Taiwan Food Guide
Chaya Zoy in Chiayi
If there’s one thing you should plan your trip around, it’s the food.
From sizzling street snacks to refreshing fruits and comfort bowls that’ll ruin you for life (in the best way), Taiwan’s food scene is chef’s kiss 💋.
And I don’t just mean just Taipei. I’m an American-born Taiwanese gal who visits Taiwan every year to reconnect with family and dig deeper into my roots — and let me tell you, the real gems are spread all across the island.
iconic eats by destination
Taipei: street food capital
Lu Rou Fan (滷肉飯) – Braised pork rice. Simple, savory, iconic.
Scallion Pancake (蔥油餅) – Crisp, flaky, and stuffed with green onion magic.
Grilled Squid (烤魷魚) – Found sizzling fresh at Ningxia Night Market.
Pepper Buns (胡椒餅) – Crispy buns stuffed with juicy pepper pork.
Pineapple Cake (鳳梨酥) – A buttery, golden pastry with a sweet pineapple filling — crisp on the outside, soft in the middle. It’s one of Taiwan’s most beloved souvenirs for a reason! In Taiwanese culture, pineapple (鳳梨 fènglí) symbolizes prosperity and good luck, so these treats are often gifted at weddings, holidays, or reunions.
Soup Dumplings (小籠包) – Din Tai Fung turned this Shanghainese dish into a global Taiwanese icon.
Oyster Omelette (蚵仔煎) – Sweet potato starch batter + oysters + sauce = chaotic deliciousness.
✰ Book a Taipei Food Tour - Let a local guide you through the foodie haven in Taipei — perfect for first-timers or curious foodies.
Taichung: boba birthplace & night markets
Sun Cake (太陽餅) – Flaky pastry with a malt sugar filling. Great souvenir!
Sweet Potato Balls (地瓜球) – Best ones I had were at Fengjia Night Market 😍
Gua Bao (刈包) – Taiwanese “burger” with stewed pork belly, cilantro, and crushed peanuts.
Boba! – Visit Chun Shui Tang, the OG birthplace of boba.
✰ Book a Historic Taichung Food Walk + Sun Cake DIY - Explore local markets, make your own sun cake, and discover where boba was born. 🍹🥮
Ita Thao District
Sun Moon Lake (Nantou)
Tea Eggs – Simmered in tea and spice; marbled on the outside, savory on the inside.
Wild Boar Sausages – Best enjoyed on Ita Thao Street after a lakeside stroll.
Assam Black Tea Soft Serve
Bamboo Rice – Sticky rice steamed inside bamboo — perfect hiking snack.
Sun Moon Lake Black Tea - Smooth, aromatic, and worth bringing home as a gift (we got a couple as well!)
Chiayi: turkey rice & Alishan
Turkey Rice (火雞肉飯) – Chiayi’s iconic dish! Tender shredded turkey drizzled with savory soy sauce and oil over fluffy rice.
Fountain Chicken (噴水雞肉飯) – A local fave named after Chiayi’s iconic fountain roundabout.
Tofu Pudding (豆花) – Smooth, silky, and refreshing dessert often served with sweet toppings and ginger or brown sugar syrup.
Alishan Tea (阿里山茶) – Grown in the nearby mountains — sip it fresh at a tea house or pick up some as a gift.
Kaohsiung: the south & seafood
Milkfish Soup (虱目魚湯) – Iconic to southern Taiwan, full of flavor and omega-3s.
Papaya Milk – A creamy, sweet and local fave
Grilled Oysters – Fresh AF, especially on Cijin Island.
Black Wheel (黑輪) - Taiwanese oden: simmered fish cakes and skewers in a umami-rich broth.
Taiwanese Burrito (潤餅) - A savory wrap with pork, herbs, and crushed peanuts.
Shaved Ice (剉冰, cuòbīng) – A must-have dessert in Kaohsiung! Piled high with fluffy shaved ice and loaded with your choice of toppings like fresh fruit, chewy mochi, sweet taro, red beans, and condensed milk. Refreshing, customizable, and perfect for Taiwan’s tropical heat. ☀️🍧
first-time must-eats!
