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Food lovers, there’s something new to obsess over this week! Huinyeou Waffle, the beloved snack shop in Taipei that’s made a name for itself through its irresistible Korean-style waffles, has soft-opened its first overseas branch in Hong Kong on March 3.
Founded in 2022 by Roro Yen and Blue Lan, Huinyeou Waffle was born from an emotion that Yen experienced during a time of hardship in her life, and the awareness that her homemade waffles had the ability to bring warmth and elicit happiness even in deeply sombre moments. Huinyeou Waffle’s new Hong Kong counterpart makes its local debut on Gough Street, Central, and although it’s named OOOO Waffle rather than Huinyeou Waffle, the flavours, quality, and offerings will remain the same as in Taipei.
Back in Taipei, Huinyeou Waffle’s signature Korean-style waffles are famous for their thick, crispy exterior and soft, chewy interior, available in sweet or savoury variations. In the three years since the brand launched, it has introduced more than 100 different waffle flavours, and could sell up to 1,500 waffles in a single day, speaking to its popularity.
In Hong Kong’s OOOO Waffle, Huinyeou Waffle’s unique recipe will be carried forward. Coconut milk powder is used in the batter to lend each waffle a crunchy shell and French whipped cream is used as the canvas for the sweet, richly flavoured fillings. Taipei bestsellers such as the velvety Chocolate Overload and the nutty Pistachio Courtier will speak to those with a sweet tooth, while Seoul’s Crispy Pork Belly blends the best of both worlds, combining Taiwanese pork belly with onions and Korean spicy sauce. OOOO Waffle will also offer Icy Sandos – a selection of frozen waffle sandwiches to take home!
For their Hong Kong debut, OOOO Waffle has something special up its sleeve: a ‘secret menu’ featuring the first-ever mochi waffle launched by the brand, as well as a Hong Kong-exclusive flavour! Stretchy mochi is worked into the batter for a chewy texture, which customers can then enhance through their choice of toppings and sauces. Night Market Fried Chicken Basil – the new Hong Kong exclusive – sees a signature waffle chopped into bite-sized pieces and tossed with Taiwanese chicken bites, Taiwanese fish cake, and basil sauce, creating a snack worthy of a Taipei night market. On top of that, the O Waffle – petite waffle bites on a popsicle stick – also joins the Hong Kong menu as a permanent item, with five tea- and alcohol-inspired flavours available.
Customers can enjoy OOOO Waffle’s range of sweet and savoury treats in-house at its cosy, retro-inspired shop on Gough Street – designed around its cute arctic fox logo – or have them to go as a street snack. Seeing as OOOO Waffle’s new Hong Kong location is a small space with just enough seating for about a dozen guests, we expect customers will be spilling out onto Gough Street to make the most of their fresh waffle orders!
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