I love Japanese taiyaki, and there are similar snacks from Japan and other Asian countries. When we went to have sum dim sum in Flushing, I found a place that sells “Taiwanese wheel cake” which are quite similar to Taiyaki, but in a round shape. It is located inside the small mall called Landmark Quest Mall. I believe they have just recently opened at this location.
They had other food vendors inside as well, but we kept on walking to find the Happy Wheelie…we were on a mission (and in a bit of a hurry). Since the mall is rather small, it was not difficult to find it.
They were located almost all the way in the back, but once we found them, it was quite easy and simple. Their menu was displayed on a large panel hanging above their grill with photos and descriptions.
They had a few that were already made and set aside, so that you don’t have to wait for them to make them after you put in your order. They had the ones we ordered, so the entire ordering and purchasing process took less than five minutes!
They had total of eight different kinds, and they were $5 per two cakes. No pricing per single cake. We wanted to try all flavors, so we decided to get total of eight but then, one of the filling option was something I was not really interested in trying (dried radish)…so, we decided to get seven flavors plus one additional cake with the same flavor.
Here are the first four: Cream, Red Bean & Cream, Taro & Cream, and Sesame & Cream. They were not too big, but a perfect snack size! This way, you can taste several flavors before you get stuffed, especially if you are sharing each one with someone else. They all had loads of filling, not skimpy at all.
The dough was light and not overly sweet. Cream filling was not too sweet either, which brought out the natural flavors of ingredients instead of masking it with sugar. Very nice! Taro was more “whipped” in texture, without much of any seasoning, again, letting the natural flavor to come to life. Sesame was grounded, almost to the point of becoming a paste, without being mushy. Very tasty!
The next four includes three flavors plus one extra of the same flavor: Oreo, Red Bean, and Taro. Can you guess which one we bought two of? If you said Oreo, you are right! I have never had this kind of cake with Oreo as filling, so I was very curious.
Oreo was the one that we could identify easily, as it was stamped in English. Others, not so easy…unless you know the each symbol stamped on top. Red beans were not too sweet, without any added sugar or sweetener, but using its natural sweetness. Again, you can really taste the ingredients. Oreo was super fun! It had two Oreos stacked on top of each other, I never had one like this before.
We enjoyed them all, what a nice little snack, and very affordable too. Speaking of which, they are CASH ONLY so make sure to bring some cash with you before you visit. I know I chickened out on the dried radish one… I hear that one is quite tasty too, and it is the only “savory” kind. The next time I am in Flushing, I should go back and try it… In a meanwhile, if you want to get some tasty Taiwanese wheel cake, head over to Happy Wheelie and get some for your and your loved ones!
Happy Wheelie (開心紅豆餅) – 136-21 Roosevelt Ave., Shop B5B, Flushing, NY 11354