First things first, I don’t think there is really an objective list of “best restaurants” for anywhere. It’s all personal opinion. The best your can do is to find someone who has similar taste as you, and follow their recommendations. Even the official lists like Michelin star and Worlds Top 50 Restaurants are in the end a marketing ploy. Restaurants often need to spend a lot of money to lobby themselves to be on the list. Many amazing restaurants are therefore left off the list. Or, once in a while, the organization picks something out of the blue like a hawker stand in Singapore or taco stall in Mexico to mix things up. It’s self serving though – to make their list relevant again and to generate some buzz.
Ok, rant over.
You were here to find out where and what you should eat in Taiwan!
Why listen to me?
I lived in Taiwan for 10 years as a kid, and I return almost every year after that to visit family. At the same time, when I go to Taiwan, I often go for the tried and true/nostalgia spots, rather than trying new places every time. So I probably don’t have an opinion on the newest and hottest spots, but I can tell you the oldies but goodies that I have been going to for idk, 20+ years (!!!).
The must try food items in Taiwan
Stinky tofu at Guì jiě Sintky Tofu (桂姐臭豆腐)
Stinky tofu sounds scary, but it really isn’t! I always with the fried version – who doesn’t love fried tofu?? The one at Gui jie’s comes with Taiwanese picked vegetables and you can ask for it extra crispy. I have been coming here since I was a kid, back when she had only a food stall. It’s now a small store front. Good for her!
The oyster noodles here are good too. Good it a try!
Black Sugar Shaved Ice & Soy Pudding (黑糖刨冰/豆漿豆花)
Ok this is technically two things. There is not ONE spot to eat this. You don’t need to go out of your way to one specific amazing one. Yes avoid the bad ones (which you’ll see from low google reviews), but amongst the good ones, the difference is negligible.
To try this delicious dessert, just search for the name of the dish in Chinese above in google maps an go with your gut feeling based on the photos.
One example – https://maps.app.goo.gl/S6aYSAzEMSspH9Qs8
Taiwanese Stewed Pork Rice (魯肉飯)
This is another one where there is not THE place to go.
One cute option is 純發魯肉飯, which is a new trendy place with cool branding. But any hole in the wall place will do! Get the stewed pork rice with a stewed soy sauce egg and a side of veggie. Thank me later.
Traditional Egg Cakes (鷄蛋糕)
This is a street food item that you will find in night markets or just walking around during the day. Nowadays, they often come in cartoon character shapes, but I am a fan of the traditional egg shaped ones. In the end they taste nearly the same, but I get an extra nostalgic satisfaction from the egg shaped ones.
They are slightly different from the hong kong version of 鷄蛋仔, which are smaller egg shapes and usually comes off the pan in a sheet where each egg is attached.
Taiwanese egg cakes can also come with filling, but to me the OG is egg shape without filling. I get very excited when I come across them and usually will buy some. You can get a piping hot bag of it from a vendor for something around 20-30 TWD.
Taiwanese Chicken Rice (雞肉飯)
It’s similar to the stewed pork rice, but now. Some places offer both and you can get half and half. I remember it being made with turkey meat when I was younger, but I don’t think that is the case everywhere. The meat is shredded and tended, on top of fluffy rice. Drool.
Pineapple cakes at ChiaTe Pineapple Cakes (佳德)
Be prepared for a crowd or queue, but the pineapple cakes here are bomb! They are not really “cakes”, more like buttery pastries filled with sweet and tart pineapple filling. There are also other variations like cranberry, strawberry, melon, and pineapple + salty egg yolk. You can grab a prepacked boxed or mix and match your own – the price is the same!
Tip: If you’re fine with just pineapple ones, you can sometimes find boxes of them for sale at 7-11 and avoid the hectic frenzy at the store.
The best food spots in Taiwan
Raohe Street Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市)
Looking for the best night market in Taipei? Search no more. Raohe Jie night market is the place. I’ve been going there since I was a kid, and it has a good mix of food, shopping, and some games. It’s also quite organized, with vendors along the two sides and in the center. Yes, it gets crowded, but that’s part of the fun! A lot of locals still go there, so feels less touristy than ximending night market.
Shang yin Seafood (上引水產)
This is a big sea food market with a food hall attached. It’s a must-visit spot for seafood lovers. It’s fun to walk around and check out the seafood and the offerings at the super market, before settling down for some fresh sushi or grilled seafood. The selection is extensive, featuring everything from sushi to grilled seafood and unique seasonal specialties. Shang Yin’s lively atmosphere and casual standing bars create a dynamic setting that contrasts with more formal dining options.
Tips: Visit during off-peak hours to avoid long waits, and try the standing bar for a quick meal. Don’t miss the sashimi platters and grilled scallops—both crowd favorites. It’s also a great place to pick up some premium seafood to cook at home.
Hai Shi Jie Fresh Fresh Seafood Restaurant (華西街台南擔仔麵海鮮餐廳)
This restaurant is an institution. I have been going here since a kid. It’s decorated in the style of a French palace and offers a delicious mix of traditional Taiwanese flavors and fresh seafood. The restaurant is popular for the freid shrimp roll, steamed small lobster (ask for extra lobster juice and a side bowl of rice to enjoy it with), and the signature “dan zai” noodles. For the noodles, you can choose between thick egg noodles and thin vermicelli. I have always been a fan of the thick noodles, but recently starting to appreciate the thin ones too.
There is so much good food in Taiwan (and cheap!)
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with anything you eat in Taiwan. There is a lot of Japanese influence and therefore there are a lot of Japanese restaurants. You can have izayaka, Japanese bbq, or shabu shabu (Japanese hotpot). Always be on the ready to pass by something tasty and stopping to try it. The portions at the street food stalls are usually not huge, all the better to try more things!
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