If this is your first visit to Taiwan and you are unsure of which iconic foods to try, here are some options!
🍜 Beef Noodle Soup (牛肉麵, niúròumiàn)
Braised beef, thick chewy noodles, and a deep savory broth. This iconic dish was created by civil war refugees who missed their hometowns — and now it’s a must-have in Taiwan.
🧋 Bubble Tea (波霸奶茶, bōbànǎichá)
Did you know boba was invented in Taiwan? Head to Chun Shui Tang in Taichung (the OG shop) or my personal fave, Chicha San Chen — high-end tea that tastes like a dream.
🍲 Hot Pot or Shabu Shabu (火鍋 hǔogūo / 刷刷鍋 )
Another iconic Taiwanese thing is to try their hot pot. Surprisingly hot pot even if you visit during the summer, they’ll blast the indoor AC making it seem SUPER cold and when you’re eating your hot pot you’ll still feel nice and warm after the cold AC. Although hot pot traditionally came from China as well, it became popular after the Japanese colonization and people want a communal eating experience. Taiwanese hot pot isn’t as spicy as Sichuan Hot Pot, which I literally experienced in Chongqing Lao Zao in Queens [LINK], New York.
🥞 Taiwanese Egg Pancake (蛋餅, Dànbǐng)
Breakfast gold. You can find these at any local breakfast shop. It’s like a scallion pancake + crispy crepe hybrid — you can add bacon, cheese, corn, etc, or go classic.
My go-to fave combo: egg + cheese + corn. Savory and addictive.
Papaya Milk (木瓜牛奶 mùgūanǐunaǐ)
Sweet, creamy, and refreshing. I grew up drinking this! You’ll see it at night markets or fruit stands. Bonus: it’s great for digestion, skin, and immunity.
🍚 Pork Over Rice (滷肉飯, lǔròufàn)
Childhood fave alert! Back in elementary school, when we lived in Kaohsiung, there was a stand right across the street from my elementary school. I would ALWAYS use my allowance to buy pork over rice as a quick afternoon snack before going home because it was THAT GOOD.
Pork over rice consists of finely chopped pork served with sauce over a bed of rice, creating the iconic dish that everyone loves.
Tofu Pudding (豆花, dòuhuā)
Silky, cooling, and subtly sweet. Add toppings like taro balls, boba, or fruits. You’ll want this after a hot day exploring.
Scallion Pancake (蔥油餅, cōngyóubǐng)
You’ve probably ordered this as an appetizer before when you go to any Taiwanese or Chinese restaurant. Brought by Northern Chinese, this iconic dish in Taiwan is not to be missed. Crispier in Taiwan than anywhere else. Street vendors go heavy on the scallions and flavor. One bite = hooked.
fruits you can't miss
Taiwan’s tropical climate makes it a fruit paradise — juicy, seasonal, and sometimes impossible to find elsewhere. You’ll spot vendors selling them in traditional markets, on the side of the road, or from fruit trucks rolling through neighborhoods.
Dragonfruit (火龍果, hǔolóng gǔo)
I love dragonfruit — especially in tropical countries where the heat makes them extra sweet. Taiwan’s dragonfruit has a bold red exterior and either a white or vibrant red inside, speckled with tiny edible seeds. They’re refreshing, hydrating, and so fun to eat.
🗓 Season: June to November
🍐 Guava (巴樂, Bálè)
Taiwanese guava has a sweet, slightly chalky taste — a little different than the soft, pink guava you might know. You’ll find it at almost every traditional market. Peak sweetness happens in the cooler months (Nov – Apr), while summer guava is more abundant but a bit drier.
🗓 Season: Year-round, best Nov to Apr
🍈 Honeydew (香瓜 xiāng guā)
Honeydew is another popular fruit in Taiwan — super sweet, juicy, and crazy refreshing, especially in summer. You’ll even see it as a flavor in boba drinks!
Some honeydews can get pricey — my parents and I once splurged on one from a local fruit shop, and wow… it was perfectly crisp, fragrant, and melt-in-your-mouth sweet.
