A great travel destination for a short weekend trip, the capital of Taiwan is full of street food and day trips to take.
For Singaporeans, we associate a holiday to Taipei to be one where we stuff our faces with food and the typical tourist attractions. Which was true on my first two visits to Taipei where we followed a list of your typical tourist attractions:
Shilin Night Market: Well-known night market and street food spot.
Taipei 101 Observation Deck: The iconic tower with indoor observation decks on 88th and 89th floor. Outdoor deck on the 91st is only open during good weather.
Longshan Temple: One of the oldest temples in the country reflects the religious heritage of Taiwan.
National Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall: Catch the changing of guards ceremony happening every hour from 9am to 5pm at national monument in Liberty Square.
National Palace Museum: Home to over 700,000 ancient Chinese artifacts.
The friendliness of the locals combined with the pleasing mix of various offerings for everyone makes Taipei and Taiwan a beloved destination. Affordable, accessible and safe - it is also the top few places that I highly encourage my friends to solo travel.
Here is my chill 3-days Taipei itinerary mainly focused around markets, contemporary arts and of course, food.
Day 1:
Upon reaching the airport, we went to get our transport card package that included a round trip from the airport to city centre for NTD 590 (S$26). After checking in to our hostel, We Come Hostel (which is close to both Taiwan Main Station, Taiwan Bus Station and Ben Men Station), we grabbed some snacks at the nearest 7-11 because we were famished.
And for that true Taiwan experience, we headed straight to a night market on our first night, Ningxia Night Market. Nicknamed the stomach of Taipei, this street food night market is a must visit for foodies (5pm – 12am daily). Here are the food items we tried:
King Oyster Mushrooms: Thick and stumpy mushrooms are grilled live before being coated by the flavours of your choice. NTD 100 for a medium bowl is honestly sufficient and it gets a bit boring in terms of taste and texture.
Liu Yu Zai Taro Fried Balls: The Bib Gourmand eatery sells two kinds of taro balls: with salted egg and pork floss (NTD 25) or the original plain ones (NTD 20). The crispy yam balls are earthy and sweet and filling! For that extra taste of umami and a change in texture, get the savoury option with the salted egg yolk. Tip: Get these before the dinner crowd comes in, because there will be a snaking line!
Peanut and Sesame Mochi: Huge, chewy, homemade Hakka-style mochis on a bed on ground peanuts and black sesame seeds just for NTD 40. Would recommend sharing because the amount of carbs is sure to fill you up. Alternatively, you can have them on an iced shaved dessert with mini taro balls.
Oyster Omelette: There were a good number of shops selling oyster omelette. Unlike the variation sold in Singapore, Taiwanese’s has a starchier texture due to the amount of flour to egg/vegetable ratio and doused in sweet sauce. I personally prefer the Singaporean take to oyster omelette as the sweet sauce was not my thing.
Generally, Ning Xia is lined with rows of food and it is impossible to leave the street food market without filling full or hoping you had more stomach space. I wanted to try the Fried Baozi with oyster and egg but didn’t seem to see it. Fang Chia Shredded Chicken has recently attained the Michelin Bib Gourmand this year as well.
Day 2:
Grab breakfast at the acclaimed Fu Hang Dou Jiang (阜杭豆漿) for their salty soya bean (35 NTD) and shao bing (燒餅), a sesame flatbread wrapped aroung egg and/or a fried dough stick (油條). The popular eatery opens at 5.30 am and expect a queue ranging from 15-90 mins snaking into the food court. In my opinion, worth trying to see what the hype is. But will I go back again? Nay for me.
Once satiated, take Bus #1062 from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station to Jiufen Old Street, 九份老街 (S$16, ~4hours - return). The small town is located in the mountains and its narrow alleys are filled Japanese/Chinese inspired shops, little eateries and souvenir shops. The attraction will be jam-packed with people but don't let that prevent you from enjoying the area, especially the famous Lantern Tea house, and the food offerings:
Taro Ball Soup Dessert: Traditional chewy taro balls served cold with other toppings like mochi, sweet potato balls, kidney beans, green beans and red beans. Definitely has a nicer bite and is more fragrant than those sold in Singapore.
Peanut Ice Cream Roll: Ice cream topped with coarse peanut brittles and/or peanut sugar powder, cilantro and then wrapped with a thin rice paper may sound weird. Yet it is a delightful post-meal snack.
Jin Zhi Meat Dumplings (肉圓): Soaked in red yeast (vinasse), these dumplings (NTD 45/ea) are famous with its thick chewy skin and meat filling. There's also a vegetarian option with mock meat/beancurd. The stall is also known for their interesting meatballs (pork, codfish, squid, kimchi and bamboo) soup for NTD 50.
Glutinous Rice Cake (阿蘭草仔粿): The rice cakes have different fillings ranging from red bean, salted mung bean to turnip (NTD 10/ea). Not the best looking food but it is delightfully chewy being served fresh.
Creative parks are a new addition and provide an ideal place for all walks of life to mingle around for a couple of hours. There are themed shops that has ticketed exhibitions or rides coupled with the themed gift stores like those at Huashan 1914 Culture and Creative Park. After exploring Jiu Fen, take the MRT to Zhong Xiao Xing Sheng Station and make your way to the sprawling park from Exit 1.
Time for more food! We spent the evening in Ximending Shopping District that has retail shops lined up as well as street food dotted around some alleys and junctions.
Hot-Star Fried chicken: The fried chicken cutlet has a long queue and we were craving for fried chicken cutlet so why not? You will get a gift voucher for the drink store next to Hot-Star upon purchasing. I had the honey and bitter gourd drink for NTD70, really refreshing but a tad overpriced relative to the other drink stores I’ve passed by.
