What are some popular dishes?

Taiwan is world-renowned for its food due to a unique blend of diverse culinary influences—primarily from southern Chinese, Japanese, and indigenous traditions—coupled with a deep-rooted, affordable, and highly popular night market culture. The island's subtropical climate offers abundant fresh seafood, produce, and a passionate "snacking" culture Here are some popular dishes to try around Taiwan!

• Beef Noodle Soup: A rich broth with tender beef and handmade noodles. Renowned spots include Liu Shandong Beef Noodles and Lin Dong Fang.

• Minced Pork Rice: Fatty, savory pork braised in soy sauce served over rice, often considered a national dish.

• Soup Dumplings: Din Tai Fung is famous for these, offering flavors like pork, truffle, and crab.

• Pepper Buns: Crispy, savory buns baked in a clay oven. The most famous stall is at the entrance of the Raohe Night Market.

• Taiwanese Breakfast: Try egg crepes, crullers, and hot soy milk at Fu Hang Dou Jiang.

• Stinky tofu (chòu dòufu): is a famous Taiwanese fermented street food known for its intensely pungent aroma and its savory, mild taste. It is fermented in a brine of vegetables and milk, then typically deep-fried until crispy, served with pickled cabbage and spicy sauce.

• Fried Chicken: Extra-large, crispy chicken cutlets at Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken in Shilin Night Market.

• Oyster Omelet: A savory mix of eggs, oysters, and sweet potato starch.

• Guabao (Pork Belly Bun): Often called the "Taiwanese burger," featuring tender pork belly, peanuts, and cilantro.

• Shave Ice: Mango shave ice is a popular treat.

• Taiwanese pineapple cake: a popular, iconic pastry featuring a buttery, crumbly shortbread crust filled with sweet and tangy pineapple jam. Originating in the 1920s in Taichung, it is a beloved souvenir and wedding gift symbolizing prosperity. Key varieties often blend pineapple with winter melon for texture.

• Taiwanese peanut ice cream roll: a popular night market street food, particularly famous in Yilan County, featuring peanut brittle shavings, scoops of taro or peanut ice cream, and cilantro wrapped in a thin popiah crepe. It offers a unique mix of sweet, savory, and fresh flavors with a chewy, crunchy texture.

• Taiwanese nougat: is a popular, soft-textured candy characterized by its intense milky flavor, achieved by adding milk powder, unlike traditional European versions. It is commonly made with roasted nuts (almonds, peanuts), butter, and sometimes dried fruits, offering a chewy, non-sticky experience.

• Taro balls: found in Jiufen region in Taiwan, these are an iconic, chewy dessert made primarily from mashed taro root and tapioca flour. They are celebrated for their natural earthy flavor, purple or gray color, and a bouncy, "QQ" texture—a Taiwanese term for pleasantly chewy food.

• Tofu Pudding: Soft tofu dessert served with peanut, taro, or boba in syrup.

• Popular strawberry mochi (daifuku) on Dihua Street: A must-try seasonal street food, featuring fresh, juicy strawberries wrapped in red bean paste and soft, chewy mochi. Famous spots include Ruli Strawberry Daifuku (No. 19, Sec. 1) and Lin's Wagashi (No. 247, Sec. 1), known for long lines and high-quality, made-to-order treats.

• Taiwanese sausage (Xiang Chang): A staple night market snack, known for its sweet, fatty pork flavor, often served on a stick or as "small sausage in large sausage" (大腸包小腸) with sticky rice, garlic, and sauces.

• Candied fruits, known as Tanghulu (糖葫芦): A must-try Taiwanese night market treat featuring skewers of fruit dipped in a crunchy, glossy hard candy coating. Popular varieties include cherry tomatoes, strawberries, and grapes, with modern, innovative stalls even offering unconventional items like cucumber.

• Bubble Tea: originated in Taiwan in the 1980s as an innovative blend of local tea culture and chewy, sweet tapioca pearls. It became a cultural icon due to its unique, customizable texture, affordability, and the invention of the sealing machine, which made it a portable, convenient "grab-and-go" drink.

  Where to find Bubble Tea in Taiwan:

  The best bubble tea in Taiwan ranges from iconic, historic brands to high-quality modern chains, with top recommendations including Chun Shui Tang (the original bubble tea), 50 Lan (reliable local favorite), Milksha (creamy milk), Xing Fu Tang (brown sugar), and high-end tea specialists like Chagee and Kebuke. Most of these places have multiple locations across Taiwan so it's easy to try a few different ones!

  Top Must-Try Chains:

  • Chun Shui Tang (春水堂): Recognized as the inventor of bubble tea, famous for its pearl milk tea and traditional teahouse setting.

  • 50 Lan (五十嵐): The quintessential local staple. Famous for their small pearls, consistent quality, and widespread availability.

  • Milksha (迷客夏, formerly Milkshop): Renowned for using high-quality fresh milk and real taro paste in their drinks.

  • Xing Fu Tang (幸福堂): Known for its signature stir-fried brown sugar boba and dramatic preparation in front of customers.

  • Kebuke (可不可熟成紅茶): Highly praised for its mature, rich black tea flavors and aesthetic vintage-themed branding.

  • Guiji (龜記茗品): Known for using high-quality premium tea leaves and refreshing citrus fruit tea varieties.

  • Wanpo (萬波島嶼紅茶): Famous for its nostalgic, traditional tea flavors and creative toppings like mung bean and grass jelly.

    Unique & Specialized Spots:

    • Da Ming (大茗本位製茶堂): A standout for premium, high-quality oolong and milk-infused teas.

    • One Zo (丸作食茶): Known for making its own colorful, fresh pearls hourly.

    • Chagee (霸王茶姬): A premium brand focusing on fresh tea, famously known for its fresh milk tea.

    • Oolong Tea Project (台灣烏龍計劃): A highly rated spot focusing heavily on premium oolong tea quality, often considered top-tier.

    • Macu Tea (麻古茶坊): Renowned for their fruit teas and "drinkable desserts" like mango pomelo sago.

    • Yimu Ri (一沐日): Famous for its unique toppings like "fen guo" (jelly cakes) paired with specialty teas like buckwheat.