By Steven Crook & Katy Hui-wen Hung Compared to the cult-like veneration of beef noodles, hot pot, and stinky tofu in Taiwan, the guabao (割包 or 刈包) is an underappreciated snack. What English-speakers often call “the Taiwanese hamburger” is available in every town and city, but certainly not on every street, nor even in many…
An American filmmaker went on a quest for the origins of General Tso’s Chicken, but for many in Taiwan there was never a mystery. Forget about chow mein, spring rolls, and sweet-and-sour pork. When Americans think about Chinese food these days, say experts in Chinese-American cuisine, the dish they think of first is General Tso’s…
Three Taipei restaurants to bear in mind when hankering for the food of northern China. Photos by Matthew Fulco Over the years it has become harder to find authentic northern Chinese restaurants in Taipei. Restaurant founders who arrived in Taiwan with Chiang Kai-Shek and the Kuomintang government more than 65 years ago have nearly all…
In selecting a place to eat, don’t forget to consider the price/performance ratio. Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m a much better eater than economist. And while economics in Taiwan poses its challenges, choosing the right restaurant in Taipei requires calculations several orders of magnitude more complex. The restaurant scene in Taipei is,…
For a foreign national, learning Taiwanese cooking turned out to be not just a culinary adventure, but a life lesson. Photos by Jules Quartly It used to be that if foreigners could pronounce the intended destination with approximate similitude, the cab driver would in wonderment compliment them on their “excellent” Chinese. I get much the…
East Asia is increasingly caught up in a love affair with Taiwan’s signature pastry. Tucked away on a luxuriant side street in Taipei’s tony Minsheng Community neighborhood is an unassuming and quiet café. While sparsely furnished, the café exudes a gentle warmth, its caramel wood walls bathed in the halcyon glow of halogen track lighting….
Taiwan is gradually developing a wine culture with the help of those returning after studying or working abroad. As Taiwan’s wine market continues its growth, sophisticated wine enthusiasts are increasingly seeking out a wider variety of wines that offering more than just brand prestige. Taiwan’s wine market has come a long way since the mid-1990s…
Taipei’s Top hotels are rolling out elaborate all-you-can eat buffet spreads to the delight of diners. Photos By Matt Fulco Chef Bernard Noel loses track of time when he enthuses about the quality of the Regent Taipei’s Brasserie buffet restaurant, especially the seafood. “It’s always the catch of the day,” says the native of Alsace,…
Almost all of the beancurd and soy milk consumed in Taiwan is made from soybeans imported from the United States. Photos by Rich J Matheson Few comestibles are more Taiwanese than tofu, soy sauce, and soymilk. All three are made from soy, a legume first cultivated in Northeast Asia at least 2,700 years ago. Directly…
Treat yourself to a walking – and eating – tour through one of Taipei’s oldest districts. Photos by CHRIS STOWERS In one Taipei’s oldest neighborhoods – the Wanhua district in the southwestern portion of the city – one can experience foods, drinks, and aromas that reflect both traditional and modern Taipei. The area, formerly known…
