Taiwan is certainly a vacation spot that can enchantment to foodies. Whether or not you’re within the temper for the tastiest dumplings, freshest seafood, or distinctive avenue eats, Taiwanese delicacies has one thing to supply for everyone. For beer lovers, it’s additionally an incredible place for chill consuming periods with its hip craft beer bars and good collection of beer in comfort shops and groceries.
Since Taiwan prolonged its visa-free entry for Filipino residents till July 31, 2024, we determined to e book a fast bike trip to the capital metropolis Taipei mixed with food-tripping and consuming in between.
Right here’s a have a look at a few of the most traditional locations to eat and new watering holes round Taipei based mostly on our journey in August 2023.
Evening Markets
One expertise that almost all foodies often embody of their itinerary is a go to to an evening market (or two) for distinctive eats. In reality, there are virtually 70 evening markets in Taiwan, with round 30 based mostly in Taipei alone, which you’ll learn extra about on this final information to Taipei Evening Markets.
Essentially the most notable evening markets round Taipei embody:
- Shilin Evening Market
- Ningxia Evening Market
- Raohe Evening Market
- Tonghua (Linjiang Avenue) Evening Market
- Huaxi Evening Market (Snake Alley)
- Shida Evening Market
- Liaoning Evening Market
- Gongguan Evening Market
- Lehua Evening Market
- Miaokou Evening Market, Keelung
As the most important and most well-known one within the metropolis, Shilin Evening Market can get fairly crowded. Other than the tasty meals choices you could find alongside the market’s alleys, you can too discover stylish garments, devices, luggage and extra out there for all of your memento procuring wants. You could find additionally discover bars the place you’ll be able to sit down throughout the road from the principle market entrance of Shilin.
Ningxia Evening Market, positioned within the downtown Taipei space is far smaller than Shilin, however nonetheless delivers when it comes to native taste and selection. This evening market is extra food-centric, with small native eating places the place you’ll be able to sit comfortably in other than the stalls in the midst of the road.
The specialties differ per evening market, however usually you could find related dishes in every one. The most well-liked Taiwanese meals bought in evening markets embody grilled beef cubes with salt, fried hen cutlet, oyster mee sua, pepper pork bun, sesame-coated mochi, oyster omelette, fried taro balls and hundreds extra. Plus, there’s additionally the notorious smelly tofu, if you happen to’re feeling adventurous.
Din Tai Fung
When visiting Taiwan, a whole lot of vacationers make it some extent to eat in Din Tai Fung, for the reason that well-liked Chinese language restaurant chain originated right here. The Michelin starred resto is world-renowned for his or her xia lengthy bao, a sort of steamed dumpling full of soup and meat.
Din Tai Fung’s origins return to 1958, when founder Yang Bingyi first opened a cooking oil retail enterprise in Taipei, which he ultimately remodeled right into a restaurant in 1972. At this time, Din Tai Fung has 170 places in 13 nations worldwide.
The unique department on Xinyi Highway can get fairly crowded. Fortunately there are 7 branches you’ll be able to go to in Taipei together with in Taipei 101 (which I attempted throughout a earlier journey). This time, we tried the department in Din Tai Fung Mitsukoshi Nanxi Restaurant, which is positioned inside a mall and has a contemporary queuing system and on-line ordering kind so you’ll be able to pre-order your meals earlier than you sit down.
There’s a whole lot of gadgets to select from the menu, so it might get overwhelming, however bestsellers embody the luxurious truffle and pork xiaolongbao, inexperienced squash and shrimp Xiaolongbao, shrimp and egg fried rice, and chocolate Lava Xiaolongbao for dessert. Pair your meal with Taiwan draft beer or milk tea.
Tamsui District
Tamsui is a coastal district in New Taipei Metropolis in north Taiwan that sits proper the place the Taiwan Strait and the Tamsui River meat. The bustling Tamsui Previous Avenue resulting in the Fisherman’s Wharf is lined with a riverside Starbucks, together with cozy cafes, seafood eating places, and distributors stalls promoting native delicacies.
After biking from our downtown Taipei alongside the superb riverside bike paths, we had a budget-friendly lunch right here of grilled mackerel rice, scallops gratin and recent oysters at So One You, one of many stalls on the Tamsui Zhongzheng Market.
It was in all probability due to the hassle to get right here by bikes, however this ended up being my favourite meal of our entire journey.
Treasure Hill Artist Village
Treasure Hill Artist Village is a historic cluster of outdated homes in Taipei that has been adaptively reused as a vacationer vacation spot for arts and tradition.
With winding alleys and stairs snaking up and round an outdated temple, there are a few cafés you’ll be able to strive in between testing the artwork installations, and having fun with stunning vantage factors of New Taipei Metropolis. The village additionally has a hostel and housing for artist residencies.
Whereas taking a break for lunch whereas biking, we chanced upon this cozy cafe referred to as 3 Cats Membership x Cheer House, which served actually good braised beef noodles and Taiwanese egg rolls.
It was a beautiful spot to take a break from the warmth with pleasant employees and delightful interiors. The store sells some cat-related souvenirs like stickers and comedian books and carried Taiwanese craft beer together with a refreshing Infinite Summer season Saison from Ugly Half Brewery. Different beer variants on show had been bought out.
Tadpole Level was one other homey lounge room and eating spot for artists. The cafe feels such as you’re visiting somebody’s home. They focus on good espresso and desserts like Tiramisu and Cinnamon rolls.
The cafe serves mild meals with components altering in accordance with the season and a few native beer. The cafe additionally hosts totally different artist occasions and exhibitions.
