In April, I visited Taiwan for the first time and right from the start I knew I would discover many new foods. Thanks to my Taiwanese teacher’s recommendations, I was able to experience the best Taiwanese foods and discover Taiwan’s food culture, so let me share this list with you !
- 粽子 – Zongzi – Rice & Peanut Breakfast
- 雞肉飯 – Ji Rou Fan – Chiayi Turkey rice
- 肉燥饭 – Rou Zao Fan – Braised Pork Rice
- 小籠包 – Xiao long bao
- 御品元冰火湯圓 – Yu Pin Yuan Iced and Hot Tangyuan
- 豆花 – Douhua
- 花生捲冰淇淋 – Peanut & Cilantro Ice Cream Roll
- 黑糖珍珠鮮奶 – Brown Sugar Bubble Tea
粽子 – Zongzi – Rice & Peanut Breakfast (Kaohsiung) : 🥜
One of the local breakfasts in Kaohsiung, Zongzi didn’t particularly tempt me early in the day since I don’t usually eat rice in the morning. Still, I was eager to try out as much local cuisine as possible so I gave it a try ! This warm rice ball, stuffed with peanuts and topped with sweet syrup, is served with a miso soup or hot tea on the side. The texture is quite soft and chewy and surprisingly, it turned out to be quite nice. The portion was quite large and it kept me full for the whole morning so definitely give it a try, if you come to Kaohsiung !
雞肉飯 – Ji Rou Fan – Chiayi Turkey rice 🍚
This dish is the simplest thing I’ve ever seen, yet it has been my favorite since day one. Ji Rou Fan is a bowl of rice covered by marinated turkey, and topped with a sunny-side-up egg. To enjoy all the flavors, simply crack the egg and mix everything together ! You will get a delicious and tasty meal that you can easily complement with some vegetables on the side.
📍Ah Hong Shi Turkey Rice – Chiayi
📍Tian Tian li delicacies – Ximending – Taipei
肉燥饭 – Rou Zao Fan – Braised Pork Rice 🍚
If you loved Ji Rou Fan as much as I did you can also try this version called Rou Zao Fan ! This one wasn’t mentioned by my teacher, but when I saw that this address was mentioned in the Bib Gourmand (Michelin), I had to try it ! Similar in concept to the turkey rice, a bowl of rice is covered by diced braised pork. Mix everything and you will get an amazing sauce to complement the rice thanks to the pork’s savory juices. Enjoy it with some vegetables on the side to balance out the richness of the meal !
小籠包 – Xiao long bao 🥟 :
In Taiwan, Xiao Long Bao is very famous and after several tries, I understood why. All the places I went to, had amazing Xiao Long Bao, I was never disappointed. These steamed buns are filled with pork and are unmissable when you think about dumplings. To get the most out of the experience, take the xiao long bao with a spoon, with a chopstick make a small hole at the bottom so you can release the juice ! Then, eat the dumpling with your chopsticks and appreciate the juice left in the spoon.
📍 Din Tai Fung :
Renowned worldwide for its dumplings, Din Tai Fung is an excellent spot if you want to try Xiao Long Bao. With several locations across Taipei, you can easily find one close to you. Although there’s usually a long queue, the restaurants are spacious and can accommodate many people. Still, be prepared to wait, but I promise it is worth it ! Also, the menu is quite extensive so if you don’t want to eat only Xiao Long Bao, there is a large selection to choose from, as well as many desserts !
📍Hang Zhou Xiao Long Bao (Da’an) :
Although this one is less known by tourists, this spot is a famous spot for the locals, which attests to its quality ! The restaurant is renowned for its xiao long bao, but the other dumplings are equally delicious, so be sure to try several ones !
御品元冰火湯圓 – Yu Pin Yuan Iced and Hot Tangyuan: 🍧
After sharing my favorite meals, let me introduce you to my favorite dessert! This Michelin-recommended treat can be found in Linjiang Street Night Market, a very animated night market in Taipei. This dessert is made of several steaming sesame “mochi” balls, delicately placed atop a bowl filled with ice and drizzled with honey syrup. The sesame paste is runny and the contrast between the chill of the ice and the warmth of the mochi is amazing ! If you’d like, you can even request extra syrup to savor every last bit of the ice.
豆花 – Douhua 🍨 :
When I saw this dessert the first time, I immediately thought about ice cream with toppings and in a way it is similar ! Douhua is a tofu or soy milk-based dessert, to which you can add many different toppings—tapioca pearls, taro balls, barley, tofu… everything is possible! On top, a syrup is added to make it sweeter ! It is not necessarily cold but you can add some ice if the day is particularly hot !
花生捲冰淇淋 – Peanut & Cilantro Ice Cream Roll 🍨
Another ice dessert but maybe the closest one to ice cream ! Still you might be wondering Peanut & Cilantro how doest that work together ? When I first heard about it, I had the same reaction but wait until you try it out ! This ice cream roll is made peanut ice cream, topped with peanut flakes and cilantro leaves, all wrapped together into a roll ! The association is a bit strange at first but they work amazingly together. During a hot day, it is the perfect dessert thanks to the wrap which doesn’t let the ice cream melt into your hands ! So take your time enjoying this refreshing snack !
黑糖珍珠鮮奶 – Brown Sugar Bubble Tea 🧋:
I can’t talk about Taiwanese desserts without mentioning bubble tea !
This iconic drink emerged in 1986 and has since become a global phenomenon. Today, bubble tea shops are everywhere and especially in Taiwan where the number of options and recipes are endless (50嵐, Milk Cha, etc.).
Brown Sugar Bubble Tea is made with fresh milk, tapioca pearls, and brown sugar syrup. It differs from most Taiwanese bubble teas as it doesn’t contain black tea but it is delicious nonetheless. Served cold or warm, the milk mixes with syrup which creates a delicious sweet drink. It’s my favorite beverage and it is the perfect dessert after a long day of exploring the city. However, despite its Taiwanese origins, it wasn’t always easy to find a place that makes this specific drink. Be sure to check the menus before choosing a spot!
📍 幸福堂 – Xing Fu Tang
One place, where you’ll always be able to find brown sugar bubble tea is Xing Fu Tang. This dessert is their signature and they are, from my point of view, the best at making it. After you order, you will be able to see the simple yet fascinating making process. The hot tapioca pearls mixed in brown sugar syrup then added to a cup with milk to finish off a touch of sugar burnt to make a crispy topping to the milk (like creme brulée), you will see everything !
Now that you have read my inputs on the best taiwanese foods, have a look at my other travel recommendations !
