The Flavors of Southern Taiwan: A Delicious Journey Across Your Taste Buds

Taiwan is a paradise for food lovers, with different delicacies in the north, central, and southern regions. In Kaohsiung, you’ll find popular snacks like rice lunchboxes, luwei (braised meats), roast chicken, and roast duck… each a must-try treat. And as the capital of gastronomy, the ancient city of Tainan is the top choice for sampling Taiwan’s finest cuisine, whether you’re exploring traditional markets, street food stalls in front of temples, or long-established family-run shops—countless culinary delights await foodies.

Luwei and roast duck are among the most beloved local foods in Kaohsiung. A-Up Ha Luwei, located at Dagouding, is one of the most famous representatives of the many long-established snack shops. Now in its third generation, it has a history of over 50 years. Various ingredients such as duck heads, duck wings, duck feet, and beans are priced between NT$5 and NT$25. The business is affordable, and the warm hospitality remains unchanged after decades. Meanwhile, Yipin Luwei, established in 1985, is not only a renowned snack shop in the Xinjuejiang shopping district but also a must-try favorite among students in the area. After 25 years, the nostalgic taste remains just as it was. Any student studying in Kaohsiung will surely stop by Yipin Luwei first. For those who enjoy icy luwei, try Piziwen Smoked Icy Luwei, which originated in the Xinjuejiang shopping district and expanded to the area around Liouhe Night Market. It is one of the few specialty shops in Kaohsiung that exclusively serves smoked luwei and holds an official registered trademark.

Chen’s Salted Duck from the former Lixincun area follows the ancestral Nanjing-style duck-making technique, using only fresh ducks from Fengshan that have passed livestock inspections. Not only is the origin of the ducks carefully selected, but their size is also meticulously chosen. The marinated and boiled duck meat is perfectly seasoned, tender, fragrant, and sweet—even those who don’t usually like duck will fall in love with this flavor. As for Renwu Roast Duck, its charm is so great that people are willing to line up from afar, and there’s even a popular online saying: “If you don’t have the patience to queue, don’t come.” The chef skillfully slices the duck with a large blade, and the hot, glistening roast duck oozes juicy fat, releasing an aroma that is simply mouthwatering.

Tainan’s snack culture is closely tied to its traditional market life. From the Dong Market, Dacai Market, Yamaliao, Shuixian Temple, and Shakaliaba, which have developed since the Japanese colonial period, to the older generations’ favorites like Yongle Market and Shijingjiu, almost all are hubs for Tainan street food. At Dacai Market, you’ll find treats like Zheng Ji’s Fish Ball Soup, Ah Rui’s Pasta Wontons, and Jiangshui Hao’s Eight-Treasure Ice. Yamaliao offers Wu Miao Bowl Rice, Chun Shui Tang’s Bubble Tea, and Fan Yeh Yuan’s Shaved Ice. In the morning, you can grab coffee and toast at Ming De Hotel, or enjoy oyster vermicelli at A-Zhen Oyster Vermicelli, pork rib noodles at Xiao Ji Pork Rib Noodles, or rice noodles at Ban Mian Auntie. There are also local specialties like peanut ice cream rolls and stinky tofu—if you ask locals where to eat, everyone will give you a different answer.

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