Ah Zhong Mee Sua/Mian Xian: After joining the masses in the queue, slurp down the thin vermicelli noodles (mee sua) swimming in starchy, rich and thick gravy and topped with braised pig intestines, oysters and coriander. On the side, there are vinegar and chilli oil for you to add more flavour in your noodle bowl (NTD 50 for the small bowl, NTD 65 for the larger bowl).
Stinky Tofu: Along the same row of shops as Ah Zhong, there is a stinky tofu store that is notorious for, of course, its smell. The deep fried version is easier to tackle; the fermented tofu has a heap of pickled cabbage to cut through the funky smell and is served with chilli oil. You will get a bite of heat, acidity and umami.
The night is still young - navigate yourself to a hidden bar in Ximending, Hanko 60 is a hipster watering hole with unique cocktails starting from NTD 300. Try to get a reservation as this place is almost always packed. Out of all their eccentric and ridiculously photogenic drinks, my favourite was the Wasabi Sahimi (NTD 350), a chili vodka, honey, cucumber, tarragon and wasabi blend that came with konjac jelly "sashimi". Definitely packed a punch - in spice and alcohol.
Looking for something different? Commander D is an underground, dungeon-inspired gay club that is catered for those with a BDSM fetish. You can expect chains, ropes and cages in the dark room after paying an entrance fee that includes a drink. Nightly shows start at 11pm to 12am, depending on the crowd size.
Day 3:
Breakfast run at a neighbourhood traditional breakfast for Egg Crepe Roll (蛋餅), a standard food item sold by street vendors every morning. Rolled up in a crepe and brushed with soya sauce, it is bursting with flavour!
Head to the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei which started as an elementary school, then Taipei City Hall before becoming a modern art museum. Exhibits combine art, monument and technology - giving you an experience that resonates with your five senses.
For the small boutiques and souvenir shops as well as cafes, Yongkang Street is the destination. Cafe culture is strong here - think Melbourne coffee, soya milk soft serve and French bakeries. You can spend a decent amount of time here, browsing Japan-inspired shops, buying novelty tea blends back home, or cool off with one of Taiwan's most popular shaved ice store, Smoothie House.
Raohe Street Night Market has been around for over a century and it houses the Michelin Bib Gourmand pepper buns that can be found right at the entrance, and fresh rice mochi sold from a little pushcart. The 600m stretch is packed with street food, quaint shops and traditional carnival games.
Fu Zhou Shi Zu Pepper Bun: The famed Hu Jiao Bing (NTD 50) is handed to you piping hot and a bite into the flavourful crust will let loose a steam of fragrant peppery smell. Stuffed with minced meat, scallion, sugar, soy sauce and black pepper, the buns result in a long queue but the staff are really fast in handing them out.
Devil’s Chicken: Originated from Taichung, E Mo Ji Pa differs from the common chicken cutlet that you see in other night markets. The store deep fry breaded chicken instead of covering the cutlet in a thick batter. This gives more flavour in the cutlet and definitely a better meat to batter ratio. Go for the spicy for the extra kick.
Sour Plum Drink: More sweet than salty, the sour plum drink at NTD 25 is a great way to wash down the greasiness of the fried food.
Ma Shu Bao Bao: The humble pushcart has been selling traditionally flavoured sticky rice mochi (crushed peanuts, powdered sugar and black sesame) for more than a decade. Smaller packets cost NTD 40 while the bigger portions are at NTD 60.
Before leaving Taipei, make sure to grab a box of ijysheng( 一之軒 ) mochi. The handmade mochi (NTD 14) is phenomenal - thin and Q mochi skin enveloping a fragrant filling. There are ten flavours to choose from. Black sesame was definitely the best flavour there but you can try their peanut or green tea. Not a mochi lover, no worries. The bakery is lauded for their fragrant award-winning buns and pastries as well. Though I would not recommend their cakes - had the cheese tart and it was borderline disastrous.
Looking for more?
Taipei is relatively a small city for travelers that are more accustomed to larger ones. However, due to the efficient transportation system, there are still plenty to do due to Taipei's close proximity to many small towns and natural parks.
Take photos of Yehliu Geopark: A landscape of honey comb and uniquely shaped formations such as the “Queen’s head” and “Dragon’s Head” located at a cape on Taiwan’s north coast.Gondola to Maokong’s tea plantations: Grab a panorama of the city and try the local tea at the mountain village.
Embrace nature at Neihu: Fruit picking and honey tasting in the district named “inner lake”. There are mountainous roads and paths, making it an ideal activity for hiking enthusiasts.
Hiking to Elephant Mountain: The short hike up (15-20 minutes) makes it an ideal vantage point to catch the sunset.
Taroko National Park in Hualien County: After a 2 hours journey to Hualien via HSR, the park is another 30-40 minutes from the train station. However, the incredible Taroko Gorge and the stretch of natural beauty makes it worth it. Alternatively, there are plenty of tour companies that arrange day tours to the national park.
Stuff your face in Tainan: If you are balling, spend NTD 1350/ 60 SGD for a 2 hours high speed train ride to Tainan, the oldest and fifth largest city of Taiwan. Loads of instagramable food and cafes in the laidback city.
Soak in hot springs at Wulai: Just 40 minutes and NTD 15 from Taipei, you will arrive at the town of natural hot springs. Free hot springs can be found on either side of Nanshi River. There are private hot springs for you to pamper yourself as well. Do try the acclaimed Wulai sausages while you are there.
Explore Yangmingshan National Park: Another short trip would be a 30 minutes bus ride away, where you can take a 2 hours hike (round trip) at one of Taiwan’s seven National Parks. Rejuvenate your tired feet at the Lengshuikeng Hot Springs post hike!
Have fun in this food-paradise! Remember - count the memories, not the calories!
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