What to Buy from Taiwan: Traditional Snacks and Food Gifts
If you want to go along the coast where there is no train access, you really have to rent a car or hire a driver/ transport. Taitung is a long and narrow county, it is not recommended to rent scooter/motorbikes. Taxis are available at train stations and airports but they are really only economically feasible to get your around Taitung City or to and from your accommodation. Taxi fare beyond Taitung City is quite expensive, just from Taitung Airport to your Taitung City Hotel can cost almost NTD$250-$300, and that is only a minute ride. Flight from Taipei Songshan Airport to Taitungis around NTD$3000 (USD$104) roundtrip. This full fare price is most often valid for a year for the exact same route, refund fee is around $NTD150.
If you don’t have a Chinese name, you can use whatever Chinese characters you desire. Ensure you know what the character means before engraving it, though. If you’re staying somewhere with cable TV, you could watch PILI TV and see these 台東必買伴手禮 dolls in action. I’m not saying the vendors have fake stuff, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. You’ll find high-quality jade in different shapes, sizes, and designs. But you’ll want to make sure you have money set aside.
Soak in at a public pool (naked, gender-separated) or the private bathtub in your room. But I prefer to stay away from busloads of lousy tourists (hello, I’m in hot spring to relax!) and wouldn’t mind paying a little more for a clean tub. The coastal park highlights unique rock formations naturally created by marine erosion. If Yehliu has the Queen’s Head, Xiao Yehliu has mushrooms, tofu, etc. Its unique artwork makes it a popular photo spot, together with the panoramic ocean and mountain view.
By the way, if you want to pre-order your haul, you can do so via the Big C Bangkok Supermarket website. Visit Big C Bangkok Supermarket to find the best Thai snacks available. Personally, I prefer creamier ice cream but you can give this a go just to try something different. I’ve never seen anything like it so it’s one of the places we’d definitely go back to on every return trip to Taipei.
I’m a sucker for quail eggs so I often get it whenever I see it. Papaya milk is exactly what it sounds like, a refreshing drink made with ripe papaya and fresh milk. We tried it at this famous Liouhe Night Market stall in Kaohsiung. If you’ve never had a Chinese steamed bun before, it has a unique texture – soft and pillowy – like a cloud made of dough.
Wang Steak is started in Taiwan and has since become Taiwan’s best well known steakhouse chain. I am extremely impressed by Wang Steak when i visited them in Kaohsiung. Their service is excellent and the food is affordable. Overall it is a pleasant dining experience and i would definitely recommend to anyone who are craving for some steak in Taiwan.
This platter overflowing with king crab, sashimi, and different types of shellfish were a popular item from the seafood bar. If you’re a fan of seafood, then you cannot come to Taipei without visiting Addiction Aquatic Development. I stumbled upon this Taipei restaurant specializing in Shanxi cuisine when I was doing research for our trip. I had never heard of Shanxi food before but two words in the cuisine’s description convinced me to add Shao Shao Ke to our itinerary – lamb and cumin. If you know what a xiao long bao is, then you’re probably familiar with Din Tai Fung.
In English, it’s called glutinous rice with braised meat, but no one calls it that. Tong zai mi gao is this deliciously sticky rice served with braised pork on top. It hails from the Qingshui district in Taichung, but it’s readily available throughout the city.
I say “food establishment” instead of restaurant because it’s so much more than just a restaurant. Taiwan was under Japanese rule for fifty years so there are plenty of Japanese restaurants throughout the country. The Taiwanese know Japanese food so if you like unagi, then you should definitely enjoy a meal here.
Many aboriginals in these parts are still schooled in the traditions of their ancestors, and want to pass them on to the next generation. They also want to let non-aboriginals know about their culture. The Three Men, as the trio I am with call themselves, take guests along on hunting trips on mild winter nights for NT$1,000 (US$31) per person. The hunters belong to the Amis tribe, one of 16 recognised in Taiwan.
In spite of its hefty size, the chicken meat is surprisingly tender. This is one of my favorite things to eat at Taiwanese night markets. Tender cubes of beef are cooked over a grill before being torched and sprinkled with your choice of seasoning like salt, pepper, teriyaki, or cumin. Sold at many Taiwanese night markets, the fish balls are left to stew in sauce before being skewered and served.
Sometimes instead of squid, you can choose cuttlefish or crispy fish (魚酥). Whole grilled abalones are a common delicacy served in many night markets. They are easy to spot because there is usually a grill totally covered with them. A deep fried ball of dough filled with fresh oysters, egg, green onions, and sometimes shrimp.
During summer, boats leave frequently so you can plan a day trip from Taitung. If you want to spend the night, consider staying at Sanasai Inn right on the beach with ocean view rooms with AC and private bath. SourceGreen Island is a divers’ paradise, only an hour away from the shore by ferry.
