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!

Be it your first time or second time to Taipei, one thing that you must include in your itinerary is a trip to one of Taipei’s night markets. We love night markets for the splendid array of street food (at reasonable prices), the lively atmosphere and simply the thrill of getting our hands on cheap clothing or goods!

Admittedly, most would only cater time to visit the more commercialised or popularised night markets such as Shilin Night Market or Raohe Street Night Market, but there are plenty of other undiscovered night markets in Taipei that deserve your time too. And, why only visit one or two night markets during your visit to Taipei when you could go to many more?

Here are 12 Night Markets In Taipei You Should Include In Your Itinerary.

Photo Credit: Alec Travel Guide

#1 GUANGZHOU STREET NIGHT MARKET

For a better feel of what a local and authentic night market in Taipei is like, Guangzhou Street Night Market will be a great place to visit. As one of the oldest night markets in Taiwan, Guangzhou Street Night Market is preferred by locals and is part of the Longshan Temple Night Market area.

Apart from regular street food that you can find in other night markets, some interesting dishes that you can try include pig feet, frog soup and glutinous rice. Visitors can also get up to plenty of fun games where you can play the night away. However, do take note that this is not a place to visit if you are searching for good clothing deals.

Guangzhou Street Night Market
Lane 152, Guangzhou Street, Wanhua District,
Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Daily: 4pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Longshan Temple

Photo Credit: HJ Love To Travel

#2 GONGGUAN NIGHT MARKET 

Located right beside Exit 1 of Gongguan Station, Gongguan Night Market is the biggest night market in the South district of Taipei City. The night market is strategically located in the midst of a business district, which allows visitors to browse through clothing and accessory stores, portrait studios, coffee shops and more.

Due to its close proximity to the National Taiwan University, majority of the traffic at this night market are made up of students. Yes, this means that prices are less steep and in fact pretty reasonable! And why not pick up some QinWaZhuangNai i.e. famous bubble milk tea in the area, whilst exploring the night market?

Gongguan Night Market
Section 3, Luosifu Road,
Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Daily: 3pm – 11:45pm
Nearest Station: Gongguan

#3 HUAXI STREET NIGHT MARKET 

Huaxi Street Night Market is another one of Taiwan’s more traditional markets. You would not have a hard time finding this night market as a large, red palace-style archway marks the entrance to the market which is open throughout the day.

Plenty of old, historical shops occupy the streets of Huaxi Street Night Market and you would be able to find plenty of yummy street foods to indulge in! For instance, this is where the Danzai noodle restaurant business began and something interesting you can try is the snake soup—a dish unique to Huaxi Street Night Market. Otherwise, why not take part in some fortune-telling or simply go for a good massage?

Huaxi Street Night Market
Huaxi Street, Wanhua District
Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Tel: +886 2 2388 1818
Daily: 4pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Longshan Temple

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

#4 LEHUA NIGHT MARKET 

The origins of Lehua Night Market date back to the early 1970s, and this night market is located in the Yonghe District which is famous for its delicious soya bean drink. Offering a wonderful mix of street food stalls, shopping and entertainment facilities, this is an all-in-one market where you will never feel bored.

Another night market that is a favourite of many locals, this night market is wider and easier to navigate even for those who are visiting for the first time. Unfortunately, due to noise complaints from the neighbouring areas surrounding the market, Lehua Night Market may be closed down soon. Quick, make sure this night market is on your to-go list if you are visiting Taipei soon!

Lehua Night Market
Yongping Road, Yonghe District,
New Taipei City, Taiwan 234
Tel: +886 800 000 123
Daily: 5pm – 12.59am
Nearest Station: Dingxi

#5 LIAONING STREET NIGHT MARKET 

Located a stone’s throw away from Fuju Temple, Liaoning Street Night Market is a popular night market that often draws mostly locals, unlike other regular night markets in Taipei. Thus, this is the best night market to visit to avoid tourists but yet have a taste of authentic Taiwanese cuisine.

