Taiwan touts itself as the heart of Asia, and it’s easy to see why. The bustling country is full of energy; iconic night markets can be found all around the country in major cities, there are bubble tea shops everywhere with snaking queues, and sole buildings with multiple floors dedicated to karaoke are open till mid morning for those looking to belt their lungs out. The country might be rapidly evolving but definitely still has old-school charms which can be found in traditional foods, local shops, and untouched nature. If you’re planning to visit, Taipei is a good place to start because there’s always something to do and something to eat. 72 hours hardly feels like it’s enough to go through everything, but it’s good for one to get a taste.
Saturday
6pm — Ximending 西門町
Ximending is undoubtedly the heart of Taipei with street performers, vibrant nightlight, and street food stalls. If you want to start with a little bit of everything Taipei has to offer, the food sold by individual street food vendors here can get you through the night.
While crispy fried chicken is something Taiwan is famous for, don’t miss out on other street food dishes such as Chicken Rolls (雞腿捲 / chicken thigh meat wrapped in beancurd skin and grilled), and meat skewers. Most Chicken Roll stalls require you to choose a sauce like tomato, black pepper, or garlic to accompany the sausage-like dish. These sauces really give a major flavour boost to the juicy chicken meat no matter your choice.
Grilled Meat Skewers (火烤肉串) are an easy way to try out an assortments of meats such as lamb, pork, and beef. Seasoned with a seven spice powder which gives saltiness and just a little hint of chili, they make a good snack (or a meal if you decide to eat more than just a few) And if you’re looking for dessert, there’s the option of Chinese-style mochi or Chinese rice cakes (小麻糬) These small glutinous rice balls are filled with your choice of peanut, sesame, or red bean and rolled in a mixture of ground peanuts and sugar. Since they’re bite-sized, you may find yourself finishing the whole pack rather quickly.
Sunday
10am — Sihai Soy Milk 四海豆漿大王
There are a few options when it comes to Taiwanese breakfasts, but the most traditional ones usually consist of crispy egg pancakes (蛋餅), steamed dumplings/buns (小籠包，饅頭), and a soy milk beverage (豆漿).
Something which I found particularly interesting here is a savoury soy milk dish (pictured top left). Where in other parts of Asia soy milk is usually made into a sweetened beverage, the Taiwanese have also made a savoury version (lit. 鹹豆漿/Salted Soybean Drink) that feels more like a soup topped with spring onion, fried dough fritters (油條) and dried shrimp. A splash of vinegar curdles the soup, almost giving it a porridge consistency. Unlike the name, it isn’t particularly salty, but it’s a good protein source besides the egg-based dishes to start your day. Sihai Soy Milk was relatively crowded with quite a number of tourists but the food came instantly as I ordered which was a testament to its efficiciency.
2pm — Braised Pork Rice, Formosa Chang / 滷肉飯， 鬍鬚張
Another iconic dish is Braised Pork Rice which can be found all over Taiwan. The dish is simple enough most stalls sell the bowl just with rice and the braised minced pork belly. The pork belly is tender and fatty, and the braising liquid which is flavoured with star anise, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and peppercorn gives the pork a deep flavour. If you’re not that hungry, you can get a small bowl as a pick me up but if you’re looking for a something more hefty, get the larger version and add on a braised egg or some vegetables to complete your meal.
7pm — Ningxia Night Market 寧夏夜市
Night markets are a must-go in Taipei for both the experience and the food. Most night markets offer the same array of food but some have their own specialties. At Ningxia Night Market, there are both stalls which offer seats and takeaway booths, so you have the options of both walking-as-you-eat or sitting down to have a proper meal.
Besides the already-mentioned fried chicken, night markets offer foods both engineered in Taiwan and in other countries. Korean food/Korean-inspired flavours are especially becoming more popular with the increasing influx of Korean tourists. You can now find dishes such as corndogs and Korean egg breads within the night markets, adding to the variety of food offered. Staples such as as Taiwanese sausage (either wrapped with glutinous rice or just the sausage alone), meat skewers, fried squid, and scallion pancakes are always good options. Sweet options such as the Peanut and Ice Cream Roll (花生捲冰淇淋) or shaved ice desserts are also available. Come hungry and eat your heart out, but I’d suggest walking through the entire market first to see what captures your fancy before deciding on what to get.
9pm — Bubble Tea, Xing Fu Tang / 泡泡茶，幸福堂
Taiwan is the home of bubble tea, so it would be a waste if you don’t at least drink it once during a trip there. Most bubble tea shops offer the standard milk tea with pearls, but innovation has led to new flavours such as fruit teas, fruit smoothies, and milk foam teas, amongst others if you’re up for something more out of the ordinary.
Xing Fu Tang is one of the most popular brands in Taiwan and the branch in Ximending always has a long queue for a good reason. Its signature Brown Sugar Milk Tea is always the bestseller with its caramel top, perfectly chewy pearls, and milk tea which is just sweet enough. Tip: come either very early right when it opens or late when it’s almost closing to avoid the queues.
And that’s it for the first 36 hours! Watch our for the next part on how to finish eating your heart out on your trip to Taipei.