Official list of must-try snacks: Taipei’s Top 10 Foods Announced

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team, compiled and reported

Taiwan is hailed as a food paradise by many international tourists, offering a wide variety of choices from night market snacks to creative cuisine. In addition to Tainan, known as the food capital, Taipei also boasts many surprising and delicious street foods. The Taipei City Government has recently listed ten must-try foods, which visitors may consider adding to their reference list for a food-themed trip.

1. Beef Noodles
As one of the national dishes, beef noodles consist of three essential elements: the noodles, the broth, and the beef. The broth is the essence of beef noodles, which are mostly categorized into red-braised or stewed styles, often served with tender beef brisket and tendons. Beef noodles have become a source of pride for Taiwan, with various shops striving for the ultimate deliciousness.

2. Xiaolongbao (Soup Dumplings)
Famed for being “small in size, big in filling, juicy, flavorful, thin-skinned, and beautifully shaped,” xiaolongbao are a classic. For traditional pork-filled soup dumplings, the broth is the soul. To achieve an ultra-thin, translucent wrapper, many chefs apply flour and press it with a rolling pin to create paper-thin dough. The resulting xiaolongbao appear glossy and tender.

3. Braised Pork Rice (Lu Rou Fan)
A good bowl of braised pork rice is soft, rich, and not greasy. From small street stalls to five-star hotels, it has even graced the state banquet at the Presidential Office. Renowned food writer Shu Guozhi, known as the “Guru of Taiwanese Snacks,” once said that braised

4. Pork intestine (oyster) vermicelli
Vermicelli is a common food in Taiwanese daily life. Besides birthday longevity noodles, pig’s trotter vermicelli, and sesame oil vermicelli, pork intestine (oyster) vermicelli from the red vermicelli family is a famous Taiwanese snack. The main ingredients are oysters and vermicelli. The oysters are first coated with potato starch, and braised pork intestine is also sometimes used as an accompaniment.