Some delicious street food that you can try include the oyster omelette, boiled squid, mochi and oden cooking. The seafood stir-fry shop at the night market is also very popular and this is where you can get your seafood fix, cooked according to your preference.

Liaoning Street Night Market
Liaoning Street, Zhongshan District
Taipei City, Taiwan 10491
Daily: 4pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Nanjing East Road

#6 NANJICHANG NIGHT MARKET 

Nanjichang Night Market is another night market which has not been tainted by tourism and is recognised for its ruggedness and truly Taiwanese character. A hot favourite of the locals, you would hardly see any tourists in the area which means that you are in for a night of authentic Taiwan street food and culture.

Albeit slightly smaller in size than other notable night markets such as the Shilin Night Market, the street food offered at Nanjichang Night Market does not pale in comparison. One identifying trait of this night market is that all street foods offered at night will be available even during the day. Rest assured also that Nanjichang Night Market is budget-friendly and would not burn a hole in your pocket.

Nanjichang Night Market
Lane 307, Section 2, Zhonghua Road
Wanhua District, Taipei
Tel: +886 2 2305 3036
Daily: 6am – 12am
Nearest Station: Wanhua

#7 NINGXIA NIGHT MARKET

Like Nanjichang Night Market, Ningxia Night Market is a smaller night market which offers just as fantastic street food as the larger ones do. This is a nostalgic night market where you can stuff yourself silly with all the Taiwanese snacks available such as fried yam balls, oyster omelette and braised pork rice!

If you need a break from all the food, consider participating in some games or shopping in the southern part of the night market. A well-balanced night market adventure, we’d say.

Ningxia Night Market
Ningxia Road, Datong District
Taipei City, Taiwan 103
Tel: +886 915 652 480
Daily: 5:30pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Shuanglian

#8 RAOHE STREET NIGHT MARKET 

Raohe Street Night Market is one of the oldest night markets in Taipei, which has been extremely well-received and usually considered a must-visit for all tourists. Spreading out along a 600-metre path of Raohe Street in the Songshan District, have tons of fun exploring all the different interesting and delicious street foods and snacks, shops and stalls and even carnival activities available there.

A word of advice—7pm would be a good time to drop by this night market as most vendors usually only begin setting up their stalls at 5pm.

Raohe Street Night Market
Rao He Street, Songshan District
Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2763 5733
Daily: 4pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Songshan

#9 SHIDA NIGHT MARKET

Looking for a trendy night market? Shida Night Market is waiting for you! This night market is located within the Da’an District, which is known for its upmarket and hipster vibes and is home to several rock bars, cafes and restaurants. Best of all, visitors would appreciate that Shida Night Market is well-organised, quaint and compact, as compared to other larger and messier night markets.

Offering an incredible selection of delightful street food and cheap clothes from stylish boutiques, you would find plenty of young entrepreneurs cum vendors in this night market. Thus, a visit to this night market would be a great way to extend some support for the local fashion community whilst securing good clothing deals.

Shida Night Market
Lane 39, Shida Road, Da’an District,
Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tue to Sun: 5pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Taipower Building

#10 SHILIN NIGHT MARKET

As one of the largest and most popular night markets in Taiwan, most would usually have Shilin Night Market on their minds when planning their trip to Taipei. And to make it better, this night market is also conveniently located near Jiantan Station.

Shilin Night Market is famous for their impressive selection of authentic Taiwan eateries and fashionable clothing boutiques. A newly-renovated building of Shilin Night Market comprises three basement floors and one ground floor. Just think, 94 food vendors on Level B1; how amazing is that? It is time to get crazy and go all out!

Shilin Night Market
Wenlin Road, Shihlin District
Taipei City, Taiwan
Daily: 11am – 2am
Nearest Station: Jiantan

#11 SHUANG CHENG STREET NIGHT MARKET 

Operating for over 40 years, Shuang Cheng Street Night Market is a hot spot for plenty of Taiwanese food and variety shows. As a relatively low-key market, this is where you can escape for good Taiwanese street food without all the hustle and bustle of overly-commercialised night markets.

