Some can’t stand the smell and others love its fragrance. From the freshest seafood to the most delicious street food at the local night markets, there’s something for everybody when it comes to Taiwanese cuisine. Yes, that rotten stench which you thought might be a decaying body or a garbage heap nearby is in fact stinky tofu – a popular street food in Taiwan. Hey, don't knock 'em 'til you try 'em. It turns out the smell was a certain kind of food called stinky tofu or chou tofu in Chinese. Small pieces of fermented tofu are deep-fried in oil and are eaten with a sweet and spicy sauce. If you get them at MOS Burger, they are great. This is a rooibus tea latte with a sweet pork bread. You can pick up a bag of chicken feet at any night market and even in convenient stores like Family Mart or 7-11 and at most night markets. These chewy little eggs, dyed black from long braising in soy sauce, are a highly addictive Taiwanese food. Here are some of the weirdest—and most loved—food combinations out there. This small bird is found in Southeast Asia and lives in dark caves like a bat. And i am glad reading your article. In this guide, TPG contributor Katherine Fan shares her favorites, where to get them — most can be found at night market kiosks as well as in sit-down restaurants — and how to order.The best part: None of these tasty treats will cost you more than 10 bucks. The consistency becomes quite gooey. The snack is made with sticky rice and pork blood that’s steamed and then coated in a sweet sauce and dusted with peanut powder. Find the best Taiwanese Food on Yelp: search reviews of 23 Los Angeles businesses by price, type, or location. it’s deep fried with some pickled cabbage and sauce. There are plenty of Taiwanese style foods, such as minced pork rice, dumplings, and more elaborate rice and noodle dishes. © 2020 English in Taiwan.com https://www.englishintaiwan.com. This is one of the best foods that I’ve ever eaten. I tried it a couple of different way. It’s rolled in hot sauce, peanuts, and cilantro. Goodbye Janitors, Hello Students. Visit our. Usually the tongues are stewed in a It's called "iron egg" because it's so tough. Taiwan has a long and complex history. You can select 3 ranges of small spicy to spicy hot and order other varieties of spices too. Feel free to use this image on your site but link back to https://theasianlife.com/asiablog/10-foods-taiwan-1125.html as the source. This is also reflected in the rich variety of Taiwan food. It’s not terrible, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat it. (310) 320-5511. Jack Lincoln August 25, 2019. This is one of the best foods that I’ve ever eaten. Recently voted the world’s best destination for food by CNN, Taiwan offers endless opportunities for culinary exploration, right through from traditional dishes and street food snacks, to weird and wonderful creations. There isn’t much meat to be had on these little feet. Perhaps because of its long isolation from mainland China and distance from other parts of the world, most cities and towns in Taiwan are individually famous for special foods. Most places have the eels live in fish aquariums and in plain sight where  you can choose your dinner. This rice burger photo is from a McDonalds in Taipei: The boiled stuff in a basket is called lu wei. Your email address will not be published. You will not be able to resist the image of a bowl of Taiwanese hot rice cooked with salty meat sauce, soft and spicy in your mouth, especially when you are hungry. But what are the most famous delicacies this island has to offer? Stinky Tofu is deep fried, stewed, or even barbecued! Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. Great wonton soup and Mongolian beef. 9. Cooks preserve duck, chicken or quail eggs in a mixture of clay, salt, lime, ash, and rice straw for several weeks to several months, depending on the process or method. Yes, duck tongues can be found at Many Taiwan food stands sell blood rice cakes or blood on a stick. Sticky rice is stuffed into sausage casing, grilled, cut open and is used as the "bun" for the traditional … Taiwanese pork ragu on rice This is typically called lu-rou-fan, meaning braised pork (lu-rou) on rice (fan). I think this is one of the most vital information for me. Tuna Eyeballs – Japan Chinese food and the way it is prepared is influenced by the two major philosophies - Confucianism and … This is a super Taiwan unique food. There isn’t much meat on them and I was told that they are good for snacking on late at night. Sometimes they are stir fried. ), and stinky tofu. Starting from the 17th century, Chinese people from Fujian and Guangdong came to Taiwan in search of a new life. The tofu gives off a strong odour. As