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Taipei is a foodie’s dream, with endless street food, cool restaurants, and night markets. Whether you’re in the mood for something sweet, savory, sweet and savory, or just need a refreshing drink, the city’s got it all.
Here are some of the must-tries to fulfill your food adventure in Taipei.
Breakfast
- Clay Oven Roll with Soy Milk (燒餅配豆漿) —
Crispy flatbread often served with egg or fried dough, paired with warm soy milk.
📌 永和豆漿 (Yong He Soy Milk) - Savory Soy Milk (鹹豆漿) —
Hot soy milk with vinegar, scallions, pickled radish, and chili oil.
📌 永和豆漿 (Yong He Soy Milk) - Sticky Rice Ball (飯糰) —
Glutinous rice stuffed with pork floss, pickled vegetables, and fried dough. - Chinese Omelet (蛋餅) —
A pan-fried dough roll with egg, often filled with cheese, ham, or corn.
Taiwanese Dish
- Braised Pork Rice (滷肉飯) —
Steamed rice topped with minced pork braised in soy sauce and spices. - Beef Noodles (牛肉麵) —
Tender beef chunks, chewy noodles, and a rich, aromatic broth. - Dan Zai Noodles (擔仔麵) —
Small bowl of noodles in a light broth, topped with minced pork, shrimp, and pickled vegetables. - Oyster Vermicelli (蚵仔麵線) —
A thick, flavorful soup with soft vermicelli noodles and fresh oysters, often topped with cilantro and black vinegar. - Xiao Long Bao (小籠包) —
Delicate soup dumplings filled with seasoned pork and rich broth.
📌 鼎泰豐 (Din Tai Fung) - Hot Pot (火鍋) —
A bubbling pot of broth for cooking meats, seafood, and vegetables at the table. Perfect for sharing, especially in winter. - Ginger Duck Hot Pot (薑母鴨) —
A warming duck hot pot infused with ginger and rice wine, popular in winter. - Lamb Hot Pot (羊肉爐) —
A lamb-based hot pot cooked with Chinese herbs, perfect for cold weather and believed to boost energy.
Street Food / Night Market Musts
- Stinky Tofu (臭豆腐) —
Deep-fried tofu with a strong aroma, crispy outside, soft inside, served with pickled cabbage. - Green Onion Pancake (蔥油餅) —
Flaky and savory pancake with chopped scallions, often with egg added. - Gua Bao (割包) —
Steamed bun with braised pork belly, pickled mustard greens, cilantro, and crushed peanuts.
📌 藍家割包 (Lan Jia Gua Bao) - Oyster Omelet (蚵仔煎) —
Egg and oyster mix with a gooey texture and sweet-savory sauce. - Fried Chicken Fillet (炸雞排) —
Large crispy fried chicken with special seasoning. - Fried Chicken (鹽酥雞) —
Bite-sized fried chicken seasoned with garlic and basil. You can also add other ingredients like tofu, mushrooms, sweet potato, or vegetables. - Sweet Potato Balls (地瓜球) —
Deep-fried chewy sweet potato balls.
Desserts
- Shaved Ice (刨冰) —
Shaved ice topped with fresh fruits, or red beans with condensed milk.
📌 台一牛奶大王 (Tai Yi Milk King) - Dou Hua (豆花) —
Silky tofu pudding served warm or cold with syrup, peanuts, tapioca, or red beans. - Pineapple Cake (鳳梨酥) —
Buttery pastry filled with sweet and tangy pineapple jam, a favorite souvenir treat.
📌 微熱山丘 (SunnyHills)
Drinks
Non-Alcoholic:
- Bubble Tea (珍珠奶茶) —
Taiwan’s iconic milk tea with chewy tapioca pearls. Available in many variations.
📌 春水堂 (Chun Shui Tang), 50嵐 (Fiftylan) - Papaya Milk (木瓜牛奶) —
Creamy, sweet drink made from fresh papaya and milk. - Plum Soup (酸梅湯) —
Refreshing traditional Taiwanese drink made from sour plums, herbs, and spices. It’s sweet, tangy, and slightly salty.
Alcoholic Drinks
- Taiwan Beer (台灣啤酒) —
Most popular beer in Taiwan, it’s light and refreshing taste, also comes in various fruity flavors. Honey beer is one of my favorites. - Kaoliang Liquor (高粱酒) —
A strong, traditional Chinese liquor made from sorghum. It’s often served as a shot or mixed in cocktails. - Plum Wine (梅子酒) —
Sweet and sour, made from fermented plums. It’s a refreshing, easy-to-drink option with a unique fruity flavor.
My Personal Favorites — Foods I Miss When I’m Away
- Pot-Braised Yi Noodles (鍋燒意麵) —
Instant-style chewy noodles simmered with egg, seafood, pork slices, and veggies in a comforting, slightly sweet broth. - Dumplings (餃子) —
Dumplings stuffed with minced chicken, cabbage, Chinese chives, or other vegetables, served boiled or pan-fried.📌 八方雲集 (Ba Fang Yun Ji) - Sticky Rice Ball (飯糰) —
Glutinous rice stuffed with pork floss, pickled vegetables, and fried dough. - Stewed Beef (燉牛肉) —
Beef chunks slowly simmered until tender — either in a light, clear broth with radish, or in a soy-based sauce with garlic, ginger, and spices. - Lu Wei (滷味) —
A customizable mix of ingredients like tofu, seaweed, eggs, noodles, and meats, simmered in a fragrant soy-braised broth. - Fresh Fruits (新鮮水果) —
Seasonal fruits like guava, wax apple, mango, watermelon, and more.
These are the foods I personally like as someone who grew up in Taiwan, but there’s so much more to explore. Taiwanese food is all about creativity and constant reinvention. Don’t be afraid to try, you will be surprised.
Happy eating!
Check out other travel tips for Taipei:
《Top Things to See and Do in Taipei – Explore the Capital of Taiwan》