Some dishes you can try include steam goose meat in goose soup stock and Chiayi Chick Rice. For desserts, favourites include Granny’s old-style flavour sweet noodles and jelly fig ice.

Shuang Cheng Street Night Market
Shuangcheng Street, Zhongshan District,
Taipei City, Taiwan 104
Daily: 8am – 4pm, 5pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Zhong Shan Elementary School / Mingquan West Road

#12 TONGHUA NIGHT MARKET 

Found along the fringe of a residential area in Da’an District, Tonghua Night Market is often filled with plenty of locals and tourists alike. Specialising in local street foods and more, this lively night market will be sure to thrill you even after your first visit.

One popular dish to try at Tonghua Night Market is yan su ji (Taiwanese salted crispy chicken ), braised foods and Cong You Bing (scallion pancake). When you had enough of street food, there are steak restaurants and teppanyaki eateries for you to dine at.

Tonghua Night Market
Linjiang Street, Da’an District,
Taipei 106, Taiwan
Daily: 6pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Xinyi Anhe

Unsurprisingly, the capital of Taiwan—Taipei—is a popular vacation destination amongst Singaporeans and many other regional travellers. The Asian city is famous for its glorious street food, bustling night markets and cultural attractions.

Unlike Singapore, Taipei is blessed with a cooler climate and temperates do dip to approximately 13°C at its lowest in January.

We understand that most of you are too swamped with work and whatnot, so we have curated a 4D3N Taipei Itinerary for you guys. Here are 20 Tips On What To See And What To Eat in Taipei In Just 4D3N.

DAY ONE

#1 BREAKFAST AT AH CHUNG MIAN XIAN

Ah Chung Mian Xian is an inconspicuous vendor in Xi Men Ding selling piping hot bowls (small – NT$50, big – NT$60) of mee sua dunked in thick and rich gravy. The noodles are served with braised pig intestines. Complete your vermicelli dish with chilli oil, parsley, vinegar and whatnot. It opens at 10.30am daily and is often packed with tourists.

No. 8-1, Emei Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Mon – Fri: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Sat – Sun: 10.30am – 11pm
Tel: +886-2-2388-8808
Nearest station: Ximending

#2 SHOP AROUND XI MEN DING

When you are done with eating your bowl of Ah Chung Mian Xian, continue your exploration adventure Xi Men Ding. Make sure you travel there light – because you are bound to pick up several items during your retail therapy session.

Nearest Station: Ximen

#3 LUNCH AT TANKQ CAFE & BAR

Everyone goes to TankQ Cafe & Bar for their signature Breakfast Set (NT$320) which was served in a rustic wooden suitcase. Open the luggage and unveil its edible contents – buns, chicken sausages, fries, mashed potato, salad, scrambled eggs, smoked bacon and three different sauces. The portion is very filling and the Breakfast Set is recommended for sharing.

No. 3-2, Lane 90, Songjiang Road
Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 104
Tel: +886 2 2521 9930
Daily: 11.30am – 12am
Nearest Station: Songjiang Nanjing

#4 VISIT CHIANG KAI-SHEK MEMORIAL HALL

The grandeur of historical landmark Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall will leave you in awe. A massive bronze statue of Chiang – protected by military personnel – is house in an octagon-shaped monument house. These armed guards change their shift every hour via a ceremony.

No. 21, Zhongshan S Rd
Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Tel: +886 2 2343 1100
Daily: 9am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Source: Christopher Penniman

#5 PRAY AT LUNGSHAN TEMPLE OF MANKA

The Lungshan Temple of Manka – founded in 1738 – was set up by the immigrants from Fujian, China during the Qing dynasty. The complex is dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, but it houses many other deities here too. The government proclaimed the temple a historical site of second grade in 1985 and it will be conserved for the future generations.

