Experience the Ultimate Taiwanese Delicacies You Must Try

Taiwan is a nation with diverse ethnicities, rich culture, and a commitment to integration. Indulging in a delicious meal prepared by locals is the best way to immerse yourself in the local culture.

While Taiwanese cuisine bears influences from China, its rich history and unique geographical location have resulted in a wealth of flavors, ingredients, and cooking methods. Embark on a journey to taste delicious dishes and discover Taiwanese delicacies for a deeper appreciation of the culture and people here.

One of the most popular dishes in Taiwan, this meal consists of tender beef stewed or braised in a flavorful broth, served with various vegetables such as cabbage and scallions, and of course, chewy noodles.

This Taiwanese dish might grace the tables of upscale restaurants in Taipei, or the bustling street stalls and traditional noodle shops in Yongkang Road. All strive to serve the most delicious niu rou mian, a true pride of Taiwanese cuisine.

Seemingly irresistible, no visit to Taiwan is complete without indulging in xiao long bao. Each small steamed bun holds a substantial amount of filling, wrapped in a thin, delicate dough and beautifully presented in bamboo steamers. As you bite into them, the savory broth inside oozes out, so it's best to poke a hole in the bun and sip the soup first to avoid burns.

In addition to the traditional pork filling, you can find variations with crab roe and mushrooms. Din Tai Fung is the go-to destination to savor the aromatic and famous Taiwanese specialty xiao long bao.

Lu rou fan, or braised pork rice, is a simple yet comforting dish commonly found in family meals or nearly every restaurant in Taiwan. You'll be delighted by the tender braised meat with its rich flavor, accompanied by pickled greens and a runny soy-marinated egg served alongside steamed white rice, offering a burst of flavors. While there are regional variations of lu rou fan across Taiwan, overall, this Taiwanese dish is considered a national staple and beloved by households everywhere.

A bowl of Taiwanese seafood mee sua with its rich, sweet broth combined with plump, fresh oysters atop the delicate strands of mee sua is sure to delight. Some add stewed pork intestines for added excitement.

The deliciousness of seafood mee sua greatly depends on the freshness and size of the oysters. The process of stewing pork intestines and the ratio of meat to noodles are also crucial. When enjoying this Taiwanese delicacy, you may add a dash of chili paste, black vinegar, minced garlic, and cilantro to enhance the flavor!

Another Taiwanese delight made from oysters is the fried oyster omelette, orh jian. This is a definite must-try when you visit the night markets in Taiwan!

Although its name sounds simple, the ingredients of orh jian are quite intricate, including: eggs, oysters, flour, bean sprouts, and Chinese chives, especially using sweet potato flour to give the dish a denser texture. The rich aroma of eggs combined with crispy fresh oysters will explode with the refreshing taste of various vegetables.

Fermented tofu, also known as stinky tofu due to its distinct aroma. Tofu is fermented in a brine made from meat, fermented milk, various Chinese herbs, dried fish or shrimp, bamboo shoots, mustard greens, and spinach, then soaked for several months.

After fermentation, tofu is usually deep-fried and drizzled with sweet and spicy sauce or kimchi on top. Whether fried or steamed, its indescribable flavor makes this dish a Taiwanese delicacy.

This peculiar cake is truly one of Taiwan's must-try delicacies. Ti hoeh koe is made from glutinous rice mixed with pig's blood, steamed or fried before being dipped in a rich sweet soybean sauce, then rolled in fragrant peanut powder and cilantro.

In reality, this dish is quite tasty and easy to eat, not as intimidating as its name suggests. If you come across this on the streets, be sure to buy and enjoy it while it's hot to experience its full flavor.

Taiwanese specialty Tian bu la originates from Japanese oden, then Taiwanese people reprocess it with a sweeter taste, firmer fish cake, and distinctive sauce. Loved by locals and enticing to tourists alike for its characteristic delicious flavor.

Fish cakes are molded into various shapes and sizes, fried until crispy, then simmered in broth. Before eating, you dip the fish cake in the broth and coat it with brown sauce.

For the best and most special Tian bu la experience, #teamKlook, visit the Wanhua area, Taipei.

When it comes to Taiwanese specialties, bubble tea cannot be missed, loved worldwide. This divine drink originated from Chun Shui Tang teahouse in Taichung, where the idea of mixing cold milk tea with various flavors emerged, then adding tapioca pearls, sometimes small-cut fruits, or syrup, resulting in the creation of bubble tea.

Nowadays, bubble tea is enthusiastically embraced and has become the most iconic beverage of Taiwan. Pairing bubble tea with any snack easily soothes hungry stomachs and uplifts your mood.

Shaved ice mountains first made their way to Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period. Ice is shaved by a machine, then topped with a variety of fresh fruits soaked in a large amount of concentrated fruit juice and milk to appeal to the youth.

Among them, mango shaved ice is the bestseller, once voted by CNN as one of the most delicious desserts in the world. Additionally, taro shaved ice, red bean shaved ice, and brown sugar shaved ice also captivate many locals and tourists.

Pineapple cake feng li su is a famous Taiwanese delicacy. These small sweet cakes with pineapple filling paired with a hot cup of tea are the perfect choice after dinner. The soft filling inside the golden crust exudes local flavors, simple yet authentic.

Chia Te Bakery's pineapple cakes are among the tastiest souvenirs from Taiwan that every tourist wants to buy and take home. Additionally, the Taimon Night Market is also a renowned spot in Taipei for delicious pineapple cakes.

Iron eggs tie dan are a popular snack available at stalls along the streets of Taiwan. Unlike regular chicken eggs, these eggs are dark brown and incredibly flavorful due to being braised with various spices, then dried. Each batch of eggs must undergo this process 11 times to achieve such a unique result.

So what better souvenir from Taiwan to bring home than a pack of iron eggs?

This special cake is round, flat, and radiantly golden like the sun, and bursts with sweetness from maltose or condensed malt sugar filling.

This is a beloved specialty originating from Taichung. Get a box of tai yang bing from Chia Te Bakery to bring back as a gift for family and friends, so they can enjoy the delicious aroma of Taiwan's desserts.

Nougat is a must-buy when in Taiwan. It's said to have originated from Italy; after being introduced to Taiwan, these ingredients have been enhanced and processed into a sweet and chewy dessert, loved by both kids and adults.

Nougat isn't exclusive to Taiwan, but the type found here is quite different from what you'll find in other countries. Don't leave Taiwan without trying nougat from Sugar & Spice with French cream and whole peanuts.

Although you can find tea all over the world, Taiwanese tea has been renowned for 150 years. Many tea brands in Taiwan emphasize quality and only use tea grown in high mountain regions, especially Alishan. Enjoying a piece of cake paired with a sip of fragrant tea, surely your friends and family will shower praises for the exquisite gift you've brought back from Taiwan.

If you're part of #teamKlook who enjoys experiential travel and loves food tours, hopefully these culinary guides to Taiwan will make you even more excited about your upcoming trip.

To make your journey across the island of Taiwan smoother and more seamless, remember to check out Klook Blog Vietnam for more self-guided Taiwan travel tips, and head to the booking page to choose the perfect accommodation. Don't forget to apply the discount code exclusively for #teamKlook.

Additionally, you should also prepare a Taiwan 4G SIM card or 4G Wi-Fi router before departure to continuously share photos of delicious foods from all over the streets of Taiwan with your friends.

Visit Klook Vietnam's Blog to pocket many useful Taiwan travel experiences, check out the list of Taiwan homestays, Taiwan hotels, Taipei hostels, Taipei hotels... high-quality options to consider for your trip.

How many delicious Taiwanese specialties have you tasted so far?