Taiwan is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Southeast Asia because what is there not to love about that country?

Besides their friendly locals and scenic landscapes, we have always been fascinated with Taiwanese food. Bring on the pungent beancurd and pig’s blood!

But hold your horses and please do not get the wrong idea. Taiwanese classic dishes ain’t a fear-factor show but instead, an exciting exploration of food. From Beef Noodle Soup, Oyster Omelette to Pineapple Cake, here is our guide to 11 Taiwanese Classic Dishes To Eat.

Source: Hufu Wong

#1 BA-WAN

The disk-shaped Ba-Wan is essentially a translucent doughy dumpling with a diameter of approximately seven centimetres. It is filled with minced meat stuffing and then served with a sweet-and-savoury sauce.

Ba-Wan’s texture bears an uncanny resemblance to gummy and the fillings vary across different parts of Taiwan.

#2 BEEF NOODLE SOUP

As its name implies, Beef Noodle Soup, or also known as Niu Rou Mian is exactly what it is. Think noodles and braised succulent beef dunked in an aromatic semi-dark broth. The dish is then topped with chives, leafy vegetables and/or Chinese pickled cabbage. It is a comfort food that can be found everywhere in Taiwan.

#3 BRAISED PORK RICE

Braised Pork Rice—called Lu Rou Fan in Chinese—is basically a piping hot bowl of steamed rice topped with delicious minced pork. The meat’s sauce is key in this delicacy and adds an extra depth of flavour to its overall taste profile. Complement your Braised Pork Rice with a Chinese tea leaf egg and pickled vegetables.

#4 BUBBLE TEA

Bubble Tea was first invented in Taichung in the 1980s and the rest is history. The iconic tea-based beverage is served with chewy tapioca pearls and you can savour them hot or chilled. Other cities, especially those in the United States of America, call these delightful drinks Boba.

#5 FRIED CHICKEN STEAK

The Taiwanese Fried Chicken Steak is beyond sinful but definitely worth all the calories. A tenderised marinated chicken breast is deep-fried till golden brown and seasoned with pepper, salt and (optional) spices. No one leaves Taiwan without trying this iconic Taiwanese snack!

#6 SMELLY TOFU

Caution: the smelly tofu is not for the faint-hearted. The fermented beancurd has such an overwhelming odour that your nose could certainly detect its presence even from hundreds of metres away! This dish is a popular snack amongst Taiwanese and you will definitely find them at the night markets.

#7 MANGO SHAVED ICE

Mango Shaved Ice boasts fine snowflake ice with chunky fresh mango pieces—an ideal treat to combat the intolerable summer heat! The icy treat is a crowd pleaser and Smoothie House located along Yong Kang Street in Taipei has one of the best renditions.

#8 OYSTER OMELETTE

The glorious Taiwanese Oyster Omelette—also known affectionately amongst natives as orh-ah-jian—is a heavenly union of the gelatinous sweet potato starch and the pan-fried omelette with freshly poached oysters that will melt in your mouth.

A sauce made from tomato ketchup, soy paste and sweet chilli is then drenched over the fragrant oyster omelette.

#9 OYSTER VERMICELLI

Oyster Vermicelli features a generous amount of wheat-based noodles mixed with thickened soup. The flour-rice noodle dish is served with fresh oysters but it is also common to see other interpretations replacing oysters with braised pig intestines instead.

#10 PINEAPPLE CAKE

Traditional Taiwanese pineapple cakes or Feng Li Shu are sweet bite-sized squarish cakes with a buttery exterior and filled with thick jam-like pineapple filling. They are best eaten fresh but also make great souvenirs to bring home.

Source: Easy Eat in Taiwan

#11 ZHU XUE GAO

Zhu Xue Gao—made from pig’s blood and glutinous rice—might come across as a terrifying dish but is actually a well-loved street snack amongst Taiwanese locals. In Taiwan, the pig’s blood could be boiled, braised, fried or steamed.

The most popular way to eat it would be a steamed version on a stick coated with cilantro, peanut and soy sauce.

