12 Common taiwanese meals
[Note from the author : This list has been posted in 2018, a lot of things have changed since then. You can find an updated version of this list in our ebook.]
Here is a quick overview of the most basic, unique and cheap taiwanese meals. You can eat them at anytime and you will find them pretty much everywhere in the street or at nightmarkets.
For each meal we provide the chinese name of it, a short description, the average price, we recommand you a good place to try it (in Taipei), and a link to show you different versions of it.
Guabao
割包
They call it “taiwanese burger”.
The original flavor is pork, but some vegetarian versions exists.
Average price : around 40NTD
Where to get a good one?
Show me more pics!
Beef noodle
牛肉麵
A noodle soup made of stewed beef, beef broth, vegetables and noodles. Here it’s an obsession, almost a religion. Can be spicy.
Average price : 120NTD
Where to get a good one?
Show me more pics!
Milkfish soup
虱目魚湯
It is a very popular breakfast, especially in Kaohsiung and Tainan areas. Eat the eyes, it will “upgrade” your view, according to taiwanese people.
Average price : around 70NTD
Where to get a good one?
Show me more pics!
Steamed Ba wan
清蒸肉圓
A big dumpling, floating on a sweet and garlic sauce.It’s from Tainan area.
Average price : around 60NTD
Where to get a good one?
Show me more pics!
Wa guei
碗粿
Another pure tainanese artefact : a rice cake stuffed with marinade and pork belly, but also minced prawn macerated and dried black mushroom.
Average price : around 50NTD
Where to get a good one?
Show me more pics!
Stinky Tofu
臭豆腐
Basically it’s just fermented tofu boiled in oil and served with vegetables. Keep in mind that it tastes way better than it smells…
Average price : around 40NTD
Where to get a good one?
Show me more pics!
Pi dan tofu
皮蛋豆腐
Cold tofu with soy sauce and vinegar, served with the famous “century eggs” and topped with green onions.
Average price : around 40NTD Where to get a good one?
Show me more pics!
Tea leaf egg
茶葉蛋
An egg boiled in a prepartion made of black tea, sesame oil, soy sauce and some spices.
Average price : around 10NTD Where to get a good one? Those from 7/11 are not bad actually!
Show me more pics!
Bubble tea
珍珠奶茶
Some tea mixed with milk and tapioca bubbles. Ok, it’s not a proper meal… But it’s more than common here, so it counts. Be ready for the questioning: Hot? Warm? Cold? Sugar? Ice cubes?
Average price : around 50NTD Where to get a good one?
Show me more pics!
Oyster omelette
蚵仔煎
It looks weird, but it’s great, trust me.
The most important thing in this meal is probably the sauce.
Average price : around 60NTD
Where to get a good one?
Show me more pics!
Tian Bu La
甜不辣
A set of fish balls and sticks, with a sort of ketchup sauce.
It’s like a mix between japanese tempuras and western fish & ships meals, but in a chewy way.
Average price : around 50NTD Where to get a good one?
Show me more pics!
Braised pork rice
滷肉飯
Surely the most common meal for taiwanese people.
As famous as the beef noodle soup.
Average price : around 50NTD
Where to get a good one?
Show me more pics!
Others common meals in Taiwan :
Listing taiwanese food is a never ending game.
Here bellow we will add new meals.
Some of them are not 100% taiwanese meal.
They can have chinese, japanese, hongkongese or western origins, but are definitly part of taiwanese daily life:
- Turnip cake (from Hong kong)
- Xia long bao (from Shanghai)
- Mochi (from Japan)
- Pig’s blood cake
- Coffin bread
- Scallions pancakes
- Mango shave ice
- (other coming)
