Like many of its Asian counterparts, Taiwan is a gastronomical treasure when it comes to food. The streets here are lined with hawkers peddling bowls of noodles and hot soup, and small family-run eateries cook up simple yet delicious fare with the most enticing aromas. Where to begin, and how do you know you're making the best choice? Check out our guide to help you on the right track.
Pineapple Yolk Pastry
In Taiwan, pineapple pastries are popular souvenirs for tourists to bring back home as gifts. To match with the sweet tartness of the pineapple filling, a new flavour has been created that adds egg yolk to the mix to balance the sweetness out with a tinge of savouriness. Where to get it? Head to well-known heritage name Chia Te, which was established in 1975. Their pineapple yolk pastry is very popular among local and international tourists.
Chia Te：No.88, Sec. 5, Nanjing East Rd., Songshan District, Taipei City 105, Taiwan
In Taiwan, pineapple pastries are popular souvenirs for tourists to bring back home as gifts. To match with the sweet tartness of the pineapple filling, a new flavour has been created that adds egg yolk to the mix to balance the sweetness out with a tinge of savouriness. Where to get it? Head to well-known heritage name Chia Te, which was established in 1975. Their pineapple yolk pastry is very popular among local and international tourists.
Chia Te：No.88, Sec. 5, Nanjing East Rd., Songshan District, Taipei City 105, Taiwan
Tart pineapple filling in a buttery pastry shell is a popular sweet snack in Taiwan
Guan Cai Ban (or Coffin Bread)
Don't be fooled by its ominous-sounding name. The popular street snack is really a Western-style bread fried until crispy, then sliced open at the top and filled with chicken, or creamy ham and cheese. To taste the most authentic sandwich, head to the Chikan Coffin Bread stall within Tainan Kangle Market. The stall has been around since 1942, and is known for its signature coffin lid, where the deep-fried toast is coupled with chicken liver, vegetables pottage, or curry filling.
Chikan：No.180, You’ai St., West Central Dist., Tainan City 700, Taiwan
Popiah
These fresh spring rolls were a common food item that Taiwanese locals would eat, especially during Qingming festival. One of the most popular stalls hawking this popiah is located in the old area in the West district of Taipei — Wan Fu Hao, an 80-year-old signboard. Its popiah is famous among customers, and they crunchy bean sprouts, cabbage, dried bean curd, ground peanuts and parsley in the most delicate popiah skin.
Wanfu Restaurant：No.29, Sec. 2, Chongqing N. Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City 103, Taiwan
Don't be fooled by its ominous-sounding name. The popular street snack is really a Western-style bread fried until crispy, then sliced open at the top and filled with chicken, or creamy ham and cheese. To taste the most authentic sandwich, head to the Chikan Coffin Bread stall within Tainan Kangle Market. The stall has been around since 1942, and is known for its signature coffin lid, where the deep-fried toast is coupled with chicken liver, vegetables pottage, or curry filling.
Chikan：No.180, You’ai St., West Central Dist., Tainan City 700, Taiwan
Popiah
These fresh spring rolls were a common food item that Taiwanese locals would eat, especially during Qingming festival. One of the most popular stalls hawking this popiah is located in the old area in the West district of Taipei — Wan Fu Hao, an 80-year-old signboard. Its popiah is famous among customers, and they crunchy bean sprouts, cabbage, dried bean curd, ground peanuts and parsley in the most delicate popiah skin.
Wanfu Restaurant：No.29, Sec. 2, Chongqing N. Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City 103, Taiwan
Popiah is usually eaten during Qingming festival in Taiwan
Pig's intestine and oyster vermicelli
This dish is a bit of an acquired taste, but it's one you won't forget easily. A good bet is to have this dish atChen Ji, located in Heping West Road in the Wanhua District. Look out for the red eye-catching signboard. Here, the pig's intestine and oyster vermicelli are made with handmade noodles, with fresh clams from Chai Yi Dong Kong. and chewy juicy sauce pig intestine. Pile on the extra vinegar, garlic and pepper according to your personal taste. Shop opens at 6:30 am, and having this for breakfast is a good option.
Chen Ji Intestine & Oyster Taiwanese Vermicelli Shop：No.166, Sec. 3, Heping W. Rd., Wanhua Dist., Taipei City 108, Taiwan
Pig heart bean noodle
This is the comfort food dish for many locals in Tainan city. Located in Tainan city Bao'an street, Amin Pig Heart Bean Noodle always has a queue, even late at night. The secret is their soup, which is different from other stores. It comes with very fresh, sliced pig heart, plus the aroma of ginger, rice wine that is bound to get you hooked.
Amin Pig Heart Bean Noodle：No.72, Bao’an Rd., West Central Dist., Tainan City 700, Taiwan
SEE ALSO: 7 Tasty and Healthy Southeast Asian Salads
This dish is a bit of an acquired taste, but it's one you won't forget easily. A good bet is to have this dish atChen Ji, located in Heping West Road in the Wanhua District. Look out for the red eye-catching signboard. Here, the pig's intestine and oyster vermicelli are made with handmade noodles, with fresh clams from Chai Yi Dong Kong. and chewy juicy sauce pig intestine. Pile on the extra vinegar, garlic and pepper according to your personal taste. Shop opens at 6:30 am, and having this for breakfast is a good option.
