Best Food In Taiwan & Must-Try Eats: First Timers Guide 🍜

When I travelled across Taiwan, north to south, my mission was simple: eat the best food in Taiwan.

From Taipei to Jiufen to Kaohsiung, we slurped life-changing beef noodle soups, devoured plump juicy dumplings at night markets, and discovered some of the best things to eat in Taiwan.

Cult Taiwanese street food like Michelin-rated oyster omelettes and pork pepper buns were sensationally textured and flavour-packed. Some dishes were – like one particular bowl of dry spiced beef noodles – life-changing. I kid you not!

Food in Taiwan is affordable, and thanks to influences from Chinese and Japanese culture, delightfully different. Taiwan has some of the best street food I’ve eaten, and I’ve travelled a lot.

Armed with an appetite (and very helpfully, a travel buddy who spoke both Cantonese and Mandarin – shout out Venus!), I tracked every bite and pulled together my top picks for the best food in Taiwan. Wherever possible, I’ve included the exact spots we ate, but many of these dishes can be found at any night market or food stalls unless noted otherwise.

Now I’ll walk you through 10+ must-eat foods in Taiwan, where to find them, a rundown of Taiwanese street food you can’t miss, and answer the big question: what are the very best foods to try in Taiwan?

Related reading: 10 Best Things To Do In Taipei

Best Food in Taiwan: What To Eat

Best Food In Taiwan: Savoury

Taiwanese Egg Crêpe Roll (蛋餅 Dan Bing)

Dan Bing is a breakfast classic in Taiwan, loved for its chewy, savoury goodness and limitless ways to make it your own. Essentially an egg crêpe roll, it’s filled with ingredients like ham, cheese, bacon, or pork floss, and often topped with a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce that ties it all together. You can choose between wet style, served with a tangy dipping sauce, or dry style, where the flavors of the roll shine on their own. For me, Dan Bing is the ultimate way to start a morning in Taiwan. Since returning home, I’ve cooked it so many times—ham, cheddar, and sweetcorn is my go-to combo!

📍 Breakfast Stall 阿母古早味粉漿蛋餅/早午餐, Taichung – but for great dan bing in Taipei, check out my Taipei Guide.

Beef Noodle Soup

Beef noodle soup is often seen as Taiwan’s national dish, loved for its deep, savoury broth and tender, flavourful beef. The dish varies between regions. The best beef noodle soup in Taipei was, for me, at Master Jim Beef Noodle. Their broth hits the perfect balance of rich spiciness, and the beef practically melts in your mouth. To say I still dream about the beef noodles in Taiwan is an understatement. I think I mention them at least once a week. Will travel for Taiwanese beef noodle soup!

📍Master Jim Beef Noodle, Taipei

Pepper Buns (胡椒餅, hújiāo bing)

Pepper buns are a street food masterpiece, baked to perfection in the inner walls of a blazing hot oven. The result? A crispy, sesame-studded bottom that’s irresistible. Chewy soft dough with a flavour-packed filling of spiced pork and fresh spring onions. These pepper buns have a well-deserved status as a must-try street food classic.The (rather long) queue for the Michelin-recommended Fuzhou Ancestor Pepper Pie at Raohe Night Street Market moved really quickly and the stall owner was hilarious. Our first bite of the bun compelled us to make inappropriate noises.

📍 Fuzhou Ancestor Pepper Pie, Raohe Street Night Market

Taiwanese Fried Chicken (台湾盐酥鸡)

Taiwanese fried chicken is a must-try. Some of the best I’ve had came from a humble food stall in Taichung. It’s crispy, golden, and perfectly seasoned. You can opt for a spicier kick if that’s your thing. What sets it apart is the spice mix in the batter—garlic, five-spice, and a hint of sweetness come together beautifully. Served hot with fresh basil leaves, it’s the kind of street food that really captures the bold, comforting flavors of Taiwanese cuisine. If you’re exploring Taiwan, make time to try it. You won’t regret it.

📍 Street stall, Taichung

Taiwanese Buns (Bao)

Who doesn’t love bao?! Taiwanese meat buns (rou bao / gua bao) are a street food classic you can’t miss. These soft, steamed buns are packed with fillings like savoury pork belly and vegetables. You’ll find them in bustling night markets or tucked into the menus of local food joints. The combo of fluffy dough, texture and flavour hits the spot every time.

📍Ruifeng Night Market, Kaohsiung City

Oyster Omelette

One of the best Taiwanese street foods to try is the oyster omelette, a beloved local delicacy full of texture and flavour. Popular family-run stall and Michelin-rated Lee Chi Oyster Omelets (李記蚵仔煎) at Raohe Street Night Market is the place to have them. Sizzling combo of fresh oysters, fluffy eggs, and tender spinach, brought together with a sweet-sour glaze. We devoured our first omelettes so fast that we ordered it twice! Paired with a cold beer, this hearty dish is a steal at just NT $100 (£2.50).

