The most famous souvenir for tourists visiting Taiwan is undoubtedly the ubiquitous pineapple cake, a rectangular pastry found throughout the country. However, one particular pineapple cake vendor boldly claims to offer the most delicious pineapple cake in all of Taiwan.

Sunny Hill Restaurant boasts an opulent and elegant ambiance, befitting its high-end reputation. Upon entering, attentive waitresses escort guests to a communal table, where they are served refreshing tea and a slice of pineapple pie each.

Pineapple pie and tea served by the waitress.

Upon receiving the pastry and tea, the first thing I did was to smell the tea to cleanse my nose of any other lingering scents. After a while, I unwrapped the pastry, broke it in half, and smelled it. This pineapple pie from this shop has no butter smell, which is understandable as it is not a main ingredient in the product, as it is based on an old, traditional recipe.

The dough has a good texture, not too crispy but not too soft either. It has a crumbly texture that holds together well. The pineapple filling is thick and fibrous.

The pie crust had a distinct floury taste, indicating a minimal amount of butter was used. The pineapple filling was intensely flavored, suggesting it was made solely from pineapple with no added sugar. The texture was firm but not overly chewy.

Ambiance inside the pie tasting room

In addition to pineapple pies, there are other products available, especially pineapple juice. This is because the shop has its own pineapple plantation, and the special planting methods are clearly described on the website http://www.sunnyhills.com.tw.

The price per piece is around 40 baht, with packages containing 8 or 10 pieces. This is considered quite expensive compared to other pineapple cakes sold in Taiwan. However, the packaging makes it a suitable gift for elders, allowing the giver to proudly present it.

Getting to Sunny Hill is easy. Take the Green Line MRT to Songshan Station (G19). Then, open Google Maps and search for "Sunny Hills." Follow the directions and you will see the park and the restaurant next to it. It's a simple journey.

#taiwan#taipei#sunny hill
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