#12 CONG ZHUA BING

Cong Zhua Bing is a type of Taiwanese pancake that is highly raved about by the locals. You can find hawkers at night markets flipping these scallion pancakes with oil before topping them off with a topping of your choice.

Photo Credit: Taiwan Food Culture

#13 DA CHANG BAO XIAO CHANG

The English name literally translates to ‘big sausage wraps small sausage’ but this iconic Taiwanese street food is essentially Chinese sausage wrapped with glutinous rice. It usually comes with lettuce, salted vegetables and lots of garlic.

#14 TAIWANESE PORRIDGE

After all that feasting, it would be good to have some Taiwanese porridge to cleanse your palate. Everyone gets a bowl of plain porridge which they can complement with a wide variety of side dishes—really similar to our economic rice stalls in Singapore when you think about it!

Authentic, well-cooked and delicious Taiwanese food is hard to come by in our tiny nation. But thankfully, we have restaurants such as Shin Yeh to fill the void and to satisfy our cravings. This month, Shin Yeh introduces 24 new dim sum items to their lunch menu and 3 new main menu items that are sure to excite your tastebuds.

A renowned and established name worldwide, Shin Yeh has been gracing Singapore with authentic and refined Taiwanese cuisine since their partnership with the TungLok Group began back in 2008. Shin Yeh at Liang Court occupies a large space that is big enough to host event and parties.

Besides being an ideal place for large-group dinners, Shin Yeh makes a great place for you to kick back for an hour or so for lunch with your friends or family. Here’s introducing our 11 favourite items from their all-new dim sum lunch and all-day a la carte menu that will surely tempt you to try them all.

[ GIVEAWAY ] We are giving away S$250 Shin Yeh cash vouchers. Leave a comment below, and share this post on your Facebook timeline to win. More details on the giveaway at the end of this post.

#1 EIGHT IMMORTALS DIM SUM PLATTER

Shin Yeh’s new “Eight Immortals” Dim Sum platter (S$12++) is extremely value-for-money and good for sharing. It comes with Steamed Chives Dumpling with Pork, Crystal Mixed Vegetables Dumpling, Steamed Shrimp Dumpling, and Steamed Chicken Dumpling with Egg Plant, Turnip and Dried Shrimps.

Shin Yeh’s rendition of the classic steamed chive dumpling (S$4.20++ for 3, a la carte) surprised us with a tasty filling and perfectly steamed ‘skin’ outer layer. The taste of the stir-fried vegetables inside the Crystal Mixed Vegetables Dumpling (S$4.20++ for 3) was distinct and a delight.

We were also impressed with the Steamed Shrimp Dumpling ($4.80++ for 4) – generous portion of minced shrimp dumpling encased inside the flour ‘skin’ of the dumpling. It is true that eggplant is an unusual filling inside the dish but we liked how it was the star of the Steamed Chicken Dumpling (S$4.20++ for 3) with its taste and texture.

#2 SIX LUCKY STARS DIM SUM PLATTER

The Six Lucky Stars platter, on the other hand, comes with Steamed Scallops Dumpling with Chicken and Shrimp, Taiwan-style Siew Mai, and the Steamed Soupy Pork Dumpling

The star of the platter is without a doubt the Xiao Long Bao (S$4.80++). It brought back memories of bursting open perfectly made and cooked dumplings back in Taiwan. The dumpling features rich broth that is made better with some sliced ginger and vinegar and a tantalising minced pork filling.

#3 CHARCOAL GRILLED PORK RIBS

The fragrant charcoal flavour is distinct in these pork ribs. Each serving features a big piece of pork ribs that are so tasty on its own, you might end up finishing the whole plate in minutes. The Charcoal Grilled Pork Ribs (S$10++) remains as one of our favourites from the menu.

#4 STIR-FRIED POMFRET FILLET WITH XO SAUCE

For just S$48++ with a serving good enough for 3-4 people, this beautifully plated dish of stir-fried pomfret slices almost melts in your mouth and will satisfy you with its rich wok aroma. We loved that this dish was so good, and it is definitely one you’ll come back again and again for more. For rice lovers, good news because this dish is perfect with a bowl of warm rice.

