Zhengqi Road in Taitung is packed with delicious food—living here is truly a foodie’s dream

Text & Photos byGui Xiaosun

On the last night of our eastern Taiwan trip, we returned to downtown Taitung. While doing research, we noticed the name 【Zhengqi Road】—it’s famous for its many street food stalls. And as luck would have it, our accommodation, 【Avi House】, was just a five-minute walk away from Zhengqi Street. So for dinner, we didn’t even need to drive—we could just stroll into the alley to find something to eat. Superb!! XD

This time on 【Zhengqi Road】, we tried 【Lao Dongtai Rice Vermicelli】 and 【Lin Family Stinky Tofu】, and also drank the new 【Lao Dongfang Herbal Tea】. Of course, there are many other delicious options on this street—if you’re up for it, you can try every single one XD. For example, 【Baosang Tofu Pudding】, which you’ll see right after turning the corner, does great business too. Unfortunately, we were really too full to try it, but you all should definitely go check it out Up！

【Lao Dongtai Rice Vermicelli】 is famously well-known among Taitung street food searches. It’s basically impossible to ignore, and since we both love rice vermicelli, we were immediately drawn to this shop. I remember we arrived before six, and there was already a crowd forming, though not quite at the point where you’d need to line up. But by the time we finished eating and came out, the line outside was long enough that you’d really have to wait to get a bite. So the early bird gets the worm?! XD

The seating inside is like a typical noodle shop, but with air conditioning!! XD So you don’t have to worry about sweating buckets while eating. Of course, the seats are a bit closer together, but that’s part of the local charm—the sense of connection between people feels a bit stronger. At one point, we all noticed this sign on the wall: “No phones, please. Respect the friend in front of you!” We exchanged smiles. Neither of us are big phone users unless we’re really bored—but eating is definitely an important thing. To me, it’s way more important than scrolling through my phone XD

Before long, all the dishes we ordered were served, which showed how efficient the place is. It’s a very well-organized noodle shop. As soon as the rice vermicelli arrived, the aroma hit us. Watching the dried bonito flakes “dance” on top was pretty amusing (though it was mostly because they were super hot XD). The signature toppings—fried shallots, chives, and bean sprouts—when mixed in, made for an absolutely heavenly dish. Even now, just thinking about it makes me want another bowl.

The pork intestine and squid, classic small dishes at a noodle shop, were also excellent. These kinds of dishes are always irresistible when they’re fresh. We also ordered extra bean sprouts—maybe a bit silly, but we really do love bean sprouts. Eating at a small shop like this is genuinely satisfying. Great value for money and a hearty meal. I’d recommend coming early if you plan to visit, because this place is really popular.

Because of a bottle of tea in 【Avi House】’s fridge, when we saw 【Lao Dongtai Herbal Tea】 on Zhengqi Street, we didn’t think twice and bought some right away. We had originally planned to go drink at Taitung Shennong, but ended up discovering this amazing tea shop instead. They specialize in herbal teas, so it’s perfect for summer. If you’re in a group, you can even buy a whole jar to take home for a refreshing treat.

Now I’ve completely forgotten what we ordered that day—it might’ve had something to do with aloe?! Hahaha XD But my impression was that it was delicious, not overly sweet. Just the right level of intensity—I highly recommend it.

After buying the tea, we went to line up for 【Lin Family Stinky Tofu】. By then, the crowd had already started to form. Thankfully, the wait wasn’t too long—just under ten minutes before we got a seat to enjoy the food. Watching the owner prepare everything on-site was seriously mouthwatering—the sauce, the pickles, the stinky tofu—it’s truly one of Taiwan’s culinary gems XD.

Honestly, we don’t have huge appetites. More often than not, we can only manage a couple of places before getting full. So we usually order the smallest portion and share. That’s what we did with the stinky tofu this time too. Luckily, each piece wasn’t very big—only about two-thirds the size of a regular one. Small and cute, you could practically pop one in your mouth whole XD.

The inside was tender, the outside crispy, but we felt it might’ve been just a bit too crispy. XD

Thankfully, the sauce and pickles helped prevent it from feeling dry or tough. It really made me realize that there’s a lot of skill that goes into making stinky tofu.

Sharing with everyone the final night’s food adventure in Taitung. Remember, if you’re in downtown Taitung, just look for Zhengqi Road. There are tons of street food options to choose from. XD

Attached is the travel draft from this trip—if you like it, feel free to download and use it.

【Lao Dongtai Rice Vermicelli】
Address: No. 134, Zhengqi Road, Taitung City
Phone: 089 348 952

【Lao Dongfang Herbal Tea】
Address: No. 132, Zhengqi Road, Taitung City
Phone: 089 334 637

【Lin Family Stinky Tofu】
Address: No. 1, Lane 298, Zhengqi Road, Taitung City
Phone: 0919 131 334

Author:［Enjoy life, don’t be bored. Gui Xiaosun］