My favorite kind of travel revolves around good food—well-researched meals and spontaneous finds alike. When I visited the foodie destination of Taiwan, I was especially determined not to waste a single meal. A good meal to start the day is essential for me, and the breakfasts in Taiwan did not disappoint. From hotel buffets to street vendor carts, a Taiwanese breakfast has something for everyone. It’s also easy to bring back a part of the experience by recreating a traditional Taiwanese breakfast item at home.
Traditional Breakfasts
A popular type of breakfast in Taiwan consists of crispy or bready foods paired with soymilk (豆浆, doujiang). Doujiang is a breakfast staple that can be made hot or iced and sweet or savory—perfect for dipping Chinese donuts (油条, youtiao), which are airy sticks of fried dough.
More familiar favorites include fried and chewy turnip cakes, flaky scallion pancakes (葱油饼, congyoubing), and soup dumplings (小笼包, xiaolongbao). Scallion pancakes are often layered with egg or stuffed with meat. A famous street food that can also be found in many breakfast restaurants is the egg crepe, or dan bing, which is a thin and chewy scallion pancake layered with an omelet and rolled up. Versions sold from street carts and at night markets have add-in options like cheese, ham, and Taiwanese basil.
Clay-oven baked rolls (烧饼, shaobing) are another iconic breakfast item. Originally from Northern China, the preparation involves baking dough inside a clay oven to form flatbread, often crusted with sesame seeds and stuffed with youtiao, egg, or meat. A popular Shaobing cart at the Nanjichang Night Market in Taipei is even featured in the Michelin guide and always attracts long lines.
Before the iconic breakfasts of bing, youtiao, and doujiang were integrated into Taiwanese culture, rice congee was a popular breakfast. The diverse spread of toppings usually includes duck eggs, peanuts, Chinese pickles, bamboo shoots, jujubes, and pork floss (shredded dried pork). This rice porridge can be easily made at home by cooking rice in water until a smooth and mushy texture is reached. Add chicken or vegetable broth for extra flavor and experiment with toppings.
#SpoonTip: Rinse your raw rice and freeze it before making it into congee to reduce the cooking time.
Hotel Buffets in Taiwan
These classic breakfast foods can be found all over Taiwan and are definitely worth a try. When traveling, though, a more convenient option is the breakfast buffet offered at most hotels. Here, convenience doesn’t mean sacrificing quality. The breakfast buffets offer a variety of both traditional and Western options, like congee, rice, fried noodles, vegetables, fresh fruit, toast, and eggs.
Taiwanese Bing At Home
I like to make a version of the bing sold by Taiwanese street vendors using Trader Joe’s frozen Taiwanese scallion pancakes. I cook the crepes from frozen on the stove with a little oil, then pour a whisked egg into a pan and tilt to spread it out like a crepe. Before the egg sets, I add the cooked scallion pancake to the top of the egg and let it finish cooking. Thick and sweet soy sauce is often added to the bing, so I also make a quick dipping sauce of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and chili oil. I like adding grated cheddar cheese and turkey bacon to the pancake for extra substance and flavor. While it’s not a perfect replica of the fresh handmade bing from Taiwan, this easy breakfast or snack doesn’t disappoint. Check out this article about Trader Joe’s best frozen meals for more frozen section finds.
The Taiwanese culinary experience is unique and diverse, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a visit to Taiwan. However, if you can’t make the trip, there are plenty of ways to get creative and make your own Taiwanese breakfast experience at home!