📍Lee Chi Oyster Omelettes (李記蚵仔煎) at Raohe Night Market in Taipei

Chewy Dumplings (Jian Bao)

Another must-try Taiwanese street food is jian bao, which are crispy-bottomed dumplings. These chewy parcels are made with doughy, hand-rolled dough that’s filled with a savoury mix of minced pork and rich flavour. I could honestly smash about 8 in one sitting.

📍 Raohe Street Night Market

Pork Rice (Lu Rou Fan) 

Minced pork rice, or Lu Rou Fan, is a comfort food you’ll find on nearly every street in Taiwan. Humble yet mouthwatering, lu rou fan features tender minced pork braised in a fragrant soy sauce infused with sweet garlicky goodness, served on steamed white rice. It’s also affordable, making it a staple eat for locals and visitors alike.

📍 Datong District or Zhongzheng District, Taipei

Chiayi Turkey Rice

Similar to pork rice, Chiayi turkey rice is an iconic specialty dish from Chiayi Country. The rice is drizzled with a savoury gravy made from turkey drippings and soy sauce, which gives it a deep, satisfying flavour. My partner loved turkey rice so much he crushed three bowls in one sitting!

📍 家禾火雞肉飯 in Chiayi City

Green Onion Pancake (Scallion Pancake)

Crispy, flaky, and packed with flavour, the green onion pancake is a street food favorite that never disappoints. Bite into its golden, perfectly layered exterior, and you’ll be met with a delightful crunch that gives way to a soft, savoury inside. The blend of fresh green onions and simple seasonings creates an understated yet addictive taste that keeps you coming back for more. Whether enjoyed fresh off the griddle from a bustling food stall or made at home, these pancakes are the ultimate comfort snack, perfect for sharing—or keeping all to yourself!

Braised Pork Belly

One dish you’ve got to try in Taiwanese cooking is braised pork belly. It’s soft, rich, and packed with flavour. One of the best meals we had in Taipei was at one Michelin-starred restaurant Shin Yeh Taiwanese Signature, a chain that’s been around since 1977. At Shin Yeh, they nailed it. The pork belly was perfectly cooked, with tender layers of meat and just the right amount of silky, melt-in-your-mouth fat. The sauce, similar to hoisin, was rich, slightly sweet, and full of umami.

📍 Shin Yeh, Taipei

Steamed Crab Roe with Sticky Rice

If you fancy something indulgent then try out Taiwanese steamed crab roe on glutinous rice.I had it at Shin Yeh. They start with glutinous rice mixed with mushrooms, pork, carrots, deep-fried red onions, and coriander, all steamed to perfection. Then, they take it up a notch by placing a raw red crab on top and steaming it together. This lets the rice soak up all the rich, briny crab juices.

📍 Shin Yeh, Taipei

 

Three Cup Chicken

Three cup chicken is a classic Taiwanese dish that deserves a place on your must-try list. The name comes from the three key ingredients—soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice wine—that combine with garlic, basil, ginger and chilli to create a rich, aromatic glaze. The chicken, usually cut into bite-sized pieces, is simmered in this mixture until it soaks up all those bold, savoury flavours.

I tried it at Shin Yeh, where their take stood out. The balance of sweetness and umami was just right, and super comforting.

📍 Shin Yeh, Taipei

Taiwanese Street Food and Dishes: Sweets & Drinks

Taro Balls (芋圓, yù yuán)

One of my favourite foods I tried in Taiwan! They make little dough balls out of taro, boil them, then serve them hot or cold (over ice) with a scoop of sweet beans. Some of the taro balls are mixed with other flavours, like sweet potato, black sesame, and matcha. The texture is phenomenal – similar to mochi, but less sticky.

I had this at 賴阿婆芋圓 Lai Ah Po Taro Balls– a famous dessert shop serving up taro balls (a signature food item in the Ruifang area). We went to Grandma Lai’s – one of the three oldest sweet taro ball shops in Jiufen – for some sticky taro balls (like a mochi/boba hybrid) with shaved ice, brown sugar syrup, sweet potato and sweet adzuki red beans.

It was quite the sight seeing multiple generations of family members slapping and pounding taro, sealing the mix in ball form with tapioca powder. So much love and muscle in every ball!

📍 Jiufen is the best place to try this, though it can be found all over Taiwan!

Mochi and Dango

If you’re not into chewy textures, mochi might not be for you. But for the rest of us, these sticky, stretchy bites are a treat. In Taiwan, mochi comes in a few main forms: boiled and served with black sesame or peanut toppings, or in a sweet soup.

Dango (as above) is in a sweet-salty soy glaze. Grab an afternoon snack at Japanese Dango spot 赤丸 and enjoy their classic chewy mochi balls dipped in a sweet-salty soy sauce.

Try the mochi at Buloa Hakka Traditional Mochi in Taipei or Ningxia Night Market, where they serve freshly boiled mochi with sesame and peanut on the side.

