Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Eat Everywhere
about us
the barn
on the map
features
recipes
go everywhere
everything else
Eat Everywhere is a journal about our love for food & travel, everywhere in the world.
Search for:
08.15.2013
Author
Price
One Dollar
Rating
Five Forks
The eating scene in Taiwan is overwhelming yet exciting. In this post, I focus on the cheap eats of Taiwan. Most of the dishes below range from
US$0.50 to US$2 per dish; only a few seafood dishes are pricier at US$5 to US$6. In fact, many of these dishes can trace their roots back to
mainland China, sadly, it is difficult to find street food with the same quality in mainland China today. Taiwan has preserved the taste of old
China and a part of its regional culture, and the quality of street food is impressive. Instead of massively sourcing their food from factories;
many of these local food vendors are seen preparing their own ingredients in traditional ways.
To not overly lengthen this post, I did not include everything I ate here. But all of this is merely a peek into the vast food culture of Taiwan,
there is just so much more to explore. Now, let’s start with the most important meal of the day – breakfast!
Yung Ho (永和豆浆大王) at no. 215 Zhong Zheng Road, Shilin District opens from 2 am to 2 pm. It has been serving the locals with fresh
Taiwanese breakfast for decades. My passionate foodie friend Jamie, who is also a Shilin local, tells me how Yung Ho has been a family favorite
and is filled with childhood memories.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 1/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
This is their xiao long bao (小籠包) – soup dumplings. Unlike the typical xiao long bao with thinner skin and hot soup inside, Yung Ho’s
version is more like a steam pork bun with chewy thick dough, accompanied by delicious pork meat.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 2/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
Besides soybean milk (in white), try the Taiwanese specialty – rice milk (米浆). The brownish color of the rice milk is from peanuts, it’s a sweet
drink with nutty flavor.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 3/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
The hot sticky rice roll (飯糰) is prepared with rice, dry meat floss and eggs. It goes perfectly well with the sweet soybean and rice milk.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 4/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
Egg Cakes(蛋餅) is a mixture of egg and flour. Just imagine eating thin layers of egg pancakes!
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 5/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
Baked layered flat bread with twisted fried bread stick (燒餅油條) is another traditional breakfast dish. Try dipping them into the soybean and
rice milk first before devouring it.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 6/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
Done with breakfast, let’s move on to lunch! We go to Emperor Foods (君悦排骨) – a fast food chain serving typical Taiwanese lunch, which
includes dishes such as beef noodle soup, fried chicken and pork chop. The pork chop here (like most pork chops you will find in Taiwan) is
thin, which allows plenty of flavors to sink in and is easy to devour. It is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Even though it is deep
fried, it does not taste very oily.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 7/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 8/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
You can find the famous tube rice pudding (筒仔米糕) easily in Taipei. This particular one is from Yingge (鶯歌), the famous porcelain town
that is 30 minutes away from the center of Taipei by train. The restaurant name is Gedi (哥弟筒仔米糕) at no. 85, Zhongzheng 1st Rd, Yingge
District, New Taipei City. The tube rice pudding consists of ingredients such as sticky rice, mushrooms, pork and other seasoning. It’s stirfried
first then steamed into the form of a tube.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 9/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 10/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
This delectable and famous Taiwanese tradition at Gedi is braised pork on rice (滷肉飯). The sauce is made of garlic, soy sauce, onion, sugar,
aniseed and wine.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 11/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
Going back to the center of Taipei at the Ximending (西門町) where some refer to as the Harajuku (Japan) of Taipei, we line up for AyChung
FlourRice Noodle (阿宗麵線). The broth is cooked with large intestines, bamboo shoots and dried bonitos. Even if innards are not your cup of
tea, we highly recommend you to try the delicious noodles.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 12/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
The sun is setting on the horizon, and it’s time to head to the night markets! The night markets of Taiwan is overwhelming, mostly due to it’s
immense variety of food vendors. Below is a food hawker selling braised meats, seaweed and tofu at Shilin Night Market (士林夜市).
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 13/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
These pepper cakes at Shilin night market are buns filled with minced pork, scallion and pepper powder. Cooked by sticking them to the wall of
a charcoal brick oven.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 14/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
Eating a fresh pepper cake right out of the oven. Biting into the hot and crunchy skin, be careful not to burn your tongue!
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 15/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
Now let’s talk about the sausages at Shilin night market. What’s cooking below are small pork sausages and sticky rice in the shape of a
sausage. The name for this snack is small sausage in large sausage (大腸包小腸) or simply call it a Taiwanese Hotdog.
The sticky rice is filled with condiments and sauces of your choice, it acts as the “bun”, then add the pork sausage on top, and you got yourself
a Taiwanese Hotdog.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 16/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
These giant sausages are cut into small pieces and served with raw garlic. The spiciness of raw garlic and the sweetness of Taiwanese sausages
make it a perfect combination. Perfect beer food.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 17/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
One of the most delicious foods I’ve tried at Shilin night market is from Kaohsiung Dongshan Duck(高雄東山鴨頭). Braised duck meat,
innards, wings and tofu of your choice are flash fried in front of you before being cut into smaller pieces and served. The result is a heavenly
mix of texture and flavors.