a chef and foodie, Andrew knows that one man's poison is another man's delicacy, but he isn't afraid to poke a little fun at the local fare or himself. Either way, it’s one of the street food dishes in Taiwan you shouldn’t miss. Anyone first coming to Taiwan for the first time will often quickly experience a strong bad smell in the air. Required fields are marked *. This is actually a real tasty treat but, at first, a bit hard to stomach the thought and site. I generally try to avoid Starbucks, but when traveling they are often the place where I can get wireless Internet access. They’re really very yummy. I like rooibus tea and green tea, but I don’t like the latte versions. Oyster omelettes are another popular unique Taiwan food. Food in Taiwan – Unique Taiwan food and snacks. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Battered and Deep Fried Crab. The food is just okay, but it's great for a cheap meal. Many stands sell blood on a stick. The yolk then becomes dark green in color.This cream-like substance has a strong odor of ammonia and sulfur. Not valid on Instant Pot/Instant Brands, Wusthof, alcoholic beverages, gift cards, eGift Cards, Always A Deal items, One-of-a-Kind Rugs, Sackcloth and Ashes Blankets, delivery surcharges, and shipping fees. Interesting menu, tasty food, and affordable price. Cuisine: Sushi. Every convenience store that I went to in Taipei has asparagus juice. They are a kind of sweet stuffed pastry that is round like the sun. Some of the most popular foods and beverages include fried octopus, barbecued squid, stinky tofu, mango shaved ice, boba milk tea, and sugarcane juice. . google_ad_slot = "4670129219"; Sun Cakes are from Taichung. If you can stand the smell to get close enough to the vendors’ chou tofu stand, plug your nose and go for it, the taste is fantastic. You will either love it or hate it this weird Taiwanese food. But it was crowded. Some of THE BEST Chinese food I’ve ever had. It actually doesn’t taste as bad as it smells. Traditionally rice formed the basis of most Taiwanese diets. Taiwan also has many of its own local specialties. If you are a newbie to travelling to Taiwan, check out our Ultimate Taiwan Guide for everything you need to … But be careful, they run out of things a lot. Chicken Feet. Eating little and often is common practice where Taiwanese … Best Taiwanese Food in Los Angeles: See Tripadvisor traveler reviews of Taiwanese Restaurants in Los Angeles. It’s tofu that has been marinated in vegetable and shrimp broth that has been fermenting for months. Stinky tofu is fermented tofu, which gives it the strong odor. You don’t have to bite the toenails off first. You cook the tofu in a pan with the fermenting bean curd which creates the strong smell. Cooks roll hot sauce, peanuts, and cilantro together in rectangular shapes. Some of Taiwan’s best-known local foods are also its cheapest. Milkfish is a local favorite because of its tender meat but it can be a bit tricky to eat because it has a lot more bones than most average fish. google_ad_client = "ca-pub-5760486110760398"; Stinky tofu is fermented tofu, which … Ba-Wan (Taiwanese meatballs) You then give the basket to the vendor and they boil the ingredients for you. Both locally and internationally Taiwanese cuisine, particularly its history, is a politically contentious topic. It’s very tasty. I couldn’t figure out how to eat it at first, but later someone showed me how to eat them. Ingredients include things like duck intestines, chicken intestines, chicken skin, animal tendons, and other things that I couldn’t identify. This famous Tainan treat is Eel noodle soup. You can find it in any major night market and some specialty restaurants. The name of the tea is Rooibos which means “red bush” and not Rooibus which means “red bus”……. Blood and rice cakes are a dark wine red type color. If you can’t stomach the weird animal parts, you can just choose noodles, vegetables, and mushrooms. Jennifer R February 28, 2015. McDonalds’ version of the toasted rice burger is not good, but I recommend trying MOS Burger. One of the most popular Taiwan foods from the Taiwanese night markets is a type of stand where you pick ingredients from the stand and put them in a basket. Some can’t stand the smell and others love its fragrance. Here is some weird food I ate in Taiwan. You can, of course, get If you can stand the smell to get close enough to the vendors’ chou tofu stand, I recommend trying it because the taste is good. One of my favorite foods from the Taiwanese night markets is a type of stand where you pick ingredients from the stand and put them in a basket. Find the best Taiwanese Food on Yelp: search reviews of 67 Alhambra businesses by price, type, or