10 best Taiwan food to try on your next visit

The local Taiwan food culture is among the richest and most diverse in the world. The food scene of the Asian Food Capital is dynamic, fusion and unique. Food in Taiwan is about simple, local ingredients and a culmination of influences around Asia, including countries like Japan and China and local Taiwanese aborigines. 

The gua bao, or “Taiwanese Burger” is a good example. The combination of the Fujian Bao buns and a slab of deliciously tender pork belly can now be found in almost all major cities around the world, including Singapore, Malaysia, New York and The Philippines. Other dishes like beef noodles and boba have also made their way from the streets of Taiwan to capital cities like Singapore and New York. 

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Between sampling mouth-watering, inexpensive, local Taiwan street food and exquisite, premium eateries, you’ll find a diversity of regional specialities and local dishes. Taiwanese food is savoury and often inculcates rich flavours of garlic and soy sauce. 

Although the influences are far-flung, they’ve come together in a way that’s unmistakably and delectably Taiwanese. Here’s our list of the top 10 must-try cuisines in Taiwan that will make you fall in love with the country’s rich food culture.

History of Taiwanese cuisine

The history of Taiwanese cuisine takes us back to before the 20th century. Immigration from the mainland, Southern Fujian in particular. These immigrants brought along local delicacies such as the bird’s nest and shark fin soup. 

1895 saw the start of the Japanese colonial era. During this time, Taiwan became a major food supplier to Japan. Japanese eating habits heavily influenced the food culture then, and continue to have an impact on it today. 

Then the post-World War II era came in 1945. Over 2 million settlers moved from China to Taiwan, bringing Chinese dishes from Sichuan, Zhejiang and Hunan over to dining tables in Taiwan. By integrating these different food cultures and replacing ingredients with local ones, chefs in Taiwan were able to create uniquely Taiwanese dishes like beef noodles – a Sichuan classic transformed using local ingredients. 

Today, chefs are experimenting with using Western culinary techniques on the Japanese and Chinese flavours of Taiwanese cuisine. This allows the already complex and sophisticated local food culture to continue evolving. 

Since Taiwanese cuisine is a melting pot of regional foods all over China, meals tend to be based on white rice and noodles. Most of the rice in Taiwan is grown locally, with Hualien and Taitung being the most renowned for their quality grains. White pork is the most commonly consumed meat, but chicken and beef options are still widely available. Given that the nation is an island, seafood dishes can be found in most restaurants. 

Taiwan street food culture

The best way to explore food culture in most Asian countries is through street food, traditional markets and roadside stalls. Taiwan is no exception to this. Street food in Taiwan is as part of the culture as boba tea, because of the sheer variety of local snacks available. The street food area usually blossoms after dark and late into the evening, as night markets come alive. This is when people buzz in to grab their favourite traditional fried snacks or meals to take home after work. 

10 best Taiwan food for you to try 

1. Vermicelli noodles with oysters (mi-sua 面线)
2. Braised Pork in Sliced Buns (gua bao 割包)
3. Braised pork over rice (lu-rou-fan 滷肉飯)
4. Stinky Tofu (chou-tou-fu 臭豆腐)
5. Beef noodles (Niu-Rou-Mian 牛肉麵)
6. Aiyu Jelly 
7. Pig Blood Cake (Ti hoeh koe 豬血糕)
8. Taiwanese Shaved Ice (Bao Bing 刨冰)
9. Pineapple cakes (鳳梨酥)
10. Taiwanese Breakfast

So many choices, and so little time. Let’s jump straight into our list of the best Taiwan food to try.

Vermicelli noodles with oysters (mi-sua 面线) 

This dish is arguably one of the most popular street food in Taiwan, and it’s easy to see why. This warm bowl of thin, translucent noodles topped with fresh oysters and homemade chilli sauce serves as a comfort snack for locals. If you’re not into seafood, some stalls offer other toppings including pork hocks, fish, mushrooms and even pig’s large intestine. You can find this iconic dish in almost any night market, sold in small styrofoam bowls with plastic spoons. 

Braised Pork in Sliced Buns (gua bao 割包)

The gua-bao or more famously known as the “Taiwanese burger” is a simple yet irresistible treat. Made from fluffy lotus lead buns, tender pork and vegetables, the popular street food is a great bite for when you’re in a hurry. If you’re in Taipei, be sure to try out Lan Jia Gua Bao (藍家割包), a small, traditional restaurant that serves one of the best versions of gua bao. 