🗓 Season: Different varieties pop up throughout the year, but peak season is from June to August
👀 Longan (龍眼, Lóngyǎn)
Also called “Dragon Eye fruit” (because the inside looks like an eye 👁), longan is similar to lychee but smaller and more delicate. Peel away the smooth brown skin to reveal a juicy, translucent interior.
🗓 Season: July to September
💕 Lychee (荔枝, Lìzhī)
LOVE lychee!! One of my all-time faves. They have a spiky red shell that’s a little tough to peel, but it’s totally worth it for that juicy, sweet interior. Just don’t eat the seed in the middle 😅
🗓 Season: May to August
🥭 Mango (芒果, Mángguǒ)
Mango season in Taiwan is elite. They’re sweet, juicy, and perfect whether you eat them fresh, in juice, or shaved ice (mango bing, anyone?).
🗓 Season: May to October
Papaya (木瓜, Mùguā)
Papaya is super popular in Taiwan — especially as papaya milk, a creamy drink you’ll see at night markets. Locals also add it to soups for extra nutrition. It’s known to be great for digestion and skin health.
🗓 Season: July to November
Passion Fruit (百香果, Bǎixiāng guǒ)
Tangy, juicy, and full of crunch from the edible seeds.
One of my fave memories: having passionfruit on a fruit platter when we ordered room service for breakfast at the Shangri-La in Taipei — it was my partner’s first time trying it and he loved it.
Meanwhile back at home in NYC, we tried to love the passionfruit we bought… but it’s never as sweet 😅
🗓 Season: June to December
Persimmon (柿子, Shìzi)
Persimmons are sweet, a little cinnamony, and somewhere between an apricot and a firm jelly. In Taiwan’s Hakka communities, they’re often dried into chewy snacks. The leaves? You can brew them into tea!
🗓 Season: September to December
⭐ Star Fruit (楊桃, Yángtáo)
Found mostly in traditional markets. It’s juicy and mild, shaped like a star when sliced (yes, it’s that cute).
Some Taiwanese aunties will tell you men shouldn’t eat too much… and while that sounds like folklore, there’s a bit of truth: starfruit contains oxalic acid and caramboxin, which can be harmful if you have kidney issues.
But unless you’re eating kilos of it a day, you’re probably fine. I’d say try it once — it’s worth the bite!
🗓 Season: December to March, less common now but still around
Sugar-Apple / Custard Apple (釋迦, Shìjiā)
This one’s wild. I tried it for the first time after my parents and I hiked down Dakeng in Taichung — my mom spotted them at the local fruit stand market and said they were super rare to find because they spoil so quickly.
I was a bit skeptical because the fruit itself looked weird… but WOW.
The creamy, sweet interior totally stole my heart — even better than lychee.
Just eat it quickly because they ripen fast and go bad within days.
🗓 Season: July to February (peak December to April)
🍎 Wax Apple (蓮霧, Liánwù)
Looks like a red pear but tastes totally different — crisp, watery, and slightly sweet with a chewy crunch. A super hydrating snack in the summer heat.
🗓 Season: May to July
night market favorites
🏮 What to Eat at Taiwan’s Night Markets
Night markets = foodie playground. Whether you’re looking for crispy snacks, weird-but-good local eats, or something sweet, this is where to go. Bring cash, an empty stomach, and a sense of adventure.
Gua Bao (掛包 guabao)
Originally coming from Fujian, China, this Chinese dish is taken to a different style in Taiwan. With braised pork belly, pickled greens, peanuts, and cilantro. This dish is similar to like a folded mantou with meat inside. Very delicious!
Stinky Tofu (臭豆腐, chòudòufǔ)
Smells like a sewage, tastes like a dream.
Yes, it smells bad. Yes, it actually used to be even smellier — back in the day, you could smell it from literal blocks away. But ever since a massive rise in tourism and a few too many complaints about the smell (sadly), today’s stinky tofu is a bit tamer.
Still, if you love fermented flavors, you’re in for a treat.
It’s crispy on the outside, soft inside, and usually drenched in garlicky sauce with a side of crunchy pickled cabbage to balance the funk.