location. Pork, seafood, chicken, rice, and soy are common ingredients.. But want to remark on some general things, The website style is great, the articles is really excellent : D. Good job, cheers|, Your email address will not be published. Last Updated on January 31st, 2017. If you can’t stomach the weird animal parts, you can just choose noodles, vegetables, and mushrooms. Taiwan is a seafood lover's paradise, and 89 seafood is one of those places that makes you go, WOW! Sure, crab meat is delicious but when it’s fried whole, eating the shell (and everything else) is a must and you’ll spend the rest of the day picking bits of it out of your teeth. This one is pig blood on a stick, “spicy flavor”. Andrew Zimmern is on a quest to find the world's most unique tastes on Bizarre Foods. Virtually every city has its famous specialties; many Taiwanese tourists will go visit other cities on the island only to try the local foods, then return home. We've continued to develop home-grown information about Teaching ESL/EFL, local business resources, cultural and travel info and tips, places to eat, drink, and shop. The following picture is chicken hearts on a stick. Rating: Great value, really good sushi Worth the visit. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. google_ad_height = 280; Copyright 2019 TheAsianLife.com | (833) 237-5567 | Auburn, AL USA, https://theasianlife.com/asiablog/10-foods-taiwan-1125.html. Even with some of the tried-and-true factors, like the fact that salty foods go so well with sweet ones, some of these food combinations are truly next-level. Date: November 13, 2019. But they all work, as long as you're willing to try something new. The person I was with said she didn’t eat duck tongues because “it’s like making out with a duck”. stalls in night markets just about anywhere. EIT began more than 12 years ago as a resource for expats in Taiwan, Teaching English, and just Living in Taiwan in general. Which one do you prefer?….pig blood or duck blood? Very tasty and very authentic. Not valid in store. Enter Ruby BBQ Food — yes they actually include the word food in their name — just in case BBQ wasn’t clear enough. You start by biting off the toes and then spitting out the bones. Taiwanese culinary history is murky and is intricately tied to patterns of migration and colonization. They have many ways to prepare each animal part before eating it. The egg white becomes dark brown in color and a transparent jelly with subtle flavor. Beef noodles are ubiquitous in China and Taiwan, but the Taiwanese version consists of braised beef shank or brisket that is stewed in soup broth for hours. This strong pungent smell comes from a certain kind of food called stinky tofu or chou tofu in Chinese. It is not a preserved thousand year old egg. Massive, black, gross spiders at the street-side market in Hangzhou. seasoned soup. You can order any part of the chicken you want to eat, from chicken wombs to chicken intestines. I couldn’t figure out how to eat it at first, but later someone showed me how to eat them. Lao Tao Taiwanese Street Food 727 North Broadway #207, 2nd floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012 This second-level Far East Plaza player has a dedicated fan following for its Taiwanese … Don’t worry. One of Taiwan’s famous street food is deep-fried tofu also known as stinky tofu. Some Strange and Unique Foods in Taiwan: Stinky Tofu 臭豆腐 (Chou Dofu) Anyone first coming to Taiwan for the first time will often quickly experience a strong bad smell in the air. For those more adventurous eaters, there are pig intestines, pig blood soup (been there, done that! You can order any part of the chicken you want to eat, from chicken wombs, chicken bums to chicken intestines. Location: 1757 W Carson St # L, Torrance, CA 90501. other parts of the duck as well. Taiwan is a food lover’s paradise. One popular mainstay of Taiwan’s street food scene is zhū xiě gāo . Starbucks in Taiwan has a lot of different drinks, like green tea lattes, black tea lattes, and rooibus tea lattes. This is a very casual Southern Chinese place in a more Vietnamese section of the SGV. One of the more controversial bizarre foods the Chinese eat is bird’s nest soup. Tea. We had to wait 15-20 minutes for a table. These international food subscription boxes take the meal prep out of the equation and deliver exotic ingredients as well as pre-made treats straight from overseas. You then give the basket to the vendor and who will boil the ingredients for you. It takes a bit of adjustment to enjoy the texture of this treat, but you’ll end up really liking it if you order it from time to time. