A-Zen Bakery is not only popular with the locals and tourists from other cities and towns, it appeals to the palates of the Japanese as well.

A Japanese, Sadao Kobayashi, after tasted the buns of A-Zen Bakery, asked the owner of the bakery, Chen-shan Cheng, to accept him as an apprentice for seven times. He even shaved clean his hair to show his determination. Finally, Chen-shan Cheng said yes to him, and taught him everything he knew. Kobayashi opened up a bakery of his own in Tokyo on October 7, 2003 and had written a thank-you note to his master chef. The Chengs are all very pleased with this success.

Mr. Cheng remarked that his uncle and father went to Japan with a hope of becoming a better baker and made it 60 years before. Now it’s their turn to give back what they have received. This is a positive cycle of love and kindness.

Kobayashi worked as an apprentice in “Chen Wei Chen” from 2001 till 2003. He thought about using the name of “Chen Wei Chen” in the first place, and decided to opt for “Taiwan Lukang Buns” in the end. His shop is very much welcomed by many Japanese, and the Chengs are all very happy with this performance.

Photo1:Chen-shan Cheng and his  apprentice “ Sadao Kobayashi ”.This photo is in A-Zen Bakery.

(2) Elected as a Century-old Cuisine by the Wall Street Journal

Why so obsessed with the recommendations from Michelin chefs？ A food writer John Krich from the Wall Street Journal recommended a number of delicacies in Taiwan in his column, and the A-Zen Bakery was the only one bakery in Lukang that was selected by him.

Actually John Krich was invited by the Tourism Bureau to have a tour round century-old diners and bakeries. Compared with other countries, Taiwanese delicacies boast tradition and innovation, and the buns made in the A-Zen Bakery are ranked at top place by Krich.

The now 81-year-old Chen-shan Cheng, the grandfather of the current owner, Mr. Cheng, was a master chef who was expertly at Chinese and western baking. This explains why the A-Zen Bakery stands out among bakeries. The handmade steamed buns and baozi attract customers from miles away—the success of it comes from tradition as well as innovation.

Photo2: A-Zen Bakery 's signboard