No. 211, Guangzhou St
Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10853
Tel: +886 2 2302 5162
Nearest Station: Longshan Temple

#6 VISIT TAIPEI 101

Standing at 508 metres, Taipei 101 is the tallest skyscraper in Taiwan and almost impossible to miss. A gigantic pendulum is mounted between the 88th and 92nd storeys of the iconic infrastructure, hence allowing it to withstanding earthquakes and typhoons.

Taipei 101, No. 7, Section 5, Xinyi Rd
Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
Nearest Station: Taipei 101

#7 CHECK OUT TONG HUA NIGHT MARKET

You have not been to Taipei until you have visited at least one night market. Tong Hua Night Market – also known as Linjiang Night Market – is a must-visit. From Lu Wei, Scallion Pancake, Pig’s Blood to Yan Shu Ji, spend your night here sampling the diverse variety of Taiwanese street snacks (at very economical prices!) and you will definitely be stuffed.

Alley 1, Lane 40, Linjiang St
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Mon to Sat: 6pm – 2am
Sun: 6pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Xinyi Anhe

DAY TWO

#8 VISIT XINGTIAN TEMPLE

Xingtian Temple aka Hsing Tian Kong is a temple devoted to Guangong – who is worshipped as the God of War and patron saint of businessmen. Xingtian Temple is relatively young and was built only in 1967 – its courtyard is usually filled with worshippers.

No. 109, Section 2, Minquan E Rd
Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 104
Tel: +886 2 2502 7924
Nearest Station: Xingtian Temple

#9 EAT AT AQUATIC ADDICTION DEVELOPMENT

Addiction Aquatic Development – developed by Mitsui Food and Beverage Enterprise Group – is a modern fish market with numerous concepts. Dine at one of their multiple on-site restaurants, shop for live seafood or purchase fresh sashimi and have an alfresco meal.

No. 18, Alley 2, Lane 410, Minzu E Rd
Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 104
Tel: +886 2 2508 1268
Daily: 6am – 12am
Nearest Station: Xingtian Temple

#10 EXPLORE YONG KANG STREET

The busy Yong Kang Street is a one-stop destination for all travellers. You can easily spend half a day exploring the bustling street and its adjoining alleyways. Fret not if you are travelling in a group with differing palates; Yongkang Street’s vast variety of dining options will definitely cater to the group’s varying preferences.

Yongkang Street, Da’an District
Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Nearest Station: Dongmen

#11 LUNCH AT THE FLAGSHIP DIN TAI FUNG

Singaporeans are no strangers to Taiwanese restaurant Din Tai Fung. After all, we have many outlets on our sunny island. However, if you want to trace back to Din Tai Fung’s humble beginnings, then you do drop by their flagship store located in Yongkang Street’s vicinity.

No. 194, Section 2, Xinyi Road
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +866 2 2321 8928
Mon to Fri: 10am – 9pm
Sat and Sun: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Dongmen

#12 SUN YAT-SEN MEMORIAL HALL

The construction of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Xinyi District was completed in 1972 and it pays tribute to the founder of the Republic of China, Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Do make it a point to catch the hourly ceremony – where the stoic guards formally change their shifts.

No. 505, Section 4, Ren’ai Rd
Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
Tel: +886 2 2758 8008
Daily: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

#13 SHOP AT FUJIN STREET

Spanning across 800 metres, the quaint tree-line Fujin Street is an up-and-coming Taiwanese neighbourhood; it 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, Songshan District
Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Nearest Station: Songshan Airport

DAY THREE

#14 DINNER AT RAO HE NIGHT MARKET

For an authentic Taiwanese experience, head to Taipei’s oldest night market called Raohe Street Night Market. The bustling bazaar is a stone’s throw away from Songshan MRT Station, hence making it an easily accessible attraction. Vendors usually start setting up their stalls at 5pm, but it is best to drop by around 7pm – where you get to catch the action in full force.

