There’s no shame in admitting but one of the biggest reasons for visiting Taiwan is its iconic Taiwanese cuisine. Ah… the land of bubble tea, lively night markets and delicious street food.
With so many dishes to choose from, it can be overwhelming for first timers. So, we’ve put together a list of things to eat in Taiwan — including must-eats like oyster omelette and mee sua (rice noodles).
Although most of these traditional favourites can be found in night markets in Taipei, why stop there? Hop on the high speed rail (THSR) and explore other cities like Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung — you might find more affordable or unique things to eat in these areas! For example, we tried hat-shaped rice flour cakes in Tainan and bubble tea toast in Kaohsiung.
Travelling by train is also quick and easy, here’s a simple THSR guide to help you plan your culinary journey!
So be sure to check out our video, where we’ll cover 13 things you must eat in Taiwan, including the best places in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung to get your fix of authentic Taiwanese cuisine! We won’t be able to fit all the great food into this short video though, so if you’re looking for more recommendations, the ultimate Taiwan food guide is where you’ll want to head to 😉
Top must-eats in Taiwan
From iconic dishes like braised pork rice to unique ones like giant takoyaki balls, here are some recommendations for what and where to eat in Taiwan — including things to eat in popular cities like Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. For more ideas, check out our ultimate Taiwan food guide!
*Note: Some of these places have unfortunately closed during the pandemic 🙁
TAIPEI – 0:08
0:11 – Fu Hang Soy Milk (From ~S$1.60) — Have an authentic local breakfast with crispy dough fritters and freshly prepared soya bean milk!
0:17 – Tian Tian Li Restaurant (~NT$25 – 60) — Dig into Taiwanese classics like aromatic braised pork rice and oyster omelette.
0:24 – Ay-Chung Rice Flour Noodles (From ~S$2.60) — Slurp on savoury rice noodles aka mee sua, paired with chewy intestines at this famous shop in Ximending!
TAICHUNG – 0:32
0:35 – Dody Duke (permanently closed but it was once popular for its creamy and smooth mashed potatoes, filled with toppings like sausages and broccoli.)
0:42 – Thunderball (permanently closed but we’re not kidding when we say their cheesy beefball is drenched with cheese, both in and out!)
0:46 – Overlord (permanently closed but it was famous for its tender grilled steak paired with cheese-drizzled fries.)
TAINAN – 0:52
0:58 – Da You Xing Yi Noodles (~NT$35) — Try delicious Taiwanese dry noodles with assorted braised meats on the side.
1:02 – Jinghua 61 (~NT$60 – 130) — Did someone say dessert? Cool down with a bowl of iced mung bean soup, topped with generous portions of pearls, jelly and taro balls!
1:10 – Wang’s Champion Cake (~NT$100/box of 6) — This takes the cake… literally. Munch into hat-shaped rice flour cakes with peanuts or sesame fillings.
KAOHSIUNG – 1:17
1:20 – Duck Zhen (~NT$50 – 65) — Indulge in tender slices of braised duck with a thin layer of fat under the skin, yum!
1:31 – Giant Takoyaki (NT$60) — It’s as big as your fist and stuffed to the brim with ingredients like mushrooms and seafood.
1:39 – Good To Eat Hot Toast (permanently closed but if you love both bubble tea and toast, their bubble tea toast would’ve been heaven in your mouth!)
1:46 – Royal Beef Cubes (permanently closed but these melt-in-your-mouth beef cubes are to die for.)
Flights from Singapore to Taiwan
Currently, Singapore only has direct flights to Taipei — taking less than 5 hours. Although there are non-direct flights to cities like Kaohsiung and Tainan, it usually includes a long layover period so we suggest either taking a high speed rail or domestic flight from Taipei instead!
*Pro-tip: Use online tools like Skyscanner to compare the cheapest flight fares from Singapore to Taiwan!
Getting around Taiwan
With so many food options in Taiwan, it doesn’t make sense to just stay in one area. So why not hop on a food trail across the country and find out which are the best places to eat in Taiwan? The high-speed rail (HSR) is one of the quickest and most convenient ways to explore Taiwan — it takes only less than 2 hours to travel from Taipei to Kaohsiung! If you’re confused about travelling via train, here’s a quick guide to get you started for your next gastronomic adventure.