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. This is a chicken foot that I ate. I’m sure it’s fine, so long as you don’t mind that grinning skull staring at you through its cold dead eyes. Ingredients include things like duck intestines, chicken intestines, animal tendons, and other things that I couldn’t identify. You can get duck blood or pig blood. It is actually chop full of flavor. I tried it a couple of different ways, but in the image below it’s deep fried with some sauerkraut and sauce. It’s too sweet for me, but if you have a craving for asparagus-flavored juice, you might like it. None of these foods are weird at all, except for the chicken hearts (and the mcdonalds of course)… These are all very commonly sold and eaten in Taiwanese restaurants in the US, you don’t need to go to Taiwan for all this lol. Taiwan has a serious street food culture, and new flavors and iterations pop up in markets constantly. King Crab in Taipei – King Crab at 89 Seafood, Betelnut – The Culture of Betelnut in Taiwan, Culture shock – Examples & Implications, How to Deal with Culture Shock, A Complete Guide – Kaohsiung Night Markets 高雄夜市, Guanghua Market for Computers and Electronics in Taipei, Teacher Resources for ESL and TEFL Classrooms. I loved wandering the night markets. You can find duck tongues at most night markets. In Japan and Taiwan you can get burgers that have buns made of rice. First time here and I really like this place. It actually doesn’t taste as bad as it smells. You start by biting off the toes and then spitting out the bones. This would be a great restaurant to hang out with friends over a couple of imported Taiwan Beer, munching over a bunch of deep fried weird goodness. The umami taste is common to many ingredients used in their cuisine like Chinese cabbage, spinach, celery, green tea or fermented products like soy sauce and pastes. 2. Interesting article. Stinky tofu is a very popular unique Taiwan food. There is a super rubbery texture to the wrinkly skin. I tried one anyway. Their nests are made from their own … They aren’t bad. 5. 72 Beef Noodles’ simmers its broth with ox bones for 72 hours, which results in an opaque white broth accented with chile sauce and sea salt while Niu Dian Beef Noodles has a beige broth filled with slices of Australian and New … First there were the Taiwan Aboriginals, with the crops originally available in the island, as taro and millet.. Braised pork rice seems to be not strange to the Vietnamese, but mention to Taiwan, it is impossible not to mention the famous braised pork rice. Rice sausage wrapped with Taiwanese sausage. It’s a very sweet drink — kind of like asparagus-flavored sugar water. This strong pungent smell comes from a certain kind of food called stinky tofu or chou tofu in Chinese. “Healthy plum vinegar” tastes like pickled, salty plums (umeboshi) soaked in vinegar and then served it over ice. And super cheap! It’s real casual, with a takeout counter and menu on the wall. Apparently, there is one type of stinky tofu that is served with goose blood, but I couldn’t find that kind. The process of eating them is you start by biting off the toes and then proceed in spitting out the bones. google_ad_width = 330; Save 10% On Curbside Pick-Up Orders Valid 1/19/21-2/28/21 at www.worldmarket.com. This famous soup is made from a swiftlet’s actual nest. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, This website uses cookies. Restaurant: Nozomi. In fact, stinky tofu is so popular here that most locals actually refer to it as the country’s national snack. You can pick up a bag of chicken feet at any night market. A pretty gruesome little dish made up of stewed cows feet and head. Much like Japanese cuisine, Chinese dishes are rich in umami which is described as a 'pleasant savory taste'. These 10 food won’t be enough to fill you up for the whole trip – check out our Top 10 Fear-Factor-Worthy Food for more Taiwan goodies. 10 Weird Foods I Ate in Taiwan. It was once a winter comfort food but is now considered a delicacy. With no janitors, Taiwanese students are responsible for the cleanliness of their school. There isn’t much meat on them and I was told that they are good for snacking on when watching a movie. You’ll find these in most night markets and consist of fresh oysters, onions, eggs, and flour. This is a chicken foot that I ate. When I first got to Taiwan, I often smelled a bad smell that I thought was from people who had thrown up on the street somewhere the night before. Hopefully you'll get more out of your stay. As mentioned in another post, due to a miscommunication at a coffee shop called 85 degrees, I ended up with a drink called healthy plum vinegar. They don’t waste much of any animal in Taiwan. Next, you just ……nibble ..spit..nibble…spit…your way up to the ankle.