Rao He Street, Songshan District
Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2763 5733
Daily: 5pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Songshan

#15 BREAKFAST AT CHOOSE ME CAFE & MEALS

Choose Me Cafe & Meals is an independent speciality dessert cafe in Taipei. The cakes here are baked in-house daily and no artificial ingredients are used to create these gourmet masterpieces. Just look at the adorable Totoro Sesame Cheesecake (NT$160) – who could resist that?!

No. 423-1, Jinzhou Street
Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 104
Tel: +886 2 2503 3386
Daily: 9am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Zhongshan Junior High School

#16 DAY TRIP TO JIU FEN

If time permits, we strongly encourage you to make a day trip to Jiu Fen. The mountainous attraction is only a 40-minute drive away from Taipei city centre and seriously, it is worth a special trip! Remember to try the Ah Zhu Peanut Ice-cream and Ah Lan Hakka Glutinous Rice Cake.

Source: Guide to Taipei

#17 RELEASE SKY LANTERNS AT SHIFEN

Embark on another 40-minute drive and head to Shifen Old Street. This attraction is renowned for an activity: Releasing sky lanterns. Head to one of the shops along the railway track and they will assist you; write your wishes on a lantern, light it up and watch the colourful lantern fly into the sky.

Source: Hanko 60

#18 DRINK AT HANKO 60

HANKO 60 is a speakeasy bar with a deceiving entrance: A retro movie theatre. But beyond the doors is actually an impressive cocktail bar serving innovative concoctions; expect to see your alcoholic drinks served in a mini bathtub, a popcorn bag and even a Chinese tea cup!

No. 60, Section 2, Hankou St,
Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Tel: +886 2 2381 0808
Sun to Thu: 8pm – 2am
Fri and Sat: 8pm – 3am
Nearest Station: Ximen

DAY FOUR

#19 BRUNCH AT SMITH & HSU

Smith & Hsu is the best place for scones and tea in Taipei. Buttery, warm and lightly glazed on the crust, the scones are served with clotted cream and a spread of your choice. Choose from their homemade jams, marmalades, honey and lemon curd – our favourite spreads are the strawberry jam and lemon curd.

No. 8, Section 5, Zhongxiao East Road
Tel: +886 2 8786 2877
Sun to Thu: 11am – 9.30pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Taipei City Hall

#20 SHOP FOR SOUVENIRS AT CHIA TE BAKERY

Now that it’s time to go home, we suggest you Drop by Chia Te Bakery for some last minute shopping. Stock your baskets with boxes of Pineapple Cakes aka Feng Li Su – because you will only regret not bringing home more of these baked goodies.

No. 88, Section 5, Nanjing East Road
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 8787 8186
Daily: 7.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Nanjing Sanmin

Taiwan is a favourite holiday destination in Asia for many reasons. Besides indulging in endless amounts of sweet and savoury street snacks, there are also many places of interests to visit.

You can also experience a little more of the Taiwanese culture by taking a trip down to the more rural areas of the country, such as Hualien—known for their beautiful mountainous areas and landscapes.

Whether it’s your first time visiting the land of night markets, or even if you have already been there multiple times, Taiwan will always retain its charm and city life that will leave you wanting more. Here’s a condensed 6D5N itinerary of our trips, where we explored beyond Taipei and the 22 things to see, do and eat in Taiwan.

DAY ONE IN TAICHUNG

#1 GET THE FAMOUS TAIWAN MILK TEA

3.15pm: You’ve seen them sell out rapidly on Singapore’s 7-11 shelves but in Taiwan, these bottles of milk tea are constantly available in vast quantities. The drink comes in various flavours, such as Café Au Lait, Matcha Latte, Sumiyaki and more. The best part? They’re at least two times cheaper than what you’ll find here in Singapore.

Besides that, the convenience stores stock up on amazing amounts of microwaveable food, chips, pastries and more that make for great midnight snack stashes.

#2 VISIT FENGJIA NIGHT MARKET

7.30pm: The experience here was (and always will be) crazy, to say the least. The crowd—especially during dinner hour—was unbelievable. We had to squeeze through the people-packed streets, but the street food such as the huge takoyaki, sweet potato puffs and taro chips made it all worth it. You could easily spend hours walking up and down the street and trying everything!

