Taiwan is one of the best food destinations in the world. When it comes to culinary, Taiwan holds special place because their delicacies are delicious, authentic, and unique. Gourmet snacking in Taiwan is a fun activity you must try during your visit. Taipei is the capital city of Taiwan and it has about 20 streets dedicated to food. Taiwan is practically the island of foods. If you are foodies, Taiwan is a highly recommended place to indulge your passion.
Must try foods and drinks in Taiwan
Taiwanese culinary is influenced by various cultures. Their food is a mash up of the cuisine of The Teochew, Min Nan, and Hokkien Chinese communities. It is also influenced by Japanese cooking techniques. So here are must try foods and drinks in Taiwan:
Beef noodle soup may not that unfamiliar because you can find it in almost every country in Asia. However, Taiwan has its own beef noodles. They have their own innovation in creating the most distinctive and delicious beef noodles. It is impossible to have bad beef noodles when you are in Taiwan regardless of where they are sold. You can visit Tao Yuan street to try what the locals refer to the most delicious beef noodle in Taiwan.
Braised pork rice is an iconic dish in Taiwan. The locals call it Lurou Fan. This dish is said to be more down-to-earth and ordinary for Taiwanese delicacy. This dish consists of chopped pork belly which is slow cooked in aromatic soy sauce with five types of spices. The meat is then spooned over hot rice. The taste is sweet and salty with balance proportion. You can find it various street vendors to high-end restaurants.
Bubble Tea or Boba is originally from Taiwan even though you can find it almost everywhere especially in Asian countries. This drink consists of tea added with tapioca balls which create bubble effects. There are bubble tea joins almost in every corner of the street in Taiwan. If you are feeling thirsty while exploring the city, find a bubble tea join and order your bubble tea, there are varieties of tea flavor you can pick.
Milkfish is also a must try dish in Taiwan. You can find it when you are in Taipei as well. It is popular in Taiwan that you can even find the museum dedicated to it in Anpang. Not to mention there is also milkfish cultural festival in Kaohsiung. Milkfish is prepared in various ways. You can try it in a form of congee porridge, fish ball soup, or even braised dishes. It is best to serve with hot rice.
Pan-fried buns are also recommended in Taiwan to try during your visit. It has perfect combination of fluffy textures and crunchiness. The buns themselves are made with spongy white Chinese breads. They are pan-fried on the bottom. There is a porky filling when you break the bun. It is a perfect snack you can have when you are venturing Taiwan. It is a perfect companion for bubble tea.