👀 Try the classic big block with a garlicy sauce-filled center, or the bite-sized version loaded with toppings. Trust me: once you get past the smell, you might just become obsessed.
🧋 Boba or Bubble Tea (波霸奶茶, bōbànǎichá)
You’re not really in Taiwan until you’ve had at least 3 cups of boba in 1 day. (I’m kidding)
Taiwan is the birthplace of bubble tea, and every shop has its own unique spin — from traditional brown sugar pearls to high-end teas brewed to order. Don’t just default to the chains. Try different stalls, compare the flavors, and find your favorite spot.
✨ MY RECS
Chun Shui Tang — the OG inventor of bubble tea, based in Taichung [LINK]
Chicha San Chen — elevated, tea-forward blends I’m obsessed with [LINK]
Scallion Pancake (蔥油餅, cōngyóubǐng)
Flaky, crispy, and full of that irresistible scallion taste!
You think you’ve had scallion pancake before… but you haven’t had it Taiwanese-style.
Local vendors make it extra flaky, with more scallions and sometimes toppings like egg, cheese, or basil. Fresh off the skillet, it’s crunchy and slightly chewy, the perfect snack for walking and eating.
📍Look for stalls with long lines — trust me, it’s worth the wait.
🍠 Sweet Potato Balls (地瓜球, dìguā qiú)
Chewy, bouncy, slightly sweet — and dangerously addictive.
These golden balls are made from sweet potato starch, deep-fried till they puff up into crispy, airy bites with a delightfully chewy center. Some versions are even stuffed with brown sugar syrup or gooey cheese. Yes, really.
💬 Confession time: I wasn’t into sweet potatoes at all — until my best friend shoved a bag of these into my hands at Fengjia Night Market in Taichung. One bite, and I fell in love. The combo of crispy outside, stretchy inside, and just the right amount of sweet? Game changer.
📍 You’ll find these at most night markets — don’t skip ’em.
Cheese Durian (起司榴槤, qísī líulián)
This one totally caught me off guard.
You’ve probably heard of durian — the infamous “stinky fruit” — but somehow, when paired with cheese, it weirdly works?! It’s creamy, salty, and kinda… good??
Not my fave, but my best friend is a durian fiend and loves this snack.
📍 Find it at Raohe Night Market
final thoughts
Trying new foods can be daunting, and I’m the type of person who prefers to stick with what I know and love.
However, trust me, this guide is filled with absolutely delicious options!
Be sure to bookmark this post and share it with your foodie travel buddies. Also, don’t forget to download my Taiwan Travel Checklist to help you plan your trip with ease!
FAQ
Q: Is it safe to eat food in Taiwan?
A: Yes! Taiwan is one of the safest foodie countries in Asia. You won’t get the runs from a random stall. Vendors usually wear masks, use gloves, and prep food with pride. So relax — and dig in.
Q: What about water?
A: Tap water isn’t drinkable straight from the faucet. You’ll have to boil it first and let it cool, or stick to bottled water (grab one at any 7-Eleven or FamilyMart). Also, many hotels provide a kettle and water bottles daily.
Q: How do I order food in Taiwan?
A: Most casual restaurants work like this: seat yourself, fill out a paper menu, and pay at the front counter. Super simple. No Mandarin? No problem — Use Google Translate or your favorite translator app, pointing and smiling works wonders.
Q: I’m vegan or vegetarian. Help?
A: Taiwan is surprisingly veg-friendly! Look for signs that say:
全素 (quánsù)
fully vegan (no egg/dairy)
蛋奶素 (dàn nǎi sù)
vegetarian (includes egg/dairy)
💡 BONUS TIP: Print a dietary card in Mandarin and show it before ordering to avoid surprises.
check out my Taiwan travel vlog
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From sizzling street stalls to underrated fruit and iconic local dishes, this Taiwan Food Guide is your ultimate bite-by-bite breakdown of what to eat (and where!). Perfect for first-timers, foodies, and curious travelers who want to eat like a local — not just in Taipei, but across Taiwan.