Enjoy Taiwanese Iconic Food and Drink at National Palace Museum [Taipei / Eat]

3 min readAug 27, 2023

Date of visit: August 27, 2023

After appreciating the Meat-Shaped Stone at the National Palace Museum in Taipei, we could sense our stomach rumbling so badly. In the humid and sweltering Summer of the Taipei Basin, it is a true delight to have a meal without stepping out of an air-conditioned space. With just a quick elevator ride, we ascended to the fourth floor of the main hall of National Palace Museum, called Sanxitang Space to indulge in iconic Taiwanese dishes.

The name “Sanxitang,” used for the restaurant within the National Palace Museum, holds a special charm. Sanxitang was Qianlong Emperor’s private chamber during the Qing Dynasty, where he collected classical calligraphic masterpieces from Chinese history. Today, the Sanxitang at the Taipei National Palace Museum offers unique meal sets and snacks exclusively for museum visitors.

San Xi Tang, National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan

My lunch today: Traditional braised pork, minced braised pork rice, chilled lotus root slices, and chilled edamame.

The traditional braised pork has a homely taste, much like the dishes prepared by my grandmother. Apart from tender and fragrant stewed pork belly, it also includes shiitake mushrooms, kelp, tofu skin, and carrots, blending the sweetness of vegetables with the richness of pork.

The minced braised pork rice features slightly firm grains of rice, complemented by the flavor of the braising sauce seasoned with shallots — a taste I truly enjoy.

Chilled lotus root involves thinly sliced and blanched lotus root, marinated with pomelo sauce for a burst of flavor. Chilled edamame salad, similarly, is boiled to tenderness and tossed with salt and black pepper, resulting in a refreshing dish that helps beat the summer heat and delights the palate of travelers.

For Taiwanese people, there’s always a space in their stomach for a large cup of beverage after a meal. And Sanxitang is currently serving Black Tea Latte — Taiwanese black tea combined with fresh milk, with the option to add black sugar pearls (tapioca pearls), which is the iconic Taiwanese drink — pearl milk tea.

Many Taiwanese prefer their cold drinks with no ice, maintaining the original concentration while still enjoying the chill. This cup of Pearl Milk Tea boasts a strong tea aroma and is mildly sweet, with just about a 30% sweetness level. If you, like me, prefer your drinks less sweet, this cup would suit you quite well.