The Food Pursuit
0
There are many reasons Taiwan is one of my favorite places to visit, but one thing that keeps me reminiscing every other minute is the food. From fresh buns and dumplings to aromatic bubble teas and refreshing shaved ice, there’s nothing I don’t long for at any moment. Night markets as you know are the prime location to find all these items. Not only that, you can feel the vibe of this late-night Taiwanese culture and do some shopping too.
Readers, a slight language barrier on this one but stay with me and I’ll show you a great dumpling place in Taiwan! At the Danshui bus station in Taipei, I spotted a dumpling place that smelled really good. I figured I could use a snack. The store is called ‘花蓮一品香扁食’ in Chinese with no English name. It’s hard to describe the location at the bus station, but I can tell you that it’s on the same strip of stores as the 7-Eleven, all of which faces the buses directly. Because it’s not a big station, you can easily spot this dumpling shop. Otherwise, they have several other locations all over Taipei which you can visit. Map below!
After making an early visit to Taipei 101, I realized that looking for food, let alone breakfast, around the area can be harder than the Leafs winning the Stanley Cup. Food facilities in Taipei 101 weren’t open yet so the kind people at the info desk directed me towards breakfast. I didn’t know what to expect but kept walking along the road until I saw N.Y. BAGELS CAFE and knew this was the place. So note to self, do not go anywhere before 11 a.m. in Taiwan because the city is still sleeping.
Taiwan is known for its street food. On my way to Danshui Fisherman’s Wharf to enjoy beautiful scenery, I make a planned pit stop at GongMing Street (公明街) – a street full of unique Taiwanese eats – to enjoy some local food.
When I think coffee, I think Tim Hortons. When I think fast food, I think McDonald’s. When I think xiao long bao, I think none other than Din Tai Fung. This restaurant originated in Taiwan and is the country’s pride known internationally despite serving up Shanghainese staples including xiao long bao. While a Markham restaurant with a similar name is nothing but a mock, it’s the perfect evidence of the popularity and acknowledgement this restaurant has become among Shanghai cuisine. I made sure to give this place a visit during a trip to Taipei.
Back to top