Anyone who’s been to Taiwan will tell you that Taiwanese cuisine is one of the best in the world, and severely underrated, too. In fact, trying out all the popular food in Taiwan is almost like a cultural activity in itself (though here’s the actual list of cultural activities in Taiwan), as it’s a mixture of Indigenous Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, and even some Portuguese and Dutch influence.
And while not as famously known, compared to its neighbours like Japan for instance, Taiwanese food is worth travelling for, particularly for treats like pineapple cake, bubble tea (both of which originated in Taiwan), noodle soup, dumplings, and Taiwanese fried chicken.
Here’s a list of what to eat in Taiwan and where to find them, with lots of vegetarian and mostly seafood and chicken recommendations, from someone who avoids most meat.
Taiwanese cuisine: famous food to eat in Taiwan
Savoury food to try in Taiwan
Scallion pancake
One of the best treats from Taiwanese cuisine is the scallion pancake, a flakey, crispy flat pancake with green onions. You can dip it in sauce, or make it with eggs or other savoury toppings.
Where to find the best scallion pancake in Taipei?
You can find them everywhere, including at night markets. The food stall known as Scallion Pancakes has great reviews and is right by the National Taiwan Museum.
Dumplings
Soft, chewy, filled with goodness, and sometimes served in soup (known as xiaolongbao): these are dumplings, and there’s a variety of them in Taiwan. Most of them are made with meat, though you can also find vegetarian versions.
Where to find the best dumplings in Taipei?
Din Tai Fung is one of the most popular dumpling chains in Taiwan, and there are a few branches in Taipei. My favourite Din Tai Fung restaurant is near the Taipei main train station, in the Zhongshan neighbourhood, where I stayed (it’s the best neighbourhood to use as a base to explore Taipei, with lots of coffee shops, top attractions, and eateries).
Taiwanese fried chicken
You don’t know fried chicken until you’ve tried Taiwan’s version: deep-fried to perfection, crispy and juicy, it comes in small bite size, like popcorn chicken, or in a large cutlet.
Where to find the best Taiwanese fried chicken in Taipei?
You’ll find some excellent fried chicken cutlets at night markets.
Stinky tofu
The word “stinky” is in there for a reason: this snack is indeed stinky, and the smell spreads everywhere. Yet, lots of people enjoy the umami flavour of stinky tofu topped with sweet sauce and fresh herbs.
Where to find the best stinky tofu in Taipei?
You can find the best stinky tofu at night markets in Taipei, such as at Raohe, Ningxia, or Shilin. The best way to explore a night market and find the best gems is to do a food tour with a local, when you’ll also get to sample a variety of things without getting full on just one item, allowing you to try multiple treats.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms make for a great vegetarian snack, and in Taiwan you’ll find a variety of mushrooms cooked in various ways.
Where to find the best king mushrooms in Taipei?
You can find all varieties of mushroom snacks at night markets in Taipei, from the deep-fried shitiake to the grilled king mushrooms brushed with soy sauce.
Noodle soup
Noodle soup is a classic comfort food in Taiwan, especially on a cold, rainy day. The most popular type of noodle soup in Taiwan is beef noodle soup, which, unfortunately, I can’t describe as I don’t eat most meat, but people seem to enjoy it.
Where to find the best noodle soup in Taipei?
- Lao Shandong Homemade Noodles is recommended by the Michelin Guide
- Yongkang Beef Noodles is known for its spicy, tender meat
- Fuhong Beef Noodles is a filling, affordable option
Taiwanese pepper buns
While most buns are usually soft, fluffy white buns filled with either a savoury filling or a sweet red bean paste filling, Taiwanese pepper buns are crispy and flaky, with a sesame-seed crust, and filled with meat. Pepper buns originated from Fuzhou, China, but are a street food staple in Taiwan.
Where to find the best Taiwanese buns?
Night markets are a great place to find Taiwanese buns. One of the most popular ones is the pork pepper buns at the entrance of Raohe night market, and the lines are incredibly long.
Oyster omelette
Oyster omelettes are incredibly popular in Taiwan, and they’re made with fresh oysters, eggs, and a starchy batter, ending in a gooey, chewy texture.
Where to find the best oyster omelette in Taipei?
Night markets offer some of the best oyster omelettes, especially at Ningxia Night Market (look for Yuan Huan Pien Oyster Egg Omelette (圓環邊蚵仔煎), it’s on the Michelin recommendation list).
