Have you ever tried these Taiwanese local street foods?

Taiwan is home to the best street food markets in the world. Known as a melting pot of cuisines, where a night out for dinner could entail anything. It’s day and night street food markets are a popular attraction both for tourists and locals, and an important part of Taiwan food culture. Here are the best dishes you should try once traveling.

Fried Chicken

Taiwan has a fried chicken obsession, and every neighborhood has at least one late-night food stall where you can pick up a deep fried chicken steak or chicken pieces. Take a walk through the night market, and you’re likely to see quite a lot of people snacking on some as they wander the stalls. But bear in mind that no two fried chicken vendors are the same, so you may have to search a little to find the one that suits your tastes.

Coffin bread

A specialty from the night markets of Tainan, a slice of thick-cut white bread is deep-fried to a golden crisp then the top is cut open and creamy seafood chowder is poured in. Think of it as Tainan's version of the San Francisco bread-bowl chowder.

Sausage

It’s a bit of a thing in Taiwan to wrap things in other things and in this case, it’s a small pork sausage wrapped in a sticky rice sausage that is split open like a hot dog bun. It’s a wonderfully sticky, chewy, messy, and filling dish that’s perfect for late night eats on the street.

Guabao

A white wheat bun filled with pieces of pork belly, cilantro, and a few pickled greens, make up this Taiwanese sub/burger hybrid. There might even be a few crushed peanuts thrown in for good measure making this a rather tasty dish.

Bubble tea

While tea served in the traditional way is popular here in Taiwan, bubble tea is even more so. It’s so popular that it is now served across the globe and more commonly known as bubble tea or boba tea. Created here in Taiwan, this tapioca ball-filled drink is fast becoming the island’s official drink and with good reason. As far as afternoon snacks go, it takes some beating.

Spring onion pancake

For the less carnivorous, the Taiwanese-style spring onion pancake is a good bet. It's light, flaky, and toasted to a perfect crisp. Locals usually make their own at home and eat these savory pancakes for breakfast, hot from the pan. Luckily, you don't have to go knocking on anyone's door to taste the real thing because it's also available for cheap in most street markets in Taiwan.

Stinky tofu

You’ll know you’re near the night market when you can smell the stinky tofu! Some people find the smell just too much to bear but it actually tastes great. No traveler can leave Taipei without trying this unique food. Be warned! It really does stink.

Iron egg

It's called "iron egg" because it's so tough. These chewy little eggs, dyed black from long braising in soy sauce, are a highly addictive Taiwanese food. Often made from quails' eggs, the protein balls are cooked for hours in soy sauce then air-dried. The process is repeated over several days until the snacks become tough and acquire the desired chewiness.

Read more: 24 hour culinary experience in Taiwan

Deep-fried prawns

The key to any deep-fried savory dish is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and this snack from Tainan does it perfectly. Freshly caught prawns are battered and insta-deep fried and served with a sweet brown sugar sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi for a sweet, sour, nose-clearing finish.

Source Internet

The best milk tea shops in Taiwan

Milk tea, or what is more commonly called bubble tea, has become Taiwan’s most popular drink with anyone and everyone drinking a cup or two on a weekly basis. So it shouldn’t be surprising that when it comes to buying bubble tea, there are many options, especially in Taipei. Here are some of the best.

Chun Shui Tang

The original Chun Shui Tang store in Taichung is said to be the birthplace of pearl milk tea back in the early 80s, so it’s understandable that its brand has grown in popularity in the years since. There are many locations throughout Taipei where customers can sample the original pearl milk tea of old or opt for one of the many variations on the extensive menu.

50嵐 (50 Lan)

50 Lan is a chain of tea stores where customers can buy hot and cold drinks to go. This brand is a little more modern in its approach to this classic drink, and the menu and décor reflect this. Fruit teas are popular at 50 Lan, and every drink on the menu has the option of being served with tapioca balls. Affordable, cheerful, and a little different, 50 Lan is a nice alternative to traditional shops.

Ten Ren's Tea

Ten Ren’s Tea is one of the most popular tea shop chains in Taiwan. Its locations have a more traditional feel to them as they primarily sell boxes of tea. However, since the company has branched out into serving hot and cold drinks, it has become one of the most popular places for fans of traditional variations of pearl milk tea. You won’t find any strawberry milk latte bubble tea concoctions here, but the simple and straightforward teas that are served are very well made.

