Welcome to Formosa Bakery & Kitchen
At Formosa Bakery & Kitchen, nestled in Boulder, CO, the spirit of authentic Taiwanese cuisine comes alive. Founded by passionate chef Nancy, who brings over 35 years of culinary expertise from Taiwan, the take-out kitchen specializes in rich dishes like savory braised pork over rice and delectable dim sum. Each item, from the beloved cold sesame noodles to flaky egg tarts, reflects a commitment to fresh, homemade ingredients. Tucked away in an industrial area, this hidden gem offers a delightful escape from typical dining, allowing locals and visitors alike to savor the comforting flavors of Taiwanese street food.
- 4920 Pearl St Unit C, Boulder, CO 80301 Hotline: (303) 548-0049
Discovering Hidden Delights at Formosa Bakery & Kitchen
Nestled in an unassuming industrial area of Boulder, Colorado, Formosa Bakery & Kitchen serves up some of the most authentic Taiwanese cuisine you'll find this side of the Pacific. This carry-out gem, helmed by owner and chef Nancy—who comes with over 35 years of experience—offers a delightful array of Taiwanese desserts, dim sum, and comforting dishes that transport your taste buds straight to the streets of Taipei.
As you approach Formosa, you might first notice the lack of signage—don’t let that deter you! Once you step inside, a treasure trove of flavors awaits. The menu features an impressive selection of traditional Taiwanese street foods and fusion dishes, all crafted with meticulous care. Each item reflects Nancy's dedication to quality ingredients and homestyle cooking, ensuring vibrant flavors and comforting satisfaction.
Must-Try Dishes
- Chopped Pork Over Rice: A staple that encapsulates the essence of Taiwanese street food. The savory, tender pork served over steaming rice is comfort personified.
- Crispy Scallion Pancake: This dish strikes the perfect balance of crunch and chew, enhanced by fresh, flavorful filling.
- Honey Cheese Wonton: Delightfully stuffed dumplings that provide a sweet twist on traditional flavors, sure to please any palate.
- Sesame Cold Noodles: A fan-favorite that combines nutty flavors with a satisfying chew, served perfectly chilled.
- Egg Tarts: These pastries are a sweet revelation, boasting a semi-flaky crust filled with creamy custard that rivals any in major culinary hubs.
The allure of Formosa Bakery extends beyond its savory offerings. Patrons rave about the delightful pastries that evoke fond memories of childhood. From fluffy pineapple buns to rich custard tarts and sesame balls, each bite delivers warmth and nostalgia. The use of organic and natural ingredients is evident; many reviews comment on how the dishes don't leave you feeling sluggish, unlike so many prevailing options. They embody freshness without any artificial flavorings or colors.
What sets Formosa apart is not only its delectable menu but also Nancy’s warm hospitality. Diners often find her sharing stories behind the dishes, providing an intimate connection to the meal that enhances the experience. It becomes more than just the food on your plate; it's a story of heritage, culture, and dedication.
The Verdict
For anyone seeking a genuine taste of Taiwan in Boulder, look no further than Formosa Bakery & Kitchen. The eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary Taiwanese dishes, alongside deeply rooted hospitality, makes this take-out spot a cherished addition to the local dining landscape. Whether you're a longtime aficionado of Taiwanese cuisine or a curious newcomer, Formosa promises a culinary journey worth savoring.
Remember to call ahead for your order to avoid the rush and to ensure you enjoy everything this hidden gem has to offer!

always get the cold sesame noodles, egg tarts, and all the buns. Great food, weird location for this take-out only spot. Call in your order and help the owner/chef save a few pennies from not having to use the app (also gets your order to the head of her line). Sometimes large orders take a while (we have a big family) but we're always happy customers because the food is worth it!

Vacationing in Colorado. Tired of all the burgers and fried stuff. It's a little hard to find and the pickup or ordering is towards the back of the entry. The area looks like a food truck depot. The lady told us she's been in the restaurant business for over 35 years and is from Taiwan. We had the chopped pork over rice, egg custard and pork buns. All were very tasty. The chopped pork over rice is very authentic Taiwanese, just like street food of Taipei. The egg custard tarts were exceptional as well, with nice semi flaky crust. If I were to come back to Boulder, I would take out from here regularly. Homemade meals to go! Would suggest ordering ahead for pick up.

Truly a hidden gem! There is no signage but this carry-out only Taiwanese spot is so good!!! The menu is posted outside or you can take a look while the chef is working on other orders. She makes a variety of Americanised Asian dishes as well as Taiwanese street foods, dim sum, bakery sweets, and fusion foods! We tried the bbq pork buns, pork floss and green onion bun, Taiwanese cold noodles with chicken, fried pancake with pork, and the pork and preserved egg congee. Everything was so fresh, flavorful, and authentic! Couldn't highly recommend Formosa more, this will be our go-to spot when in Boulder!