Fengjia Road, Xitun District
Taichung City 407
Daily: 4pm – 2am

DAY TWO IN HUALIEN

#3 CHECK INTO PAPAYA RIVER B&B

This B&B is tucked away in a serene, quiet spot in Hualien. It doubles up as an alpaca farm and is also home to two dogs and a cat. These domesticated pets are friendly, so you can even pet them if you like!

The host themselves also offer guide services, and they brought us around Hualien while we were there. Plus point: the incredible landscape around the B&B makes for amazing pictures.

No. 176 Guanghua 8th Street
Hualien County 97357
Tel: +888-3-842-1122

DAY THREE IN HUALIEN

#4 FEED THE ALPACAS

9.30am: If you’re staying at the B&B, you can wake up bright and early and request to feed these alpacas—for free! Start your morning right by getting upclose and personal with these fluffy creatures!

#5 STROLL AROUND NATIONAL DONG HWA UNIVERSITY

10.45am: Just a 20-minute ride from The Papaya River B&B, the school is open to the public, and boasts beautiful scenic views that are perfect for pictures.

University Road Section1
Shoufeng Township, 974

#6 TAKE IN THE SCENIC VIEWS AT LIN TIAN SHAN FORESTRY PARK

1pm: You can’t find any mountains in Singapore, but Hualien is littered with them. The forestry park is relatively quiet, and provides you with an opportunity to trek through the trees. Entry is free!

No. 20, Linsen Road, Fenglin Township
Hualien County 975

#7 TREK AROUND LIYU LAKE

2.30pm: This lake is a must-visit when you’re in Hualien. It is quiet, peaceful, and looks over the beautiful mountainside. There’s a footpath that stretches across 2.4km leading you from one end of the lake to the other, and you can either walk that length or rent bikes.

It’s the perfect place to take in the fresh air and take in the nature surrounding you.

Huantan North Road, Shoufeng Township
Hualien County 974

#8 HAVE DINNER AT EAST GATE NIGHT MARKET

7.30pm: This night market is the most popular one in Hualien, simply because it is huge, and even has little game stores for you to try out. Some of the food we tried included cheese omelettes, grilled squid, and even a kebab wrap!

No. 50, Zhongshan Road
Hualien Country 970
Daily: 6pm – 12am

DAY FOUR IN XIMENDING, TAIPEI

#9 TAKE THE TAIWAN METRO

12pm: The Taiwan Metro is a quick and fuss-free way to get around Taipei and beyond! Similar to the trains we have here in Singapore, their cabins are also clean!

#10 VISIT SUN YAT-SEN MEMORIAL HALL

1.30pm: What is a trip to Taiwan without making a pit stop at the iconic Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall? Paying tribute to Dr Sun Yat-sen, who is affectionately named as China’s founding father, this is where you can learn more about his revolutionary career.

No. 505, Section 4
Ren’ai Road, Xinyi District
Taipei City, Taiwan
Daily: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

#11 SOAK IN A HOT SPRING AT BEI TOU

3pm: Relax your muscles and enjoy a thermal hot spring bath at Bei Tou, a popular tourist destination in Taipei. Just a stone’s throw away from Xinbeitou station, the area has a mix of both public and private baths featuring mineral-rich water. Do note that it is recommended for you to book the private baths before heading over.

Nearest Station: Xinbeitou

#12 SHOP AT XIMENDING

6.30pm: With your bellies filled, you can now shop around the vast shopping district that is Ximending. If you’re a shoe-lover, you’re in luck—the area is home to a myriad of shoe stores like Nike, Adidas, and ABC Mart (this is a multi-label store with tons of amazing shoes). Besides that, there are tons of more souvenir shops selling Taiwanese snacks that you can bring home.

