Exploring the culinary delights of Taipei

To truly immerse yourself in the rhythm of a city you're visiting for the first time, try experiencing activities as if you were a resident for a day. And what's essential for a long day is undoubtedly indulging in delicious dishes to recharge. Alongside the picturesque nature and cultural beauty, Taipei's culinary paradise never fails to impress travelers. During my recent trip to Taipei, I had the opportunity to accompany a friend who lives and works there, serving as our 'guide' to explore what to eat, where to eat, and what's delicious!

Taipei-style breakfast delights

When stepping foot anywhere new, prioritize dining first. After all, the culinary culture will be the flavor that keeps you nostalgic about the land. From my observation, most breakfast eateries here predominantly use Taiwanese rather than English signage. Instead, an interesting identifier is if you see people lining up in front of any establishment, it's likely a longstanding and renowned eatery in the area. We opted for a eatery in the central Ximending area, close to our accommodation.

For breakfast, we ordered rice rolls, pork and mushroom buns, egg rolls with sausage, and fried onion cakes. The main ingredients are eggs and starch, which are then fried or sautéed with oil, not too heavy but very satisfying. A typical Taipei breakfast also includes a hot and fragrant soy milk. This is the most popular and beloved drink for Taipei residents during breakfast as it is healthy and goes well with deep-fried dough sticks.

Enjoying European-style brunch

Toasteria Cafe

This is a highly acclaimed and bustling cafe in Taipei. The store's design blends classic and modern Mediterranean styles with three floors, each featuring large windows flooding the space with light, overlooking the bustling Xinyi Road. More than just a cafe, it's a place where you can enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner with dishes from Egypt, Greece, Spain, France, Italy,... all together creating a dreamy Mediterranean dining atmosphere.

We ordered 3 main dishes along with a fragrant cup of jasmine tea.

Although prices are slightly higher compared to local Taiwanese food, the flavors are exceptionally delicious and unique. The restaurant offers a bilingual menu, and the staff are very friendly and enthusiastic in suggesting must-try dishes. Mornings here are quite bustling, especially with tourists from European countries, South Korea, and Japan.

Lunch with Beef Noodles

Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup is already renowned, and it's the specialty, a must-try dish when traveling to Taiwan. The main ingredients are quite simple, consisting of noodles and beef, but the broth is what defines this dish. You can smell the fragrant aroma as soon as you step into the shop. This flavor is derived from simmering beef bones, Chinese medicinal herbs, and various spices, creating a distinctive taste, combined with large chunks of beef and thick noodles. You can enjoy it with tofu, green vegetables, and pickled mustard greens. Every year, Taiwan also hosts a Beef Noodle Festival dedicated to this signature dish that has made Taiwan's culinary reputation.

Dinner with Milk Hot Pot

The hotpot dipping items here are diverse, from beef, seafood, dumplings, tofu, fried foods,... to various fresh vegetables: greens, cabbage, mushrooms, taro, corn, seaweed,... for customers to freely choose. In addition, the restaurant offers a variety of soup bases such as spicy, bone, tomato, mushroom,... and especially milk soup. Made from milk and cheese, the soup has a milky white color, rich in protein, with a mild and gentle fragrance. When dipping meat or vegetables into it, they absorb the sweet creamy flavor. This is a perfect choice for those who enjoy vegetarian hotpot or vegetable hotpot, with a rich and creamy yet refreshing milk flavor. The taste of milk hotpot is the perfect highlight for ending the day.

Quick bites at 7 Eleven

One special thing is that young people in Taiwan tend to favor having breakfast at convenience stores. Among them, the 7 Eleven system is the most crowded and widely spread throughout Taipei. Try lining up to buy breakfast and enjoy a cup of coffee with milk here before starting a day of exploring the city. Prices are usually double compared to buying the same meal at a 7 Eleven in Vietnam.

Other food options

If you've already experienced specialty dishes and street food, you can also try dining at family-run eateries. I was extremely impressed with the fried dumplings at a traditional eatery at number 33, Jiuquan Street, Datong District, right next to Yuanshan MRT station. Jiuquan Street also boasts many breakfast eateries and famous bubble tea brands like Comebuy, Unocha,...

We ordered traditional dishes in a Taiwanese family meal such as fried dumplings, shrimp dumplings, ramen noodles, mushroom soup, bamboo shoot soup, green beans,... Fried dumplings are filled with meat and chives wrapped in a crispy golden crust. The dish has a rich flavor with a hint of chive aroma, usually served with soy sauce and a little vinegar.

Besides, shopping malls are also interesting culinary destinations in Taipei where you can shop and dine. Here, in addition to famous restaurant branches, there are also bubble tea brands, clothing stores, cosmetics,... for tourists to buy as souvenirs. I visited two of the largest and busiest shopping centers in Taipei:

I was conquered by the famous landmarks, and overwhelmed by delicious dishes. Taipei is not only famous for bubble milk tea, but also for countless enticing, diverse, and unique dishes. It's a delicate combination of traditional culture and Chinese, Japanese, and neighboring countries' cuisines, creating the distinctive flavor of fusion cuisine, leaving a lasting impression on tourists. Through culinary stories, I gained a better understanding of the culture and people here. Truly, Taiwan knows how to captivate tourists in a clever way.

Author: Le Thi Phuong Dai

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