Taiwanese breakfast items
Taiwanese breakfast is a cultural experience, and the most popular spots have long lines. Some of the most common Taiwanese breakfast items are fried dough sticks, sticky rice balls, soy milk, soup dumplings, scallion pancakes, egg pancakes, sesame buns, and clay oven rolls.
Where to find the best Taiwanese breakfast?
The most famous Taiwanese breakfast spot in Taipei is Fu Hang Soy Milk, located at the food court on the second floor of Huashan Market. The lines are very long and wrap around the whole market, but it moves fast. Be ready for your order by the time you reach the counter, and unless you speak Mandarin, it’s best to place your order by saying the number of the dish.
Sweet food to eat in Taiwan
Pineapple cake
Pineapple cake (鳳梨酥 or feng li su) is a popular treat in Taiwan, with a shortbread-like crust and a sweet, tangy pineapple filling. It’s usually eaten as a dessert or sweet treat, and is also popular as a souvenir.
Fun fact: The word for pineapple in Taiwanese Hokkien (ong lai) sounds like “good fortune coming”, which is why the pineapple cake is a massive cultural icon in Taiwan, symbolizing prosperity.
Where to find the best pineapple cake in Taipei?
The most popular ones are from ChiaTe, Leechi, SunnyHills, and FongDan. ChiaTe is the most popular place and has huge lines, though you can order online or purchase at other shops like 7-11. Fong Dan has award-winning pineapple cakes, and my favourite location is the Mitsukoshi department store, on the B2 floor, where you can find lots of other delicious treats.
Insider tip: Check to see if the pineapple cake has real pineapple inside, because sometimes it doesn’t and only contains winter melon, which was traditionally used to sweeten the cake. It’s cheaper to use winter melon, so some pineapple cakes might not contain any pineapple at all. ChiaTe has only 20% real pineapple, whereas SunnyHills has 100% pineapple and is therefore more tarty than sweet.
Taro ball
Taro balls are exactly as the name indicates: they’re made from taro, shaped like uneven balls, and boiled and served with sweet beans.
Where to find the best taro ball in Taipei?
Taro balls can be found all over Taipei, though the Michelin Guide recommendation is A Gan Yi Taro Balls, and it’s in Jiufen.
Sweet potato balls
A sweet, chewy yet crispy, fried dough, sweet potato balls are a simple yet very filling snack, best shared with friends.
Where to find the best sweet potato balls in Taipei?
You can find sweet potato balls at most night markets.
Pineapple buns
Despite the name, pineapple buns do not contain any pineapple. The name is simply due to the “rough” texture of the bun, similar to a pineapple, though it’s not actually that rough. It’s makes for a perfect sweet snack.
Where to find the best pineapple buns in Taipei?
You can find a famous pineapple bun stall at Raohe Night Market.
Bubble tea
Bubble tea (also known as boba tea in the US) was invented in Taiwan, so when in Taiwan, one must absolutely try bubble tea. It’s usually made with tea, sweetener, ice, and either with milk or fruit flavours, and with tapioca pearls at the bottom.
Insider tip: for a more environmentally-friendly bubble tea experience, bring your own cup and straw. Sometimes you get a discount too if you bring your own.
Where to find the best bubble tea in Taipei?
Chun Shui Tang is a chain known for bubble tea, with locations all over Taipei, and they’re known as the inventor of bubble tea. Oolong Tea Project is also a must-visit spot (there are a few all over Taipei).
FAQs: Taiwanese cuisine
What’s the most popular food to try in Taiwan?
Taiwan is known for its food culture, so there are a few popular foods in Taiwan that come to mind immediately: noodle soup, dumplings, pepper buns, stinky tofu, and pineapple cake.
Is Taiwanese food popular?
Taiwanese cuisine is a mixture of mostly Chinese and Japanese influences, and is often overshadowed by them, but yes, Taiwanese food is popular and is known for being as delicious and comforting.
Why is tea so famous in Taiwan?
Tea is famous in Taiwan because it grows abundantly on the mountainous terrains of the country, and humid microclimates and volcanic soils produce deeply aromatic tea leaves. Oolong tea is especially famous in Taiwan, and bubble tea was also invented there, making Taiwan’s tea reputation even more widely known.