Braised pork over rice (lu-rou-fan 滷肉飯)

What could be better than a bowl of salty, savoury pork over freshly steamed white rice? The lu-rou-fan is a simple yet tasty meal that can be found in most local restaurants. The meat usually comprises chopped pork belly, cooked in aromatic sauces, spices and rice wings. It is also usually served alongside pickled or steamed vegetables and soy sauce eggs. Taipei’s most famous lu rou fan can be found at Jin Feng (金峰魯肉飯), a restaurant that specialises in it. The authentic stall is world-famous, but prices are competitive. 

Stinky tofu (chou-tou-fu 臭豆腐)

Here’s a dish that’ll really challenge your taste buds. Stinky tofu is another street food classic – made from tofu fermented in a brine made from meat, milk, Chinese herbs and dried shrimp. It’s usually topped off with a hot and sweet sauce and served with cabbage. You can find different variations of stinky tofu – braised, steamed, stewed and deep-fried. The most popular (and most foul-smelling) ones are the deep-fried kind. Stinky tofu can be everywhere in Taiwan, but some of the best are sold at Liang Popo  (梁婆婆臭豆腐)  in Taichung. 

Beef noodles (Niu-Rou-Mian 牛肉麵)

Beef noodles soup is another staple comfort food in Taiwan. They’re usually cooked in either a hot or mild soup, so there are alternatives for those who cannot handle the spice. The tender beef is usually slow-cooked or braised in a rich broth and served with cabbage and scallions. If you’re looking to have some, head to Yong Kang Beef Noodles (永康牛肉麺館), one of the best beef noodle joints in Taipei, known for its rich, spicy soup. The stall is also listed in the Taipei Michelin Bib Gourmand. Be sure to head there early as there will most definitely be a long line otherwise. 

Aiyu jelly 

Besides savoury meals, Taiwan is also famous for its desserts – the most popular being Boba. But if you’re in the country, we recommend you try the Ai-yu jelly, a cold refreshing dessert perfect for the summer heat. The jelly is plant-based, made from seeds of a type of fig. The jelly is usually served with shaved ice, lime or lime and sometimes fruits – giving a uniquely sweet and sour flavour. 

Pig blood cake (Ti hoeh koe 豬血糕)

Yes, you read that right – it’s a blood pudding literally made out of pig’s blood, sticky rice, coated in peanut powder, dipping sauces and cilantro. The flavour combination might be quite foreign to western taste buds, but it’s definitely worth a shot. The sticky rice is chewy, while the sauce is savoury and tastes like pork. The peanut powder renders a sweet complexity that brings out the flavour of the broth, while the cilantro makes every bite refreshing. It’s usually eaten as a snack, served on a stick and sold as street food, but can also be found in soups and hotpots. 

Taiwanese shaved ice (Bao Bing 刨冰)

Here’s another popular desert to beat the hot and humid summers. Bao bing is basically sweetened shaved ice, ice cream, red bean, grass jelly, mung beans, and tons of fresh fruits. The most popular flavours are definitely ones with fresh mangos – especially when they are in season between May and August. The ice resembles a fluffy snow angel as it’s combined with sweetened condensed milk. Sometimes, you can get chocolate or sugar syrup on top as well. Another variation is the xue hua bing (雪花冰), which uses layered sheets of frozen condensed milk rather than flaky bits of ice in Bao Bing. Both variations can be found in shaved ice stores or popular night markets.

Pineapple cakes (鳳梨酥)

This is the sort of local, souvenir pastry you get for your friends and family at home. The pineapple cake is typically a square or rectangular short-crust pastry that’s filled with a jammy pineapple paste. You can also find different fillings like nuts or salted egg yolk, but I find the classic pineapple one the best. And because Taiwan is a major producer and exporter of pineapples, the delicious tea-time pastry is usually made out of fresh pineapple. It’s also not just a desert – the cake is a symbol of wealth, good luck and prosperity. If you’re looking to get some, the most reputable brands are Chia Te Taipei, Sunny Hills Taipei and Taipei LeeChi. 

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Taiwanese Breakfast

The last cuisine on our list isn’t just one dish – but a whole experience in itself. Traditional Taiwanese breakfast foods usually include a glass of hot soybean milk, fried twisted crullers or you-tiao, turnip cake, leek pie, steamed buns onion pancakes, and beef rolls… the list is endless. It’s heavy on carbs and eggs, so you’ll definitely feel stuffed for some time. For a traditional Taiwanese breakfast, try Yong He Soy Milk in Taipei City, near in the Ximending area. They serve a huge variety of breakfast foods while making the best classic, sweet soy milk. 

Do you have any preference for your favourite Taiwan food dishes or Taiwan street food? Let us know in the comments and we’ll be sure to include that in our next list.