Taiwan Food Tours

There are many restaurants in Taipei and Taichung that have made it to the hallowed culinary pages of the esteemed Michelin Guide. With a vast array of cuisines and dishes on offer, the hardest decision you’ll have is what to choose. Will it be Taiwanese, Cantonese, European Contemporary, Japanese, Indian, French, vegetarian, seafood, and innovative food? Incredibly, there are even Michelin restaurants for noodles, stuffed buns, sushi, and street food. Taiwan is a veritable Michelin restaurant hotspot! Why not get started with Ningxia Night Market in Taipei and while there make your way to the Michelin-rated stalls for Fang Chia (shredded chicken on rice), Liu Yu Zai (deep-fried taro balls), and Rong’s Pork Liver.  

There are that many more-ish street foods and snacks in Taiwan, it’s hard to make a single must-try list. Our tip? Go with what’s popular and work your way through that first. Try these local specialties on your Taiwan food tour: Oyster omelet (O-A-Tsian), beef noodles (Niurou Mian), Taiwanese burger (Gua Bao), stinky tofu (Chou Doufu), braised pork rice (Lu Rou Fan), danzai noodles, oyster vermicelli (O-A-Mi Sua), sticky rice cake (Tongzai Migao), Taiwanese popcorn chicken (Yansu Ji), and of course, bubble tea and shaved ice for the sweet teeth. 

Food is part of every day, all day, in Taiwan, so a food tour wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a hearty breakfast.  

Most local Taiwanese don’t have breakfast at home. Instead, they eat at the many breakfast shops/stalls nearby in the neighborhood or even have takeaway breakfast on the way to school or work. A staple of local life, it’s a rare person who lives without these convenient and affordable snacks. Typically, there are two main breakfasts in Taiwan; the traditional Taiwanese breakfast and a western (Taiwanese version) breakfast. Brunch is now also very popular. Choose from different types of toast, crepes, sandwiches, and burgers, served together with coffee or tea.  

We highly recommend partaking of a traditional Taiwanese breakfast during your tour and try the following at least once: Flatbread filled with deep-fried dough sticks (Shao Bing You Tiao); also served with soy milk (Dou Jiang) – a classic combination. Other favorites include sticky rice rolls (Fan Tuan), scallion pancake (Cong You Bing), Taiwanese egg crepe (Dan Bing), white radish cake (Lobok Gao), and steamed stuffed buns, and fried dumplings (Guo Tie). 

Of course, Chinese New Year is a big deal in Taiwan, and food is an essential part of all celebrations. The dishes on the table are deeply symbolic. Here are just a few: 

• Long mustard green leaves symbolize longevity 
• White radish symbolizes good fortune (due to its Hakka pronunciation).  
• Min cuisine’s signature dish is Fo Tiao Qiang which literally translates as Buddha jumping over the wall. It symbolizes that splendor is maintained for the family. 
• A whole fish promises prosperity for the new year, while a chicken symbolizes good luck. Dumplings shaped like ancient Chinese gold or silver ingots symbolize money rolling in and sticky rice cake heralds career promotion or improvements in the study.
• Meatballs or sticky rice balls symbolize the family reunion. 

Far from being a fad, Taiwan is home to vegetarian food and over three million vegetarians! Yes, there are Buddhist and Daoist influences, as well as traditional Chinese food culture, but it seems Taiwan food reflects the importance of a healthy lifestyle to locals. In fact, locals are encouraged to have one full vegetarian day every week. Vegetarian labeling of foods has also been regulated since 2010.

Every type of vegetarian is catered for in Taiwan, including vegans, so your dietary choices definitely shouldn’t stop you in Taiwan. Indeed, there are even Michelin standard vegetarian restaurants, street food stalls, right through to creative gourmet food, and bento on the train. Flavor influences abound and include traditional Chinese vegetarian cuisine to Japanese, Italian, Thailand, and Indian vegetarian food. Dig in!

Yes, anywhere in Taiwan by day is fun, however, Taiwan’s night markets will surprise and delight too. Found in virtually every city in Taiwan, it’s any wonder night markets have collectively and individually gained a reputation as a must-do activity while visiting this lovely little island.

For food lovers, night markets hold special appeal because they are really the ‘fast track’ to knowing and experiencing authentic street food and the life of locals in Taiwan. Not only are night markets a daily destination for devoted locals, but they also appeal to travelers from all over who are looking for their own culinary adventure, inclusive of including street foods, snacks, as well as popular and traditional dishes from China.

If you have more taste buds than time, make tracks for Shilin Night Market, the largest of its kind in Taipei. Add Fengjia Night Market in Taichung to your list too. It is the “matrix” of Taiwan’s night markets; a veritable maze where losing yourself in the food is easy. Take a step back in time when you visit the Liuhe Night Market in Kaohsiung with its 60-year history, or while in Keelung, explore Miaokou Night Market, the city’s most well-known and appreciated icon. And a final suggestion? Luodong Night Market in Yilan, famous for its authentic Taiwanese street food, shopping, and entertainment, should be included in your itinerary. A visit here is the perfect way to peek into the life of locals who can be found here every night.