Taiwan, an island country off the coast of China, has some of the best food in the world. I would eagerly hop on a plane and fly there just for the food. Here are some of the best foods, in my opinion, from Taiwan.
Boba Milk Tea
Photo by Jocelyn Hsu
If you don’t know what boba is, you really need to go try some. Basically, as one Spoon writer explains,”It’s really just tea, sweetened milk and black tapioca ‘pearls’ that sit in the bottom of the cup.” But really, boba is amazing. Perfect boba (by my standards) is slightly sweet (like honey, not sugar) and very chewy. Tea preferences vary, but you can’t go wrong with a milk tea.
Popcorn Chicken
Photo by Jocelyn Hsu
This delicious snack originated in Taiwan. Well-done popcorn chicken is the perfect level of spiciness with a crispy outer covering tender bite-sized chicken. They’re often served with a basil leaf or two to give an extra punch.
Oyster Omelette
Photo by Jennifer Hsu
Not quite your typical omelette. These bad boys are made with oysters, vegetables and eggs mixed with starch. Add a large helping of sweet and savory red sauce and you’re set.
3-Cup Chicken
Photo by Jocelyn Hsu
A direct translation from its name in Mandarin, this dish is traditionally made with a cup of rice wine, a cup of sesame oil and a cup of soy sauce (hence the ‘3 cup’ in its name). And of course, to keep the dish properly Taiwanese, my grandma would always throw in a healthy handful of basil from her garden.
Stinky Tofu
Photo by Jennifer Hsu
Oh no, don’t give me that look. If you’ve never tried it, you can’t say a word. Usually deep fried, stinky tofu is one of Taiwan’s most popular snacks although it probably originated in China (then again, at that time Taiwan was a part of China).
Pig’s Blood Cakes
Photo by Jennifer Hsu
Made with pig blood and sticky rice, these blood cakes can be fried, steamed or cooked in a hot pot. When fried or steamed, it is often stuck on a long stick, coated with sauce and crushed peanuts with a sprinkle of cilantro.
Beef Stew Noodle
Photo by Jocelyn Hsu
Although each chef’s recipe differs, the soup is always a rich stock made from cooking beef for hours. Throw in some handmade noodles and you’ve got yourself a delicious lunch or dinner, heck you could eat it for breakfast if you really wanted.
Mango Snow Ice
Photo by Jocelyn Hsu
Perfect for summer, this dessert is mango heaven on a plate. It is made up of either plain or mango-flavored snow ice (which is fluffier, more condensed shaved ice) with huge chunks of sweet mango and topped off with a large helping of condensed milk.