This is my favorite spot for Asian food in Boulder. How is it not viral yet?! Nancy is the best. She cooks everything from scratch with fresh ingredients daily, and always tells me a little story. The food tastes fresh and does not leave me feeling crappy like other spots. It shows... the food is wonderfully flavorful and crunchy and yummy!!! Our favorites are: sesame mochi balls, sesame chicken, pancake roll, and dumpling soup. You truly can't go wrong, and you can always ask Nancy to make you something based off what she has. It's also suuuper affordable. Support this local biz and tell your friends! Don't sleep on the pastries too!! They're so delicious :)

First of all, this is not a restaurant. It is a take-out kitchen only. It is located in and industrial area on the eastern edge of Boulder, near storage units, auto repair and some county maintenance offices. It is a bit hard to find as it is part of a commercial co-working kitchen spaces for start ups, food trucks and the like. The sign on the building says Salad Grounds, which I believe is a play on the phrase, "Solid Ground" a place for several small startups. In the middle window, there is a paper menu taped up for Formosa. Enter there, call through the entry for the Formosa staff, probably just the owner, Nancy. She has cooked at Boulder Chinese restaurants for over 20 years, and the ones she mentioned I may have had a few items over the years, but both are now gone. She is very friendly and appears to do all the work herself, from scratch. We should have called or texted the order in advance (which she mentioned was her preference) so once we gave it to her, we came back in 25 minutes and it was ready. I did not read the menu carefully and will choose more carefully next time. Her egg custard tarts are the best I have had in CO and as good as the Bay Area, SF Chinatown and Boston Chinatown. I also thought the chive pork pan fried dumplings as good as I have ever had and better than most in the area. Her BBQ pork steamed buns (bao) were excellent and clearly hand made, not reheated from frozen factory made as so many are. Very authentically hand shaped. The hot sour soup was also very tasty and a very large portion. Sesame balls were very good and lots of delicious red bean paste packed into a small, easy to handle ball. There were only a couple of misses, one was my fault, I did not see that the bean paste pastry had an egg yolk in it, which I do not like. Her crust was good, it was not the same bean paste as the sesame ball and the yolk is why I only buy Harvest Festival Mooncakes with "no yolks." I have bought them elsewhere for years but will ask next fall if she makes those too. The other fail was the congee as it was more fluid than I have had in the past. Maybe we got it too early and it had not yet cooked down to porridge consistency. The flavor was fine as intended to be blander on the vegetarian version, which had taro, mushrooms and tofu skin. I will call ahead next time, check on availability of some items and try a few new things I have seen mentioned in other reviews. It is a humble little space, but she has experience in cooking and that is all she is intending to provide. She has seen what it takes to have a retail restaurant in a building in the city of Boulder.

This is a one woman band run by Nancy. The place can be easy to miss-- the storefront says salad grounds but has a giveaway Formosa bakery menu posted. We loved everything we tried! Someone had bought up all her egg tarts, but the taro bun, pineapple bun and scallion pork floss buns were well-made. She cares a lot about using high quality and all-natural ingredients. No food coloring or syrups. She makes her own taro paste! We came around lunchtime to try some of the savory dishes. Her crispy scallion pancake (wrapped around beef and cucumber) was stellar-- a crisp exterior but chewy interior and the filling was fresh and flavorful. We of course had to get the braised pork belly rice bowl-- a Taiwanese classic. This is a super filling meal that comes with a soy egg, pickled daikon and pickled greens. The pickles balanced the rich fattiness of the pork. This was a gem and we certainly will be back.

For foodies up north looking for Taiwanese street food, Formosa Bakery and Take-Out Kitchen is certainly worth a try. They probably have the most varieties of Taiwanese street food in town, including fried bread stick, egg pancake, sticky rice with meat and mushroom, pork sung and onion green bread, buns, dumplings, sesame cold noodles, black bean sauce noodles, beef noodle soup, braised pork over rice, roast pork belly over rice, and much more. They even make Taiwan style cakes, another rarity. Not a fan of Taiwanese street food? They also have a full slate of American Chinese foods. Here are their crispy pancake with BBQ pork, onion green bun, taro fruit cake and chocolate fruit cake.

This place is such a gem!!! I am so happy my husband and I found it. I love Taiwanese street food, and Formosa Bakery is one of my favorite places to get it in Boulder. The owner is very welcoming and kind. The menu has a variety of dishes, from noodles and dumplings to rice bowls and buns. Everything is made fresh and with quality ingredients. The bakery items remind me of my childhood. We had the pineapple bun, custard bun, and custard tarts. The most authentic Taiwanese bakery in Colorado. They also make Taiwanese cakes (order 24-48 hours in advance because the owner gets all the freshest local produce per cake). We will definitely be ordering a cake next time! My go-to menu is the Taiwanese Street Food section. I also like the scallion pancakes, which are crispy and flaky, and the pork buns, which are soft and juicy. The portions are generous and the prices are reasonable. I always feel satisfied and happy. If you are looking for a taste of Taiwan in Boulder, I highly recommend Formosa Bakery. It is a great place to enjoy authentic and delicious Taiwanese food.

SO GOOD! The most delicious dim sum and Taiwanese dishes all handmade by the kindest owner- Nancy. Formosa is now our favorite takeout in Boulder and I would highly recommend to anyone and everyone! Here are some dishes we loved: - green onion and pork floss bun - egg tarts - sesame balls - pork and chive dumplings: THE BEST!!! - roast pork over rice - mapo tofu

Had the Chopped Pork over Rice and it was very delicious. Pretty authentic and the price point is great. Super friendly owner. Will definitely be back.