On April 6, the Taiwanese wheel cake concept, Money Cake, opened in the sprawling 24,000 square foot Tangram Food Hall in Flushing, Queens. Money Cake has locations throughout Taiwan, as well as in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Montréal – but this is the brand’s first U.S. location.
The Tangram is a mixed-use development that debuted in downtown Flushing in 2022; it is home to offices, a hotel, residential apartments, retail shops, a movie theater, a food hall and beer garden, and more. Money Cake’s Taiwanese wheel cakes are a welcomed addition to the food hall’s varied assortment of eateries which include Juqi, Zaab Zaab, Kura Sushi, Sing Choi Kee, Shoo Loong Kan Hot Pot, Cheese CrunCheese, and Mochidoki, among others.
In recent years, New York City has seen an Influx of Taiwan imports opening throughout the five boroughs like Xing Fu Tang’s brown sugar bobas, Meet Fresh’s sweet treats, and Chunky Boss’s crispy chicken cutlets. Taiwanese-focused restaurants like Ho Foods, Win Son, 886, and WenWen have also made a mark on the city’s dining scene. With Money Cake, the team hopes to popularize wheel cake snacks stateside and bring attention to one of Taiwan’s under-represented street food staples.
“As a Taiwanese-American entrepreneur, I am drawn to opportunities that weave together my heritage with the innovation and excitement that comes with entering a new market,” says Money Cake partner Michael Hsueh in a statement. “We are excited to bring traditional Taiwanese wheel cakes to New York City’s most diverse borough – but expect some local New York flavor, too!”
Aptly named, wheel cakes are cylindrical-shaped cakes that are made-to-order with waffle batter; they are crispy on the outside and can be enjoyed as either a sweet dessert or savory snack, depending on the filling.
Money Cake’s menu includes the “Taiwanese Classics” with fillings such as Red Bean, Custard, Taro, Matcha, and Cheese & Potato, as well as the “Fire & Ice Series” which feature combo-creations like Custard with Small Taro Balls; Custard/Chocolate with Ferrero Rocher; Custard/Chocolate with Oreo; Custard with Fresh Strawberry; and Custard with Fresh Mango. This location of Money Cake also features exclusive-to-New York offerings like Pepperoni Pizza and Chicken Pesto, with plans to drop new flavors monthly. In addition to the food, Money Cake also offers teas, tea lattes, and cheese foam teas.
Money Cake is located on the second floor (FH22) of the Tangram food hall at 133-33 39th Avenue in Flushing, New York. The kiosk is open Sunday through Thursday from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on Fridays & Saturdays from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
