16 Interesting Taiwanese Food And Drinks To Try At Home

Taiwanese cuisine features some stand-out dishes which have gained global popularity, carrying simple back-alley vendors to international acclaim. To say that noodle dishes are popular in Taiwan is an understatement – there are countless types of noodle dishes in Taiwan waiting to be savored. Even regional varieties within Taiwan range from Nantou slender noodles to hot Hsinchu noodles.

There’s a dizzying array of pastries and desserts for those with a sweet tooth in Taiwan. Aboriginal millet cakes are lightly sweetened and make great snacks, and Hakka glutinous rice cakes are among the tastiest. Cool icy desserts are like shaved ice topped with fruits and jelly drinks and pearl milk tea. The list of great Taiwanese foods you should try on your trip goes on and on.

1. Slender Noodles with Oysters

Also known as o-a-mi-suann, these noodles are usually cooked in a starchy soup and topped with fresh oysters. The noodles are almost translucent, and while most would expect to eat them with chopsticks, just a spoon would suffice because it is easier to eat them using a single hand. You can find a wide variety of slender noodles with oysters at night markets – most are sold in small Styrofoam bowls with plastic spoons.

2. Homemade brown sugar bubble tea

Boba tea, also known as bubble tea, originated in Taiwan and is a delightful treat of (often milky) tea with chewy tapioca pearls at the bottom. Recreate your own at home by whipping up a brown sugar syrup for the boba and mixing it with a creamy black tea. Get an https://quenchlist.com/ and start preparing.

3. Deep-fried Chicken with Seasoning

This may look like common fried chicken, but Taiwanese deep-fried chicken with seasoning is a great-tasting local street snack. The vendor will cook the chicken, cut it into bite-sized pieces, and cover it with various seasoning powders. Some like it hot and will request more chili powder seasoning.

4. Ice Mango and Sago

The ice mango and sago dessert is a delicious and refreshing dessert found at most night markets and roadside stalls. Flavored shaved ice is placed in a bowl and topped with succulent pieces of golden yellow mango, sweet sago, and other types of fruit. Some even ask for fruit syrup or sauces drizzled on the ice for added flavor.

5. Oyster Omelette

Oyster omelette is one of the yummiest must-try street foods in Taiwan. Most travelers will have at least half a dozen plates of this delicious, decadent goodness during their trip to Taiwan. The dish is typically made from many eggs, oysters, flour, starch, and other ingredients to create a perfect omelette, which is then covered with a light gravy. Some even eat it with spicy chilli sauce on the side.

6. Pearl Milk Tea

The popularity of pearl milk tea has spread from Taiwan to all parts of Asia and much of the world. All sorts of flavored milk tea are offered at drink stands and are topped with starchy balls made from flour, jelly, and sometimes cut fruits. This is the perfect drink to wash down your food when visiting one of the many night markets in Taiwan.

7. Braised Pork in Sliced Buns

Also called gua bao, this braised pork dish is a popular snack food in Taiwan. It’s often compared to a type of Taiwanese “burger.” The buns are soft and fluffy bread, not unlike a thicker version of pita bread. Filled with pork and vegetables, the braised pork in sliced buns is a delight to eat when you’re in a hurry.

8. Hotpot

The hotpot is regarded as a family dish that’s always eaten in the company of many people. Many Taiwanese view this as a community where relationships can be fostered while eating from a common clay pot. The dish contains many ingredients, such as meat, vegetables, and seafood – all cooked in a clear, simmering soup and eaten with rice.

9. Meatball Dumplings

Also known as bawan, these meatball dumplings can pack a lot of punch once you put a single one into your mouth. The dumplings can be fried or steamed and are usually sold on the streets and at night markets. You can request to have them cut up into small pieces and dipped in sweet or spicy sauce.

10. Light Taiwanese Congee

Light Taiwanese congee is often eaten with ingredients like century eggs, preserved salted duck eggs, and pork floss. The congee is light and delicious and is often eaten for breakfast or supper.

11. Candied Fruit Sticks

A delight for both kids and adults, candied fruit sticks are always sold at night markets. The dizzying array of fruits on sticks is easy to spot. It’s a delightfully simple snack – just fruits like strawberries, grapes, and kiwis that are caramelized and then stuck on sticks.

12. Ai-yu Jelly

Ai-yu jelly is a much-loved dessert found predominantly in Taiwan. The jelly is always served cold, with shaved ice, squeezed lime, and fruits. This gives it a sweet and sour flavor that will refresh your taste buds and quench your thirst simultaneously.

13. Drunken Chicken

Drunken chicken dishes in Taiwan are usually infused with Shaoxing wine. Some restaurants even serve these dishes with lots of herbs and spices – the perfect combination for those who are health conscious and don’t like lots of fried and oily street food.

14. Beef Noodles

Beef noodles are a popular staple food in Taiwan. They could be cooked either in a hot and spicy or mild and soupy style, meaning that there’s a good alternative for those who dislike spiciness in their food. The beef is usually tender, having been marinated and braised beforehand.

15. Stinky Tofu

Stinky tofu is typically fermented soybean curd sold at most, if not all, night markets. The vendors will often fry the fermented tofu and drizzle it with hot, sweet, and spicy sauce before serving it to customers waiting in line.

16. Mangrove Crab Porridge

Mangrove crab porridge is the ideal thing to eat during a rainy evening. This dish is often offered around the outskirts of the big cities or in smaller villages at an affordable price, but bigger restaurants offer them on their menus. The restaurant versions often come with more ingredients and a higher price tag.

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