A Regional Guide to Taiwanese Cuisine
You may have heard that Taiwan is a hotbed of culinary delights, with incredible cuisines from all over the world. But did you know that certain areas and cities are famous for their regional dishes? While pineapple cake may be loved all over, here are the top regional dishes and where to try them on your trip to Taiwan.
1. Stinky tofu in Shenkeng
Restaurant, Taiwanese
2. Pearl milk tea in Taichung
Bubble Tea Shop, Tea
Suncake in Taichung
If you come to Taichung, don’t come for just the pearl milk tea. The city is also home to many bakeries that specialize in suncake, selling thousands of the cakes each day. A flaky pastry with a sweet filling, suncake is so popular that the most famous bakeries have queues waiting to buy boxed up treats as souvenirs.
Beef noodle soup in Kaosiung
Taiwan is famous for beef noodle soup, but it is said to have originated in the southern port city of Kaohsiung. Chinese veteran soldiers fleeing the Chinese Civil War settled in the city, and the story goes that they invented the dish. Again, as with many of the foods on this list, beef noodles are available everywhere (the most expensive ones in the world are in Taipei) but the city of Kaohsiung is where it all began.
Seafood in Keelung
The Taiwanese love affair with seafood is no big secret. In fact, every city and town boasts a night market with vendors selling fried seafood on sticks. But it is the old port city of Keelung that is one of the best places for fresh-off-the-boat seafood. Here down by the harbor where fishermen sell their catch, you’ll find seafood restaurants and an incredible range of dishes.
3. Milkfish congee in Tainan
So popular that it has its own museum in Tainan and a festival in Kaohsiung, milkfish is a bony fish that can be a challenge to eat. However, Taiwanese and the people of Tainan, in particular, love it. And here in one of Taiwan’s most historic cities, you’ll find that the locals are crazy about milkfish congee. It can only be described as a rice porridge with fish. It doesn’t sound like much, but its popularity speaks volumes.
Milkfish Museum, 88 Guangzhou Road, Anping District, Tainan City, Taiwan
Danzi noodles in Tainan
Staying in Tainan, we have this incredibly simple snack that people the world over have struggled (and failed) to imitate. Danzi noodles come in a shrimp flavored soup and have several other ingredients which are never revealed. Each stall has its secret recipe giving each their own individual style and taste. Perhaps you can skip the milkfish, but you can’t miss out on Danzi noodles.
Coffin bread in Tainan
Tainan has cornered the market somewhat when it comes to regional dishes, and it’s a bit of a surprise to most tourists that one of these dishes is a kind of bread. Coffin bread consists of a hollowed out loaf filled with a creamy sauce that includes vegetables, pig intestines, chicken, and even curry. Think of it as a pot pie in a loaf of bread. Simply delicious.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.