108, Taipei City
Nearest Station: Ximending

DAY FIVE IN TAIPEI

#13 TAKE A WALK AT DA’AN PARK

11am: Just a 15-minute ride from Ximending Station on the metro line, Da’an Park is apparently one of the ‘richer’ parts of Taiwan, but the scenery is no less beautiful. It is located right outside Da’an Park metro station. You can even have a morning run along the park!

Section 3, Xinyi Road, Da’an District
Taipei City 106
Nearest Station: Da’an Station

#14 GO SHOPPING AT ZHONGXIAO DUNHUA SHOPPING AREA

3pm: This is the Southern region of Taipei—within walking distance from Da’an Park—and is arguably the ‘hipster-haven’ of Taipei which is popular among Taiwanese youths.

You’ll find a huge range of stores with different styles to shop from. Look out for a huge Forever 21 outlet located right outside the train station.

Section 4, Zhongxiao E. Road, Da’an District
Taipei City 106
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Zhongxiao Dunhua Station

#15 VISIT TAIPEI 101

7pm: A must-do for all Taiwan first-timers. But if you don’t fancy paying extravagant prices to go up the tower, try hanging around the vicinity around the building instead. It is equally as beautiful.

Xinyi District, Taipei City 110
Nearest Station: Taipei 101 Station

DAY SIX IN TAIPEI

#16 HAVE BREAKFAST AT AH CHUNG MIAN XIAN

10am: The store along Ximending is often populated with people standing around and eating their piping hot bowls of mian xian—which are thin flour noodles cooked in rich broth and topped off with pig intestines.

No. 8-1, Emei Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Sat to Sun: 10.30am – 11pm
Tel: +886-2-2388-8808
Nearest Station: Ximending

#17 BUY PINEAPPLE TARTS AT CHIA TE

3pm: Honestly, no Taiwan trip is complete without buying back some tasty treats from Chia Te. The only outlet in Taiwan is located in Nanjing where snaking queues outside the storefront is a common sight.

Be prepared to queue for about 20-30 minutes but fret not, for the wait will be worth it as their biscuits and pastries taste amazing. If you’re not sure what to get, try their Sun Cakes, Milk Cakes, and Pineapple Tarts.

No. 88, Section 5, Nanjing E Road, Songshan District
Taipei City 105
Daily: 8am – 9.30pm
Tel: +886-2-8787-8186
Nearest Station: Nanjing Sanmin

#18 FEAST AT RAO HE NIGHT MARKET

6pm: This night market might just be one of the better ones in Taiwan, offering a huge selection of different kinds of food such as fried squid, baked cheese potatoes, and the famous Fuzhou Pepper Buns.

Roahe Street, Songshan District
Taipei City 105
Daily: 4pm – 12am
Tel: +886-2-2763-5733
Nearest Station: Songshan

DAY SIX IN TAIPEI

#19 TAKE A DAY TRIP TO JIUFEN

9am: Bus services up to Jiufen are available from Taipei. You can either book a private bus, or go on a public one (which is cheaper). The ride takes about 3 hours.

Jiufen 224, Ruifang District, Taipei City

#20 TRY THE FAMOUS A-ZHU PEANUT ICE CREAM ROLLS

You’ve probably heard of these peanut ice cream rolls. After all, they’ve been flooding Instagram feeds for a long time now. These ice cream rolls are made of taro ice cream, topped with peanut shavings and wrapped in spring roll skin.

No. 45, Jishan Street, Ruifang District

#21 SNACK ON LAI AH PO YU YUAN

These are traditional handmade taro, sweet potato and green tea balls mixed with sweet soup, and can be eaten hot or cold. They cost just NT$40 (S$1.72) per bowl!

No. 143, Jishan Street, Ruifang District

#22 SPEND YOUR LOOSE CHANGE ON GRAB-CLAW MACHINES

Ximending has stores that house many different grab-claw machines, and they’re relatively easy to win too! If you have any extra loose change before you head home, you can try your luck at these machines and see whether you can bring home any adorable plushies or toys.

In fact, you’re likely to find shops dedicated to grab-claw machines at literally all the night markets scattered around the city.