📍 Chifeng Street, Taipei

Bai Leng Popsicles (白冷冰棒 )

During our stay at Hoshinoya Guguan, we discovered the world’s best ice lolly: the Bai Leng popsicle. These ice lollies were unbelievably tasty. Produced by a famous popsicle vendor in the region, they offer unique local flavours including pine green, milk, sour plum, red bean milk, green bean milk, longan and champagne. Our taxi driver brought us to the original popsicle shop as we drove back down to Taichung City. My favourite flavours were pine (so refreshing), milk, and red bean milk! You can check out the popsicle spot here.

📍 Bai Leng Popsicle Stall, Guguan (en route to Taichung)

Milk Tea Popsicles

Family Mart’s best ice lolly – try the Thai milk tea or the Earl Grey milk tea ice lolly. Sensational.

📍Family Mart, all over Taiwan

Pineapple Cake

Pineapple cake is a beloved Taiwanese treat that perfectly balances a buttery, crumbly crust with a sweet and tangy pineapple filling. These cakes aren’t ‘fresh’ as such but are hard and individually wrapped. These make amazing souvenirs. I bought two boxes and ended up keeping one because they taste so good.

📍7-11 or Family Mart, also, Taiwan Airport

Taiwanese Bubble Milk Tea aka Boba

Bubble tea, or boba tea, originated in Taiwan in the 1980s and has since become a global favourite. It’s a mix of tea, milk or fruit, a sweetener, and chewy tapioca pearls. In Taiwan, the options go far beyond the basics. Classics like jasmine green tea with pearls sit alongside sweet options like taro milk tea (my fave – but with non-dairy milk!) and brown sugar bubble tea. For extra texture, go for toppings like popping boba, grass jelly, aloe vera, and red bean. Bubble tea is a cultural staple in Taiwan, and it’s sometimes even cheaper than bottled water!

Where to get the best boba in Taipei

There’s a bubble tea shop on almost every corner of Taipei!

• TenRen – had a sensational Pu’erh milk tea here at the Eslite branch
• 50嵐 / 50 Lan / FIFTYLAN – not the best but one of the oldest and most iconic! Try the Golden Oolong Milk Tea!
• MACU Tea – best known for their fruit tea. Try the Orange Green Tea!
• TRUEDAN 珍煮丹 – popular bubble tea chain in Taipei: go for a brown sugar bubble tea
• KEBUKE Tea Co – black tea drinks are their specialty: try the Peach Black Tea or Bubble Milk Tea
• Chun Shui Tang – known as the originators of bubble tea, worth visiting a Taipei branch!

📍All over Taiwan

Alishan Mountain Oolong Tea

Alishan Mountain Tea is one of those teas that stands out for all the right reasons. It’s a high-altitude oolong grown in the misty mountains of Taiwan, known for its delicate floral aroma and smooth, creamy texture. What makes it so special? The cool, high-altitude climate gives the tea leaves a natural sweetness and a deep, complex flavor that’s hard to find elsewhere. We came home with about four packs of bougie oolong – plus some sachets from our hotel. Genuinely delicious tea.

📍Alishan, Jiufen or Chiayi

Matcha Specialty Drinks

Matcha is big in Taiwan – and so are specialty matcha drinks. Creamy lattes, matcha frappés, and even matcha lemonade. I also picked up some fresh green tea powder when we were at a mountain tea shop in Alishan, which is similar to matcha, but it wasn’t ceremonial-grade. Great for baking with, though!

📍All over Taiwan

Best Food Tours In Taipei: Taiwan Street Food Experiences

• 🥟 Xiao Long Bao, Beef Noodles & Boba Tea Cooking Class in Taipei – Book this cooking class and make authentic Taiwanese dishes like Xiao Long Bao, Braised Beef Noodle Soup, and bubble tea. Hands-on guidance from local chefs in a small-group class – perfect for showing you the heart of Taiwan’s food culture!

🧋Flavors of Taipei: Indulge in a Private Culinary Adventure – A TRUE Taiwan foodie tour! Join this 6-hour “Taste & Tales of Taipei” for a culinary journey from Yongkang Street to Raohe St Night Market, blending foodie delights with cultural insights

🥟 Taipei: Food Tours with Top 10 Taiwanese Food (Lunch/Dinner) – Have you ever wondered what the top 10 Taiwanese foods are or searched online? With two thoughtfully curated food tours, we make exploring Taiwan’s iconic dishes fun, effortless, and unforgettable!

Where to get good street food in Taipei

One of the best things to do in Taipei is dive into the bustling food stalls at night markets across the city. Raohe Street Night Market, one of Taiwan’s most famous and food-centric markets, is a non-negotiable place to visit in Taipei!

More popular night markets in Taipei include: Shilin Night Market, Shida Night Market, Ningxia Night Market, and Huaxi Street Night Market – though my companions and I picked out Raohe Street because it has so many award-winning food stalls.

My travel buddies and I split a food kitty between us so that we could try as many local dishes as possible during our week in Taiwan – a recommended approach if you’re all foodies!

I hope this guide to Taiwanese street food was useful.

If you’ve been debating a trip, this is your sign. Bring a friend (to share your food with), book your flights, and maybe plan in some sit-ups for when you’re back.

Check out 10 Best Things To Do In Taipei for more tips on travelling Taiwan!