Chen Ji Intestine & Oyster Taiwanese Vermicelli Shop：No.166, Sec. 3, Heping W. Rd., Wanhua Dist., Taipei City 108, Taiwan
Pig heart bean noodle
This is the comfort food dish for many locals in Tainan city. Located in Tainan city Bao'an street, Amin Pig Heart Bean Noodle always has a queue, even late at night. The secret is their soup, which is different from other stores. It comes with very fresh, sliced pig heart, plus the aroma of ginger, rice wine that is bound to get you hooked.
Amin Pig Heart Bean Noodle：No.72, Bao’an Rd., West Central Dist., Tainan City 700, Taiwan
SEE ALSO: 7 Tasty and Healthy Southeast Asian Salads
Jellied Beancurd
There are countless delicious snacks in Taipei's Ningxia night market, but Douhua Zhang has held its own for 52 years, specialising in douhua (jellied beancurd). The stall uses only non-genetically modified soybeans, and with boiled sugar cane for a natural sweetness. The most authentic way to enjoy this sweet treat is to add black sugar water, with black tapioca balls, taro balls, barley and fruits for a rich dessert.
Douhua Zhuang：No.49, Ningxia Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City 103, Taiwan
Gua Bao
Pork belly bun has a lot of aliases, such as "gua bao ", "tiger bite pig", "Taiwan burger" and so on. Recently, gua bao has become a trendy snack overseas in big cities such as London and New York. But in Taiwan, the most famous gua bao, is at A Song gua bao located in Tainan city. Try the innovative pig tongue gua bao, filled with a stewed pig tongue, plus sauerkraut, and white radish. The tongue is tender, and goes well with the tangy sauerkraut and fresh crisp white radish.
A Song gua bao：No.181, Sec. 3, Guohua St., West Central Dist., Tainan City 700, Taiwan
There are countless delicious snacks in Taipei's Ningxia night market, but Douhua Zhang has held its own for 52 years, specialising in douhua (jellied beancurd). The stall uses only non-genetically modified soybeans, and with boiled sugar cane for a natural sweetness. The most authentic way to enjoy this sweet treat is to add black sugar water, with black tapioca balls, taro balls, barley and fruits for a rich dessert.
Douhua Zhuang：No.49, Ningxia Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City 103, Taiwan
Gua Bao
Pork belly bun has a lot of aliases, such as "gua bao ", "tiger bite pig", "Taiwan burger" and so on. Recently, gua bao has become a trendy snack overseas in big cities such as London and New York. But in Taiwan, the most famous gua bao, is at A Song gua bao located in Tainan city. Try the innovative pig tongue gua bao, filled with a stewed pig tongue, plus sauerkraut, and white radish. The tongue is tender, and goes well with the tangy sauerkraut and fresh crisp white radish.
A Song gua bao：No.181, Sec. 3, Guohua St., West Central Dist., Tainan City 700, Taiwan
Aiyu jelly
Aiyu jelly is made from the unique Aiyu seed in Taiwan. During the hot summer days in Taiwan, ice jelly is the best way to cool you down. Retro outfit A-Shen Aiyu jelly ice located in Taipei Circle is a fun place to try this dessert. The store's version of Aiyu jelly ice only uses Aiyu jelly, black sugar water and crushed ice for a simple yet refreshing treat.
A-Shen Aiyu Jelly：Ln. 262, Nanjing W. Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City 103, Taiwan
Aiyu jelly is made from the unique Aiyu seed in Taiwan. During the hot summer days in Taiwan, ice jelly is the best way to cool you down. Retro outfit A-Shen Aiyu jelly ice located in Taipei Circle is a fun place to try this dessert. The store's version of Aiyu jelly ice only uses Aiyu jelly, black sugar water and crushed ice for a simple yet refreshing treat.
A-Shen Aiyu Jelly：Ln. 262, Nanjing W. Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City 103, Taiwan
AIyu jelly
Mochi
Cheung Kee Bridge Hakka Pure Sugar Mochi' snack stall has been around since 1970, serving up only toasted mochi. The owner boils the mochi in a vat of hot oil, then removes it and dusts it generously with peanut powder for a sweet toasted mochi. Meat floss and sesame are sprinkled over the chewy square for a savoury treat.
Cheung Kee Bridge Hakka pure sugar Mochi：No.12, Sec. 3, Yanping N. Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City 103, Taiwan
Cheung Kee Bridge Hakka Pure Sugar Mochi' snack stall has been around since 1970, serving up only toasted mochi. The owner boils the mochi in a vat of hot oil, then removes it and dusts it generously with peanut powder for a sweet toasted mochi. Meat floss and sesame are sprinkled over the chewy square for a savoury treat.
Cheung Kee Bridge Hakka pure sugar Mochi：No.12, Sec. 3, Yanping N. Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City 103, Taiwan
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This article was written and translated by Megan Huang. Click here to read the original version of this story.