#5 STEAMED BUN WITH LEAN PORK AND PICKLES

When eaten warm, this dish is the perfect representation of two contrasting flavours that complement each other. The Steamed Bun with Lean Pork and Pickles (S$12++ for 4) first kick-starts our tastebuds with the salty and sour pickle flavour which slowly blends in with the tasty lean pork like a perfect pair. To tone down the fillings’ intense flavours, the freshly steamed and fluffy buns on the outside holds the whole dish together.

#6 BRAISED GOOSE WEBS WITH ABALONE AND MUSHROOM

This exotic item is braised until soft and tender before it is being dished out with abalone and mushroom. The Braised Goose Webs with Abalone & Mushroom (S$22.80++) is a treat on its own with every component cooked perfectly. We liked that the goose webs are more tender and smooth to chew compared to the typical chicken feet served at dim sum restaurants.

#7 SAUTÉED PRAWNS WITH PINEAPPLE

This dish is not a new one but we felt that it deserves its own feature because of how tremendously and surprisingly delicious it is. The Sautéed Prawns with Pineapple ($20++) features deep-fried pineapple chunks with deep-fried crunchy prawns, drizzled all over with a mild pineapple sauce.

Usually, chefs will use mango or savoury sauces, but Shin Yeh’s ingenious idea to cook these prawns with pineapple was a resounding success. Many dub it as one of their all-time favourite dishes, with even celebrities regularly returning to Shin Yeh just to savour this gorgeous plate of gold.

#8 CRISP-FRIED FRESH OYSTER SERVED WITH DIP

A classic Taiwanese snack, the Crisp-fried Fresh Oyster (S$14++) is good for sharing among 2-3 people. It is something that you can’t stop eating, and to be honest, who would have thought that other than eating oysters raw or having them fried with eggs, oysters could be fried till crispy with a unique crunch-like texture?

#9 BRAISED CHICKEN WITH GARLIC AND BASIL IN CLAYPOT

Also known as Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken or San Bei Ji, the Braised Chicken with Garlic and Basil in Claypot (S$16++) is a classic Taiwanese item and one that goes well with porridge. This is simplicity at its best, and Shin Yeh’s rendition definitely did not let us down.

#10 TRADITIONAL TAIWAN-STYLE RICE AND NOODLES

Because what is a Taiwanese meal without the evergreen favourites, right? We have the Traditional Braised Mee Sua with Oysters and Pig’s Intestine (S$8++), Taiwan-style Rice with Soya Sauce Lean Pork (S$5++) and Taiwan-style Sweet Potato Porridge (S$1.80++ for free flow) to choose from. We don’t know about you, but we are honestly simple souls who can be easily satisfied with these traditional rice and noodles dishes. Then again, don’t you all agree that they are so comforting?

#11 TAIWAN-STYLE DESSERTS

Trends come and go, and there are all sorts of desserts in the world. But Taiwan-style desserts such as shaved ice and almond jelly will stay as perennial picks in our hearts. Here at Shin Yeh, indulge in the Mango and Milk over Shaved Ice (S$8++) and Handmade Almond Jelly with Peach (S$5++).

SHIN YEH CASH VOUCHERS GIVEAWAY

1. Shin Yeh is giving away 10 x S$25 Shin Yeh cash vouchers.
2. Leave a comment in this post and tell us which dish you would like to try from Shin Yeh.
3. ‘Like’ TungLok Group on Facebook.
4. Share the link of this post on your Facebook timeline.
5. The contest starts from now till 4 July 2015, 2359 hrs.
6. Winners will be notified by email.

// The winners are Carol Lim, Suzanna Lim, Janice Lim, Javier Lim, Pauline, Samantha Chong, Janson, Wen Qi, Sally Tang, and Allan Lin.

Shin Yeh
177 River Valley Road
Liang Court Shopping Centre, #02-19
Tel: +65 6338 7337
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun & Public Holidays: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

This post is brought to you by Shin Yeh, a joint venture between Taiwan’s Shin Yeh Group and Singapore’s TungLok Group.