Dihua Avenue
Dihua Avenue is the oldest avenue in Taipei and the principle avenue of Dadaocheng. Whereas the entire structure of the outdated shophouses have been preserved, many younger entrepreneurs are respiratory new life into the restored areas by way of artwork galleries, cafés, and specialty retailers.
One of many fashionable bike-friendly cafes we tried was Steady Espresso alongside the identical street because the Taiyuan Asian Puppet Theatre Museum.
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Du Hsiao Yueh Taipei Dihua Department
You may also discover a department of Du Shiao Yueh, which is outwardly one of the well-liked restos in Taiwan, in Dihua. Beginning as a humble avenue stall in 1895, Du Hsiao Yueh is thought for the Dan Zai noodles: a standard Taiwanese dish made with a traditional recipe that dates again over 100 years.
Du Hsiao Yueh’s da-a mi consists of recent noodles, prawns, Taiwanese minced pork, bean sprouts, and a soy sauce egg, all swimming in a scrumptious prawn head broth.
Other than the noodles, we additionally tried their deep-fried oysters, fried tofu, and almond jelly for a traditional Taiwanese meal.
Ingesting Excursions in Dadaocheng
Our resort had this useful brochure/map of “Ingesting Excursions in Dadaocheng” which lists locations specializing in craft beer, sake, gin, cocktails and extra within the space, with reductions and freebies. All are simply inside strolling distance of one another.
Listed below are the 12 bars included within the checklist:
- Tipsy Backyard – a chill bistro bar with floral artwork and crops
- Jim and Dad’s Taproom & Bottle Store – brewery from Yilan established in 2015 that mixes Taiwanese components in beer for native taste
- Yoi – serves scrumptious meals and good gin tonic, with a comfortable ambiance
- Vintage Bar 1900 – Belle Epoque European bar the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in a cultured evening out.
- Floating Taipei – craft beer bar with 18 faucets and bottled beer together with native breweries choice
- Komugi – izakaya with Taiwan-Japanese dishes, draft beer and sake
- Takusyaku Bistro & Bar – a quiet spot to expertise Japanese bartending at residence
- Niau-a-King – cozy salon in an alley of outdated Taipei with vinyl information, classic gadgets, espresso and tea, the place women can take pleasure in drinks alone safely
- Ginspirationbar – a bar that serves gin based mostly cocktails
- Cupboard of Migrant – a mysterious bar that contains a hundred uncommon animal specimens and antiques the place guests can drink espresso, wine, and different drinks with secret messages left by the house owners
- Que’ pasa wine*sake & connoisseur – a longtime sake and wine bar that serves recent connoisseur dishes
- Umbra Bar – a bar that serves cocktails, whisky, spirits, pink and white wine, beer, gin, champagne, particular meats. They’ve a non-public room with 4 cats
Whereas I’d have liked to strive every little thing within the checklist, our time was restricted, so we solely acquired to strive a few the spots close to the resort, although we did discover different good locations to drink elsewhere on our personal.
Komugi
One of many few locations on the checklist open for lunch, Komugi is a retro izakaya serves tasty Taiwan-Japanese dishes at reasonably priced costs. They serve draft beer on faucet in addition to sake. They’ve good beer chow and luxury meals for these nursing hangovers. I loved the Ochazuke (inexperienced tea over rice) with salmon flakes, curry udon noodles and veggie tempura.
Jim and Dad’s Bottle Store & Taproom
Throughout a earlier journey to Taiwan, we purchased a few bottles of Hop Bomb IPA from a grocery retailer and completely liked it. The beer comes from Jim and Dad’s Brewing Firm, a brewery originating from Yilan County. I consider they’re the primary craft brewery in Taiwan with a correct taproom on-site.
Fortunately for these in Taipei, in addition they have a small bottle store and taproom you’ll be able to simply go to in case you’ll be able to’t make it to Yilan. The bottle store has quite a lot of craft beer on faucet and you should buy bottles to take residence. Hop Bomp IPA for the win!
Mikkeller Taipei
Although Mikkeller is initially from Denmark, I couldn’t assist however wish to check out Mikkeller Taipei once I noticed this bar. The placement is in a historic constructing of the Dadaocheng neighborhood about 8 minutes stroll from Taipei Metro.
This hip little pub has many beers on faucet together with a number of sours, IPA’s and mead. Additionally they have mild snacks and meals you’ll be able to order to pair alongside along with your beers.
Dadaocheng Wharf
Positioned close to the No. 5 Water Gate on the banks of the Tamsui River, Dadaocheng Wharf was once a first-rate spot for commerce and merchandising alongside the river. Tea, cotton and silk textiles had been among the many fundamental merchandise purchased and bought right here.
Lately, the world has skilled a revival as a vacationer vacation spot. It’s turn out to be a well-liked spot for bikers (with bike leases obtainable close by) and in addition serves as a jump-off level for boat excursions cruising alongside the Tamsui River.
There’s an open air meals park with container van stalls proper alongside the river that actually comes alive with bikers and households throughout weekends. You should buy all kinds of alcoholic drinks, cocktails, milk tea, and straightforward to eat avenue meals within the stalls.
Due to its location alongside the biking riverside route and proximity to our resort, we discovered ourselves going again right here for drinks a few occasions.
One afternoon we had a snack of karaage and draft beer whereas watching the sundown. One other evening we had pizza and Taiwanese fried hen chop paired with Dadaochang and Guandu Beer. Very enjoyable and chill vibe right here if you happen to take pleasure in consuming.
Cheers!
