of juice. Once they cool, the skin hardens and the flavor fades.

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Open early, comes earlyOpen at 6 a.m., sold out and closed when they are gone. Arriving early also means catching the Hualien–Taitung coast at sunrise — two rewards in one.

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Pair with soy milkThe shop's hot soy milk or milk tea cuts through the richness of the bun. It is the highway traveler's go-to breakfast combination.

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Buy frozen to take homeLeaving Donghe, you can pick up frozen buns to steam at home — 10 minutes in the steamer brings them back perfectly. A good souvenir.

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.

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