Just when I am trying to come to terms with the large amount of food vendors in Shilin night market, I discover an underground world with two
basement floors packed with more food stands, it is still a part of Shilin night market, it’s just unbelievable, now, this is an eating culture! The
first thing I find here is the Coffin bread (棺材板). It’s an overly thick toast, hallowed out in order to make room for the pork and seafood
chowder.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 18/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
Below is one of Taiwanese’s favorite snacks – Oyster omelet (蚵仔煎). This dish is a traditional dish from southern China. When people from
southern China migrated to places like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, they also brought this dish along with them.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 19/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
This is a snack called da bing bao xiao bing (大餅包小餅), it literally means a small bun wrapped in a big bun. What it is is a deep fried bun
wrapped in a soft pancake. You have the choice to make this snack sweet or salty by adding black sesame, peanuts, taro, red beans, zaoni, curry,
black pepper etc. I choose sweet sesame. The first bite is confusing because the pancake does not have much flavor and the taste of sesame is
subtle. But after a few more bites, I begin to like the combination of the soft pancake skin and the crispy bun, I get it, and I like it.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 20/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
You can’t say you tried Taiwanese snacks without trying the most famous of them all – the smelly tofu.
Smelly Tofu at Shiln night market, not so smelly afterall.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 21/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
You can also find plenty of nontraditional snacks in Shilin night market. Since they look so good, I just have to try them. This is egg omelet
with mayo, cheese and corn.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 22/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
Fried chicken
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 23/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 24/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
The best panfry pork buns in Shilin is Zhongji (鍾記原上海生煎包) with over 30 years of history.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 25/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
More pepper cakes cooking in the brick oven. They look so beautiful, don’t they?
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 26/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
I had no idea rice can be made into so many different dishes. This is a rice cake cooked in layers in Jiufen (九份) – a hillside town about one
hour away from Taipei.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 27/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
The texture of the rice cake is smooth and silky.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 28/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
A specialty of Jiufen is taro cakes. The super soft taro cakes is made of sticky flour and taro. There is a smaller version of taro balls which is
the most famous in Jiufen. Taiwanese love to add these amazing sticky balls into their desserts. You will find plenty of cooked ones to try in
Jiufen, or you can buy the uncooked ones by the bulk. Once you take them home, all you need to do is to boil them and serve it with dessert or
fruits.
Freshly made fishballs in Jiufen. I am very glad these handmade fishballs still exist! Fishballs are a very popular snack food in Hong Kong and
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 29/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
southern China, but most of them are highly processed with unpronounceable additives and with almost no fish in it. Whether it be taste or
texture, these fresh fishballs are much better than the instant ones.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 30/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
Between Taipei and Jiufen is a major port town called Keelung (基隆) which is located in the most northeastern region of Taiwan. Because of its
proximity to the ocean, the Keelung night market (of course it has a night market) is famous for seafood and a special type of sandwich called
the nutritious sandwich (營養三明治).
So how does these nutritious sandwich (營養三明治) taste like? Imagine a doughnut that has just been fried, the skin is still crispy and hot, now
imagine eating that doughnut with tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, ham, sausages and mayo. You get the idea right? Hardly “nutritious” in my books,
but delectable.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 31/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 32/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 33/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
I stumble upon a seafood vendor in Keelung night market, where in the front hangs a photo of the owner and Anthony Bourdain. Anthony
Bourdain is my idol, and since I share the same birthday with his daughter, I know we must have a special connection (crazy alert). I have to try
something here because of Anthony Bourdain. I proceed to order a large raw oyster and some sea urchins.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 34/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
Only in Taiwan, where I can eat oysters and sea urchins as snacks. They are very reasonably priced and fresh.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 35/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
The Taiwanese sea urchin has a thicker texture, it’s less sweet but more buttery with slight saltiness.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 36/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 37/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
For sweets, this is the famous strawberry candies from Keelung night market.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 38/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
Besides pearl bubble tea, papaya milk is also very popular in Taiwan.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 39/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
Never knew bitter melon juice can taste this good, but yes it can and it is refreshing when mixed with lemon juice and honey. Another recipe
inspiration for my home juicing!
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 40/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
It’s time for desserts! Shaved ice, shaved ice and shaved ice! Everywhere you turn, people are eating shaved ice! I have no doubt this is the
national dessert. Shaved ice comes in many different toppings. Try Ice Monster, a very popular shaved ice dessert place in Taiwan. You can find
out about their locations at www.icemonster.com
Shaved ice with mango
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 41/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 42/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
My favorite dessert from this trip is tofu pudding at Dinxiang (丁香豆花) at Qingguang Market(晴光市場), Lane 12, Shuangcheng St,
Zhongshan District.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 43/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
There are so many toppings to choose from: tapioca, taro balls, yam balls, lotus seeds, beans, peanuts and fruits.
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 44/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
The tofu pudding is cold and very smooth. The toppings are delicious sticky flour balls with sweet flavors. I love the combination, the only
problem is that I wish the serving size was bigger. But with a price of just US$ 2, I may just order another one!
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 45/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
And…that’s it. Still hungry? In all seriousness, the food in Taiwan is very enjoyable and I still have a long list to explore. I also need to thank
Jamie, the Taiwanese foodie who took me around town! If you are into food, Taiwan should definitely be on your radar to visit! My stomach
and I cannot wait to go back!
Send Email Share on LinkedIn Share on Google+ Share on Pinterest Share on Twitter Share on Facebook
Leave a Comment
Connect With Us
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 46/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
eat-everywhere.com
Like Page 1.3K likes
eat-everywhere.com
January 9
Subscribe
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
INSTAGRAM
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 47/48
2/21/2017 Amazing Cheap Eats of Taiwan – WARNING: May Induce Extreme Hunger Pains - Eat Everywhere
PINTEREST
http://eat-everywhere.com/2013/08/15/amazing-cheap-eats-of-taiwan-warning-may-induce-extreme-hunger-pains/ 48/48