Everyone has had their fair share of fancy afternoon teas on a three-tier cake stand, but have you had brunch from a suitcase? This dining concept is complete new to us too and if you are interested – it is available right in the heart of Taipei city centre.
It is a signature dish at TankQ Cafe & Bar, where avid travellers can take their incurable wanderlust to a whole new epic level.
Taipei might just be one of the most underrated cities to visit. It doesn’t matter whether you are a foodie, a shopper, or if you simply enjoy marvelling at the wonders of nature – Taipei will have you covered.
So many street snacks to love, so many night markets to roam at, so many more karaoke sessions that we need, so many cultural centres to visit. Taipei is one destination in Asia you must visit.
Here are 25 Reasons To Love Taipei.
If you don’t already know, Gudetama is an anthropomorphic Japanese egg yolk characterised by its laziness. It only made its debut in 2013, but has since gained “recognition” globally. We kid you not. From cushions to notebooks, Gudetama’s iconic sluggish body is now imprinted on almost every object thinkable.
So it is without surprise that an entire restaurant dedicated to the Gudetama has opened in Taipei’s Da’an District. The new Gudetama-themed restaurant—called Gudetama Chef—is currently Taipei’s latest craze and bookings are mandatory.
The quaint tree-lined Fujin Street is one of Taipei’s best-kept secrets. Spanning across 800 metres, this up-and-coming Taiwanese neighbourhood boasts an eclectic mix of chic boutiques, hipster cafes and furniture stores. It is also one of Taiwan’s most underrated but trendiest lifestyle destinations, and celebrities are often spotted in this vicinity!
Fujin Street is equivalent to Singapore’s hipster neighbourhoods Tiong Bahru and Haji Lane. The shops that line Fujin Street are tastefully designed and exude a mesmerising rustic charm; think brick walls, concrete floors and potted plants. The façade of these retail stores make a perfect backdrop for your OOTD and we felt like we were browsing through Pinterest—but in real life.
From boutique florist Botanica, Fujin Tree 353 Cafe by Simple Kaffa, Restaurant Pinecone to fashion apparel store BEAMS, here is our Guide to Taipei’s Fujin Street and the 15 Cafes and Shops To Check Out.
Animal cafes may not be something new to us anymore but an alpaca cafe is definitely something worth talking about! If you are an animal lover and have not heard of Oia Cafe in Taipei, you have to mark this place down for your next visit to Taipei.
Oia Cafe is home to a few alpacas and they roam around freely in the cafe. Yes, you get to play with these adorable white creatures and feed them with carrots or food that are approved by the cafe’s owner—this is also the best way to get the alpacas to take a selfie with you. READ ON
Think Taipei is all about Taipei 101 and Shilin Night Market? Not really. Addiction Aquatic Development is the place to visit when in Taipei.
Addiction Aquatic Development is a massive space that houses fresh seafood and aquamarine products, a large Japanese-style supermarket, and many themed restaurants and food kiosks under one roof. It is developed by Mitsui food and beverage enterprise group, who also owns several established Japanese restaurants in Taipei, including Mitsui - our favourite Japanese restaurant in the city.
Sitting near the Songshan Airport, and what used to be the old Taipei Fish Market, it is now an upscale and classy market with Addiction Aquatic Development. It stands head and shoulders above other famous seafood markets in the world such as Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market, Seoul’s Noryangjin Fish Market, Sydney’s Fish Market, and Perth’s Fremantle Market.
Everyone knows Beauty In The Pot (in Singapore), but do you know that the concept is inspired by Taiwanese brand, Wu Lao Guo? More interestingly known as “elixir health pot”, this is one of the most popular hotpot places in Taipei, and there are three outlets across the city – every one is packed daily and reservations are most definitely required.
And you may wonder why they are so popular. That’s simply because they are more than just a hotpot restaurant. If you’ve been to Beauty In The Pot and you are familiar with the works – ingredients, soup and post-meal palate cleanser – then you must know that Wu Lao Guo was the one who created this trend.
The million dollar question – is Wu Lao Guo worth a visit when in Taipei?
Oh, the glorious Taiwanese Oyster Omelette, or orh-ah-jian as they call it. Where do we even begin about this? As much as we love the Oyster Omelettes in Singapore, the ones found in Taiwan has undoubtedly racked it up a few notches.
Whether we are talking about the heavenly union of the gelatinous sweet potato starch and the pan-fried omelette with the freshly poached oysters that will melt in your mouth or the signature red sauce that you can only find in Taiwan – we are extremely certain that once you try them, you cannot (and will never want to) go back.
Not only is it a crowd favourite dish amongst the locals in Taiwan, many tourists have also sworn by it.