A Taste of Taiwan

Taiwanese people are very passionate about food, and it is a large part of their culture. Eating out is extremely convenient and cheap, so many people prefer to eat out rather than to cook. So much so that there are many apartments in Taiwan that do not have kitchens. No matter where you go, you are bound to find a small restaurant or stall that has the most delicious food. 

Luosifen (螺螄粉) is a sour noodle soup that originated in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China and has become popular in Taiwan. It consists of rice noodles and a broth made by boiling river snails and pork bones for hours.  It is commonly topped with pickled bamboo shoots, fried tofu skin, fried peanuts, seafood, pork, and wood ear fungus. The noodles have a chewy but firm texture, and the soup is a little spicy, sour, and tangy. This dish can be found at the LeHua Night Market, and you can pick which meat you would like to put in it. There is also an option not to include any meat. 

Another one of Taiwan’s famous noodle soups is the beef noodle soup. It is made of braised or stewed beef, beef broth, noodles, and green onions. It is often served with cold side dishes such as tofu and century egg. Depending on the restaurant you eat at, the soup can be mildly spicy or not spicy at all. As the beef is stewed for an extended period of time, it is extremely tender and soft. It feels as though it is dissolving in your mouth. The portions are quite big, so they fill you right up. 

Douhua is a dessert made of tofu. It is translated as tofu pudding or soybean pudding, and it can be found in night markets, restaurants, and small shops. The most popular is the plain white douhua. You can mix and match many toppings and different types of syrup to make it more interesting. Some of the most popular toppings include red beans, chewy taro balls, sweet potato balls, grass jelly, and tapioca pearls. This dessert can be very light and refreshing on a hot and humid summer day. 

A drink that is found in every corner of Taiwan is bubble tea. On every street, there is at least one bubble tea store where you can buy a variety of drinks, not limited to bubble tea. There are endless options of teas, fruit teas, fruit juices, milk, and even smoothies. A popular option is the brown sugar-coated pearls. It is extremely sweet, so it serves more as a dessert than as a drink. 

Taiwanese fried chicken is also a classic snack available in every night market. It comes in different forms. They can be small and bite-sized, known as popcorn chicken, or big cutlets. They are both seasoned with pepper and salt. They are freshly deep-fried in front of you, so they are usually extremely hot. 

Scallion pancakes are another staple in Taiwanese street food. They are fluffy pancakes made with dough and scallions. There is commonly an option to choose to include fillings such as eggs and cheese. They are also served freshly made, so they are extremely crispy and delicious. 

The dishes mentioned above are only a few of the many delicious foods that you can enjoy in Taiwan. There are countless dishes that you can have, so you will never be tired of eating. Eating is one of the most popular activities enjoyed in Taiwan by both tourists and locals. Taiwanese people brave the scorching heat and line up for hours just to have a taste of their favorite food. 

Food is an important part of everyday life in Taiwan. From filling noodle dishes to sweet desserts and refreshing drinks, there is always something new to try. Night markets are especially great places to experience this food culture, with many different dishes all in one place. Whether you enjoy something sweet, salty, crispy, or spicy, exploring Taiwanese food is a delicious way to learn more about the country and its culture.

Written by まりか