If the name rings a bell, you’re thinking of Yehliu – one of northern Taiwan’s most famous geological wonders and a popular day trip from Taipei. Even though Chishang is quite small, it’s got a lot going for it! The most notable attraction here is Brown Boulevard – a long stretch of road through lush rice fields with epic mountain backdrops. Besides cycling down Brown Boulevard, there are a couple of other noteworthy attractions. You’d have to be lucky to catch a local celebration, and photography should only be done with permission.
If you don’t have a Chinese name, you can use whatever Chinese characters you desire. Ensure you know what the character means before engraving it, though. If you’re staying somewhere with cable TV, you could watch PILI TV and see these 台東必買伴手禮 dolls in action. I’m not saying the vendors have fake stuff, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. You’ll find high-quality jade in different shapes, sizes, and designs. But you’ll want to make sure you have money set aside.
Soak in at a public pool (naked, gender-separated) or the private bathtub in your room. But I prefer to stay away from busloads of lousy tourists (hello, I’m in hot spring to relax!) and wouldn’t mind paying a little more for a clean tub. The coastal park highlights unique rock formations naturally created by marine erosion. If Yehliu has the Queen’s Head, Xiao Yehliu has mushrooms, tofu, etc. Its unique artwork makes it a popular photo spot, together with the panoramic ocean and mountain view.
By the way, if you want to pre-order your haul, you can do so via the Big C Bangkok Supermarket website. Visit Big C Bangkok Supermarket to find the best Thai snacks available. Personally, I prefer creamier ice cream but you can give this a go just to try something different. I’ve never seen anything like it so it’s one of the places we’d definitely go back to on every return trip to Taipei.
I’m a sucker for quail eggs so I often get it whenever I see it. Papaya milk is exactly what it sounds like, a refreshing drink made with ripe papaya and fresh milk. We tried it at this famous Liouhe Night Market stall in Kaohsiung. If you’ve never had a Chinese steamed bun before, it has a unique texture – soft and pillowy – like a cloud made of dough.
Wang Steak is started in Taiwan and has since become Taiwan’s best well known steakhouse chain. I am extremely impressed by Wang Steak when i visited them in Kaohsiung. Their service is excellent and the food is affordable. Overall it is a pleasant dining experience and i would definitely recommend to anyone who are craving for some steak in Taiwan.
This platter overflowing with king crab, sashimi, and different types of shellfish were a popular item from the seafood bar. If you’re a fan of seafood, then you cannot come to Taipei without visiting Addiction Aquatic Development. I stumbled upon this Taipei restaurant specializing in Shanxi cuisine when I was doing research for our trip. I had never heard of Shanxi food before but two words in the cuisine’s description convinced me to add Shao Shao Ke to our itinerary – lamb and cumin. If you know what a xiao long bao is, then you’re probably familiar with Din Tai Fung.
In English, it’s called glutinous rice with braised meat, but no one calls it that. Tong zai mi gao is this deliciously sticky rice served with braised pork on top. It hails from the Qingshui district in Taichung, but it’s readily available throughout the city.
I say “food establishment” instead of restaurant because it’s so much more than just a restaurant. Taiwan was under Japanese rule for fifty years so there are plenty of Japanese restaurants throughout the country. The Taiwanese know Japanese food so if you like unagi, then you should definitely enjoy a meal here.
Many aboriginals in these parts are still schooled in the traditions of their ancestors, and want to pass them on to the next generation. They also want to let non-aboriginals know about their culture. The Three Men, as the trio I am with call themselves, take guests along on hunting trips on mild winter nights for NT$1,000 (US$31) per person. The hunters belong to the Amis tribe, one of 16 recognised in Taiwan.
In spite of its hefty size, the chicken meat is surprisingly tender. This is one of my favorite things to eat at Taiwanese night markets. Tender cubes of beef are cooked over a grill before being torched and sprinkled with your choice of seasoning like salt, pepper, teriyaki, or cumin. Sold at many Taiwanese night markets, the fish balls are left to stew in sauce before being skewered and served.
Sometimes instead of squid, you can choose cuttlefish or crispy fish (魚酥). Whole grilled abalones are a common delicacy served in many night markets. They are easy to spot because there is usually a grill totally covered with them. A deep fried ball of dough filled with fresh oysters, egg, green onions, and sometimes shrimp.
During summer, boats leave frequently so you can plan a day trip from Taitung. If you want to spend the night, consider staying at Sanasai Inn right on the beach with ocean view rooms with AC and private bath. SourceGreen Island is a divers’ paradise, only an hour away from the shore by ferry.
If the name rings a bell, you’re thinking of Yehliu – one of northern Taiwan’s most famous geological wonders and a popular day trip from Taipei. Even though Chishang is quite small, it’s got a lot going for it! The most notable attraction here is Brown Boulevard – a long stretch of road through lush rice fields with epic mountain backdrops. Besides cycling down Brown Boulevard, there are a couple of other noteworthy attractions. You’d have to be lucky to catch a local celebration, and photography should only be done with permission.
Replies