Text and photos by Ben Young Landis
Welcome to Taiwan! Whether you’re settling in after your big move or if you’re just visiting the country, the first activity on many people’s checklist is to savor Taiwan’s many iconic culinary delights
Here in Taiwan, we are blessed with a blending of cultures and the foods they’ve contributed — from waves of Chinese migration plus Indigenous history over the centuries, to eras of Japanese and American influence, to modern Taiwan’s cosmopolitan crossovers. Here in Taipei especially, you can feast from street vendors in crowded alleys to Michelin-starred fine dining to corporate fast food chains.
But how to begin your gastronomic journey out of so many options? Well, if you want to eat like a local, you need to know your classic Taiwanese comfort foods. So read through our starter kit of what to eat in Taiwan — then grab your bestie and go!
Feel-Good Foods to Wake Up To
The first items in our starter kit may not seem like iconic Taiwanese breakfast dishes, but I assure you they’re as local as you can get: breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burgers. For expats seeking familiar yet unique options, these are a great introduction to the best Taiwanese food in the morning, especially when looking for a quick and satisfying Taiwanese comfort food in the morning.
Taiwanese Breakfast Sandwiches
In Taiwan, breakfast sandwiches are lighter fare made with crustless white bread made double-stacked and cut into a triangle. The fillings can be meaty or vegetarian. Maybe it’s a thin burger patty of ground pork or a chicken-katsu cutlet. Or it could be stuffed with Taiwanese pork floss or a slice of ham. Or maybe it’s a fried egg or sweet potato slice. On a shop rack, the sandwiches made that morning are displayed with the fillings visible, so you can quickly scan today’s offerings and grab your pick. But be quick — there’s probably a line of commuters behind you eager to buy their breakfast!
Taiwanese Breakfast Burgers
Taiwanese breakfast burgers, on the other hand, are usually made to order, so you might need help ordering from the menu in Mandarin or Taiwanese Hokkien, or look for a QR-code online menu. Unlike their American ancestors, Taiwanese hamburgers are often served with a fried egg. But shops rarely offer beefy American-style patties as the filling. Often, menus will list pork patties, pork or chicken cutlets, or even calamari burgers. These mouthwatering meals are typically petit portions, so you can pick up a couple Taiwanese burgers and try different flavors. Many consider these a must-try food in Taipei for breakfast.
And because they’re super cheap — about NTD $40~50 per sandwich or burger here around The Center’s neighborhood, Tianmu — you still have money leftover to buy a cup of hot milk tea or hot soy milk — two classic Taiwanese breakfast drinks that will warm up your belly and bring a smile to your face to start your day.
“Have You Eaten Rice Yet?”
“Have you eaten rice yet” is the literal translation of that classic greeting in Taiwan: 吃過飯嗎? in Mandarin and 食飯未? in Taiwanese Hokkien. It’s just a friendly way to say “How are you?” So for this part of our best Taiwanese comfort foods list, let’s look at some rice-forward favorites! For those new to the country, these traditional Taiwanese dishes are a great way to experience the local cuisine.
Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice
Braised pork rice is one of the reasons why we sometimes say Taiwanese food is like soul food from the U.S. South — this savory dish will definitely stick to your ribs! Often served as part of a bento box braised pork rice is literally made with diced pork belly and pork fat drippings that’s spooned over a bowl of steamed white rice. Yuan Huan Lu Rou Fan near The Center is one place to find the best braised pork rice in Taipei, but you can learn how to make your own when you sign up for the Saturday June 7 “Popular Taiwanese Dishes” cooking class hosted by The Center, with renowned cooking instructor and cookbook author Ivy Chen.
Taiwanese Sticky Rice
If that sounds too rich for your taste, Taiwanese sticky rice is a great alternative. Made with fragrant glutinous rice with steamed peanuts and shiitake mushrooms, additional fillings make it either vegetarian-friendly with soy protein — or meatier, with dried shrimp and minced meats. Taiwanese sticky rice can be bought by bulk at traditional market stalls, making this a convenient, ready-to-eat Taiwanese comfort food option. (Trivia: it’s also tradition to gift Taiwanese sticky rice to relatives and friends to announce a birth in the family, so look for that chance to try this treat!)
Taiwanese Zongzi
If you like a fancier version of sticky rice and it happens to be May or June, look for zongzi being sold all over Taiwan as part of the Dragon Boat Festival. With mythical origins stretching back to China’s Warring States Period 2,300 years ago, zongzi is sticky rice wrapped with bamboo leaves and then steamed. Localized to Taiwanese tastes, many families have their own take on zongzi fillings. Some add dried scallops or duck yolk or Taiwanese sausage, while others top off with soy sauce paste and crushed peanuts.
Families typically have a freezer full of zongzi after this annual holiday and are eager to re-gift their stash, so get in on this traditional Taiwanese meal as you make new friends here in Taipei! Or join The Center on Friday May 16 for the “Dragon Boat Festival Dishes” cooking class, where Ivy Chen will include zongzi as one of the three recipe demos.
Savory Noodles, Night Markets, and Sweet Drinks
But wait, there are even more Taiwanese local street foods and Taiwanese nostalgic favorites! Look out for part two of our “Exploring Taiwan’s Classic Comfort Foods: Heartwarming Tastes of Your New Home” series in the coming weeks.
And keep your eye out for the April 18 “Taiwanese Lunch” cooking class hosted by The Center, also taught by Ivy Chen. And to bring these authentic Taiwanese recipes home, be sure to purchase a copy of Made in Taiwan, the cookbook co-authored by Ivy Chen when you visit The Center in Tianmu next time. This cookbook is a great resource for anyone interested in Taiwan food culture.
Happy cooking — and happy eating!
Ben Young Landis
Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Ben Young Landis returns to his home country after three-plus decades in the United States, following an extensive career as a science communication trainer and advocate, creative strategy consultant, and nonprofit advisor. In his free time, Ben volunteers with The Center as a writer and event host — when he’s not drawing ocean art and practicing languages, or out exploring Taiwan’s delicious street eats, world-class museums, and multicultural third-spaces.