Kenting Dan Dan Milk Tea

A store that breaks from the norm, Kenting Dan Dan Milk Tea has an interesting menu with some great options that you will not find anywhere else. Here the focus is more on the things added to the tea, such as toppings and flavored tapioca balls rather than the tea itself. Again, like 50 Lan, it’s a nice alternative to the original flavors of other popular tea shops.

Yi Fang Fruit Tea

Now, while pearl milk tea is often the most popular option, there’s no reason why it has to contain milk, especially during the hot summer months. Yi Fang Fruit Tea specializes in milkless fruit teas, which are incredibly tasty and refreshing. What could be better than a mango iced tea with pearls on a hot and humid day? We can’t think of much. For those who aren’t fans of milky drinks or strong tea flavors, this place is the best!

Chen San Ding

Chen San Ding is a tea store located in the lively Gongguan neighborhood. Here students from the local university will queue up to get their hands on any drink from this shop. Like Kenting Dan Dan, this place has a few nice non-traditional options that include sweet pearls and less tea. In fact, you can even buy pure milk drinks with pearls.

See more: 7 Michelin starred restaurants in Taiwan

Source: Internet

The most famous national dishes in Asia

Just like their flags, each country has its own national dish – a dish that represents the country as a whole. Some countries have numerous national dishes that come in numerous servings and styles, while others present a simple dish that truly represents their country. As we embark on a quick sojourn with an empty stomach, here are some of the national dishes around Asia.

Sushi - Japan

Without doubt, Sushi is definitely one of the most famous foods to come from Japan. A dish that was born in ancient times, sushi originated from the process of preserving fish in fermented rice. Today it’s made with vinegared rice and fresh fish, presented in a number of ways and shapes.

Banh Mi - Vietnam

Banh mi is a unique French-Vietnamese sandwich that’s great for when you’re in need of a quick meal. Banh mi consists of a toasted baguette sandwich, pickled vegetables, pate, butter, soy sauce, cilantro, chillies, and hot peppers. Most banh mi sellers also offer a wide range of meat fillings, including heo quay (roasted pork belly), trung op la (fried egg), thit nuong (grilled pork loin), cha ca (fried fish with turmeric and dill), cha lua (boiled sausages), xa xiu (Chinese barbecued pork), and thit ga (poached chicken).

Kimchi - South Korea

Kimchi is a spicy Korean side dish created from salted, fermented vegetables, usually cabbage and radishes. It gets its unique kick from a paste made of chili powder, garlic, ginger, red pepper and sugar and its recognizable tang from fish sauce. While you’re probably familiar with the most common version, baechu kimchi, made with napa cabbage, there are actually over 100 different varieties of this classic dish, ranging from kkakdugi (cubed radish), to oi sobagi (cucumber) and gat (mustard leaf).

Pad Thai - Thailand

A staple dish in the Thai cuisine, the Thai-style fried noodles is one of the classic delicacies which is served worldwide. An easy and quick preparation, this generic dish is made with wide noodles, eggs, onion, meat, (usually prawn, which is quite famous in Pattaya) as its base. To add an extra crunch to this delicious meal, crunchy bean sprouts are added.

Dumpling - China

Wontons and dumplings are two similar types of food, which are comprised of a square or round wrapper (a dough skin made of flour and water) and fillings. Wontons can be boiled in a fragrant and watery broth, steamed in a bamboo steamer, or fried in a high-heat wok. Sometimes, wontons are also served with little noodles to make 'wonton noodles'. They are available with a large variety of fillings, such as ground pork, shrimp, fish, mushrooms, and other vegetables.

The stuffing found in dumplings is similar to that of wontons, and the cooking method is similar too.

Read more: Challenge yourself with top 5 Chongqing spicy dishes

Bubble Tea - Taiwan

The thing that you shouldn't miss when traveling in Taiwan is Bubble Tea. It’s so popular that it is now served across the globe and more commonly known as bubble tea or boba tea. Created here in Taiwan, this tapioca ball-filled drink is fast becoming the island’s official drink and with good reason. As far as afternoon snacks go, it takes some beating.

Source Internet