What I ate in Taiwan 😋😋
Not gatekeeping my favourite eats in Taiwan!
1. 建宏牛肉面
- It’s a small shop with indoor and outdoor seats! Super affordable and tasty with soft beef 🥩 our tour guide recommended it to us and it was about $5 sgd per small bowl!
2. Yu Pin Yuan Iced and Hot Tangyuan
- Located at Raohe Night Market, with super chewy tangyuan! After finishing the tangyuan, you can add osmanthus syrup and lemon juice to the remaining ice! Very shiok! Queue moves quite fast so just wait for a bit!
3. Cremia
- Famous Japanese ice cream but it isn’t available in Singapore so I had to eat it!! Got a double cone because i LOVE the biscuit (so worth it)! Available in accessible areas and places 👌🏻
4. TAROKING at Yongkang Street
- Unlike the name, it sells mango shaved ice and it was so good and refreshing for me! During the hot hot weather, this was PERFECT 🤩 They do use fresh mangoes but if it is not in season, they use frozen mangoes (still nice to me)
5. Pork sausage at Shifen Street
- My Klook tour guide recommended this sausage and IT IS SO GOOD. I think they handmake the sausages because i can taste the bits of pork fat, and it is SUPER fragrant! Got 2 per person hehehe
- When you walk to the railway area to get your lanterns, you can see this shop!
6. Crispy Milk Donut
- This is NOT overhyped at all! Not too sweet and chewy donut! Super yummy!
- Tip: Go to shilin market’s outlet as the queue is shorter (I didn’t need to queue when I went at night)
7. Spicy Noodle SG
- We ate this at Kaohsiung but we forgot which mall it was! Noodles were perfectly chewy and fragrant! The soup was light and meat was quite soft!
- I wouldn’t specifically find the shop to have a meal there but if you see it, can try! Especially if you don’t want to queue in SG
8. Xing Fu Tang
- The name speaks for itself! The sugar on top was slightly bitter which I did not like, but everything else was ON POINT.
- Got it from Shifen area which has NO queue! Everyone else orders from Ximending and there is a long queue, so highly suggest getting from Shifen
9. SPECIAL MENTION
- Not sure if they will have it permanently but MENTAIKO SALMON ONIGIRI 🍙 from convenience stores was CHEF’S KISS 💋
Traveling to Taiwan offers an unmatched opportunity to indulge in some of the most distinctive and delicious street foods and local specialties. One of my favorite finds was the black pork sausage at Shifen Street, which immediately impressed me with its hand-crafted texture and rich taste of pork fat. It felt like tasting tradition with every bite. I also appreciated how easily accessible these treats are, often right next to popular tourist spots like the railway area where people release lanterns. The tangyuan at Raohe Night Market became an instant favorite due to its chewy texture, which is perfectly complemented by the sweet and tangy osmanthus syrup mixed with lemon juice—a truly unique flavor combination that refreshes on a hot day. It taught me how simple additions can elevate street food experiences. Another highlight was Cremia, the Japanese ice cream rare in Singapore but widely loved in Taiwan, especially for its creamy texture and the flavorful biscuit cone. I doubled up on this treat, and it was worth it! Such moments remind me how traveling can bring unique culinary delights not found at home. For dessert lovers, the mango shaved ice from Taroking on Yongkang Street is a perfect choice, particularly during Taiwan's humid summers. Using seasonal fresh mangoes guarantees a refreshing sweet treat, but even when frozen mangoes are used, it loses none of its appeal. I also learned that timing and location matter—as illustrated by my experience with Xing Fu Tang bubble tea. Avoiding the Ximending long queues by ordering at the less busy Shifen location proved to be a smart move that saved time without sacrificing quality. This little tip can really enhance your food adventure. Lastly, the mentaiko salmon onigiri from convenience stores was an unexpected treasure. It was a quick, savory snack that packed a flavorful punch and became my special mention because of how it balanced convenience with gourmet taste. Overall, each dish brought a new appreciation for Taiwan’s vibrant food culture, emphasizing freshness, flavor balance, and the joy of discovering hidden gems. If you’re visiting, these picks not only satisfy hunger but also provide an authentic taste of the island’s rich culinary heritage.
🤩🤩👍👍