Must Try Food in Taipei


lan jia traditional taiwanese snack taipei taiwan


              Taiwan is full of amazing food, and there is no place better to try it all than Taipei.  Taipei is a city that never sleeps, with bustling streets and lively night markets, the sheer variety of amazing food here is a foodie’s dream.  Everything in Taipei is delicious, but if you want to make sure to hit the best food Taipei has to offer, there are a few things that you must have on your eating checklist.  From sleepless night markets to must try restaurants, I have scoured the streets of Taipei to experience the best Taipei has to offer, bite to bite.  Here are a few of my personal favorites.




Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle

 
ay chung flour rice noodle taipei taiwan
Ay-Chung Flour Rice Noodle


              One of the best signs of great food is a large crowd and at Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle you will find just that.  As you make your way up the alley you can’t miss the large crowd of people gathered around this tiny restaurant.  There is only one kind of soup here, pig intestine and noodle soup, so the only choice you have while in line is whether you want a small or large.  The workers have service down to an art though, so the long line goes by in a flash.  


ay chung flour rice noodle soup taipei taiwan
Pig intestine and noodle soup


With a bowl of soup in your hand you can head to the toppings station where you have the choice of vinegar, pureed garlic, and chili sauce.  There are no tables or chairs at this establishment, so once you’ve prepared your soup you will have to stand with the rest of the happy masses as you chow down on this sticky sloppy goodness.
It is located near the Ximen Station on the Green/Blue Line connection.  As you walk up the stairs of exit 3, turn right and follow the road to the split and go left.  Then take a right at the next intersection and you will see it on your right.



Yongkang Beef Noodle


yongkang beef noodle taipei taiwan
Yongkang Beef Noodle


              Yongkang Beef Noodle’s soup has been rated Taiwan’s #1 beef soup, especially in the spicy broth variety, by almost everyone who has tasted it and I would have to agree with them.  The Braised Beef Noodles in Spicy Broth is one of my favorite all time soups in Taiwan.  The spicy flavorful broth coupled with the tender beef, that all but melts in your mouth, was a great surprise and is a must try for anyone traveling through Taipei.  There is also a clear broth version of the soup for those that don’t want the spice, but I can’t attest to whether it is good or not.  


yongkang beef noodle soup taipei taiwan
Braised Beef Noodles in Spicy Broth


              Yongkang Beef Noodle is located near the Dongmen Station on the Red Line.  If you leave through exit 4, take a left at the top of the stairs and walk two full blocks.  Turn right and you will see it on your right.



Night Markets


raohe night market taipei taiwan
Raohe Night Market


              Night Markets are easily one of my favorite things about Taiwan; they even top my list of ‘Top 10 Things To Do: Taipei.’  Every district in Taipei has one, so you are never to far from these wonderful markets.  Opening around dusk, the streets and alleyways that make up the markets become lined with businesses and stalls selling an assortment of different items and foods.  Taiwan is known for their easy eats and there is no place better to experience this than the Night Markets of Taipei.  As you stroll down thru the market you have the tons of food choices at your finger tips to satisfy your Taipei foodie experience. 
              

kabob stand sanhe night market taipei taiwan
Kabob stand in the Sanhe Night Market

seafood au gratin chicken wraps sanhe night market taipei taiwan
Seafood au gratin in a half shell and chicken wraps in the Sanhe Night Market

various corndogs sanhe night market taipei taiwan
Various corndogs in the Sanhe Night Market

grilled king oyster mushroom raohe night market taipei taiwan
Grilled king oyster mushrooms in the Raohe Night Market

fruit stand night market taipei taiwan
Assortment of fruit in the Shilin Night Market

dragon fruit shake shilin night market taipei taiwan
Dragon fruit shake in the Shilin Night Market

squid balls sanhe night market taipei taiwan
Squid balls in the Sanhe Night Market



Din Tai Fung


din tai fung xiaolongbao dumplings taipei 101 taiwan
Xiaolongbao dumplings at Din Tai Fung in Taipei 101


              Din Tai Fung, located in Taipei 101, is a worthy restaurant for any foodie traveling through Taipei.  A Michelin Star restaurant and once rated by The New York Times as a top 10 restaurant in the world, it has its share of glories.  The service, presentation, and food are perfect at Din Tai Fung.  The dish they are best known for is their Xiaolongbao dumplings, which are delicious and well worth the wait for a table at this fancy establishment. 
              It is located on the first floor of Taipei 101.  To get there take the Red Line to Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station and leave through exit 4.  Upon exiting it will be the really tall building in front of you.



Modern Toilet


modern toilet taipei taiwan
Tables in Modern Toilet


              The Modern Toilet doesn’t exactly serve Taiwanese food but it is still unique to Taiwan.  Taiwan has a niche for unusually themed restaurants so the Modern Toilet fits right in with its bathroom themed décor and dishes.  Sitting upon toilets at a glass topped sink or tub, you can enjoy your delicious food served in small toilets of its own and drink tea from a urinal shaped glass.  With a fun atmosphere and delicious food this unique restaurant is a must visit; if only for the pictures and stories you will tell your friends.  


dinner modern toilet taipei taiwan
Our dinner at the Modern Toilet (beef hotpot, creole shrimp pasta, cheese sticks, corn chowder soup, and chocolate ice cream).


              There are two locations in Taipei, one in Ximen and the other in Shilin.  Take a look at their website, www.moderntoilet.com.tw/en/store.asp, for exact locations. 



Quick Eats


douhua taiwan
Douhua, a Taiwanese dessert


              Taipei is full of delicious quick eats that you can easily grab on the go.  From tempura seafood to bubble teas, the streets of Taipei are speckled with great places to grab a quick bite and enjoy as a snack or combine for a great dinner.  Easy eats are not just for the Night Markets but can be found in small shops all over Taipei.


gao bao lan jia traditional taiwanese snack taipei taiwan
Gao Bao from Lan Jia Traditional Taiwanese Snack

fried crab tamsui taiwan
Fried crab

pan fried dumplings taipei taiwan
Pan fried dumplings

tempura calamari tamsui taiwan
Tempura calamari on the wharf in Tamsui

taiwanese sausage rice sausage teapot mountain taiwan
Taiwanese sausage in rice sausage on Teapot Mountain

bubble milk tea snake alley taipei taiwan
Bubble milk tea in Snake Alley

bubble pashion fruit black tea tamsui taiwan
Bubble pashion fruit black tea on the wharf in Tamsui
  


7/11


microwave meals 7/11 taipei taiwan
Microwave meals at 7/11


              Last, but not least, there is 7/11.  This may seem like an uncommon add to a must try food list for any location but eating at a 7/11 in Taiwan isn’t all that unusual.  There are more 7/11’s in Taipei, per capita, than anywhere else in the world and they all serve food.  Every store location offers a few Taiwanese foods, Taiwanese sausages, tea eggs (a must try), and a slew of premade microwavable dishes and soups that they will heat for you (and provide eating utensils).  There are also tables and chairs in each location for dinning in.  All 7/11’s are 24 hour stores and with one always near you its worth dropping in for a late night snack.  


tea egg 711 taipei taiwan
Tea egg at 7/11 (a must try; the darker the better)


What food looks good to you?  What are some of your favorite dishes? 


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