The 12 Best Foods We Ate in Taiwan: A Culinary Journey

Welcome to Taiwan, the ultimate food mecca! Known for its diverse and flavorful cuisine, influenced by its rich history, geographical location, and multicultural population, Taiwan is truly a food lover's paradise. From bustling night markets to Michelin-recommended eateries, the island's culinary landscape offers a unique blend of Chinese, Japanese, and indigenous flavours. Here are the 12 best things we ate during our gastronomic adventure across Taiwan. While these dishes can mostly be found all across the country, we will also tell you the best spot we tasted each.

1. Best Xiao Long Bao in Taiwan (Soup Dumplings) 

Possibly what Taiwan is most famous for, Xiao Long Bao has gained worldwide fame, thanks to Din Tai Fung. The best we tasted was surprisingly not at that chain, but at Hang Zhou Xiao Long Bao in Da'an, a Michelin Bib Gourmand-recommended eatery. This restaurant advertises on its website as having the best Xiao Long Bao in Taiwan, and turns out they aren’t wrong.

These dumplings boast a flavorful but delicate broth and perfectly thin skins. Don't miss the self-serve station to create your own vinegar and soy dipping sauce and grab a cold beer from the adjacent fridge.

2. Best Beef Noodle Soup in Taiwan

What is widely considered the national dish of Taiwan, Beef Noodle Soup is a must-try when visiting this country. Our top bowl was from Zun Pin Yuan Zhi Beef Noodle in Taichung, offering customizable options like 3 different noodle thicknesses and various cuts of beef. We opted for the spicy broth which was so flavorful, and simply irresistible.

The chef even came by to ensure the soup was not too spicy for us to eat, and offered to adjust it if it was. While we declined that offer, we did accept his kind offer to top up our quickly depleting bowl with more broth.

In Taipei, the best bowl was found at Yongkang Beef Noodles, which we found in the most organic way possible: we saw a large queue and joined in. Here, the beef melts in your mouth and the broth is a rich, dark red delight.

3. Millet Donuts

Imagine a donut, but even more delicious. Made from millet, an ancient grain with benefits such as being gluten-free and high in protein, these donuts are light, fluffy, and utterly addictive. At first sight they look like regular old plain donuts, but when we saw a huge line outside of 脆鮮奶脆皮甜甜圈總店 in Ximending, we finally took the hint and tasted one of the best treats of our life.

4. Deep Fried Sweet Potato Balls

We were intrigued by these sweet treats at night markets across Taiwan. Contrary to our initial expectations of a dense sweet potato filling, these are light and fluffy hollow balls, perfect for snacking on. The best ones we tasted were at 小8三色地瓜球 in Feng Chia night market, Taichung. Their tri-colour version resembles little poke balls, making them both delicious and visually appealing. The fact that such amazing foods are available at night markets everywhere for such affordable prices is what makes Taiwan cheap to visit.

5. Scallion Pancake

A classic Taiwanese staple, and easily one of the top 5 most popular Taiwanese dishes, Scallion Pancakes can be found everywhere with various topping options available. Our favourites were from Tian Jin Onion Pancake, located conveniently near the original Din Tai Fung location. We were however split on which version was best, plain, or loaded with egg and cheese, so probably best you try both.

6. Deep Fried Cabbage Roll

A delicious twist on the traditional spring roll, this giant deep-fried delight is messy to eat but oh so worth it. We tasted this at the Ita Thao street market in Sun Moon Lake, and it was an unforgettable experience.

7. Garlic Bread

Sometimes simple is best. The garlic bread from Family Mart is usually waiting for you in a warm display case right out front. It is fluffy, flavorful, and a perfect snack on the go.

8. Lou Rou Fan Noodles

Lou Rou Fan, or braised pork rice, is a beloved Taiwanese dish. While rice is often considered the staple food of Taiwan, in Jiufen, we found a unique twist on this dish with the stewed pork served on top of noodles instead. This was at Fishball Bozai, and it was so tasty that after finishing our bowls, we ordered some more to take back to the hotel for a late-night snack.

9. Dorayaki 

A simple and perfect dessert, Dorayaki features your choice of ice cream sandwiched between two freshly made mini pancakes. We found this treat wandering down the old street in Jiufen.

10. Best Bubble Tea in Taiwan

The question is not what do the Taiwanese eat every day, but what do the Taiwanese drink every day? No trip to Taiwan is complete without trying Bubble Tea. Our only disappointment was discovering that options for the lactose intolerant are limited, with only 1 of 20 shops we frequented offering alternative milk.

The best version was in Jiufen at Xing Fu Tang, where the boba are fresh and scooped out of a large cauldron, and the specialty version is made by torching brown sugar on top of the iced tea, so it tastes like you are drinking a creme brule. 

11. Pork Chop with Egg Fried Rice

As pork is the most eaten meat in Taiwan, of course this classic pork chop dish would make our list. Though we were introduced to this dish by Din Tai Fung, the best version we had was actually at Qin Yuan Chun in Taichung, a Michelin Bib Gourmand spot. The pork chop appeared crispy on the outside, but was actually incredibly soft, and it paired perfectly with the flavorful fried rice.

12. Coco Curry House Japanese Curry

Available in nearly every 7/11, this dish features rice, a breaded pork cutlet, and the key ingredient: a dark, flavorful Japanese curry sauce. Grab a beer, have the cashier heat it up for you, and enjoy this cheap and tasty meal right in the convenience store.

Best Foods in Taiwan Conclusion

So why is the food in Taiwan so good? Perhaps it’s the confluence of different cuisines or the strong food culture? We can’t stay for sure, we just know that it is a food lover's paradise. Whether you're a foodie or just looking to experience the local cuisine while you enjoy the beautiful scenery, Taiwan has something delicious to offer everyone, making it a must-visit destination.