Kaohsiung
An elegant teahouse that makes refined versions of classics such as braised pork and panfried milkfish. Pore over a book or watch the world go by as you…
Must-see restaurants in Taiwan
Behind-the-Temple Seafood Congee
Kaohsiung
This wonderful street-corner shop with an iron roof whips up delicious soups and congee with fresh local seafood. The signature seafood congee (招牌海產粥,…
Shilin
This branch of the famous Din Tai Fung dumpling restaurant is a good opportunity to experience its legendary fare without the tourist crush, although you…
Tainan
This modern milkfish joint sells the usual suspects – fish broth, panfried milkfish and braised pork rice, plus innovations like soy milk- or miso-based…
Tainan
Possibly the world's most elegant place to suck on a popsicle. This beautiful Japanese house with koi pond and pruned bushes was built in 1925 as an…
Eastern Taiwan & Taroko National Park
Driftwood branches, netting and shell-mosaic lamps give a gentle charm to this cosy wooden restaurant, hidden just off the main road in Hongtou (Imaorod)…
Taichung
The ecoconscious chef of this private kitchen takes great pains to source quality Taiwan ingredients for his skilful French-style meals – line-caught fish…
Tainan
Da Dong hasn't yet caught the attention of mass tourism despite the high number of delicious stalls. Vendors here have clearly delineated boundaries: if…
Taipei
Loud, rustic and fun, #21 offers great food that's very fresh and very Taiwanese. The place gets its name from its two specialities: roasted goose meat…
Kenting National Park
Kenting's night market is renowned as being one of the best in Taiwan, and that's saying something. Every evening as the sun goes down, the vendors stalls…
Southern Taiwan
Rustic Ibu is a specialist in indigenous cuisine and a worthy one at that. Ingredients are sourced from surrounding hills – fresh mushrooms for soup, tart…
Taipei
What's more natural to eat by the seaside than a plate of fish and chips? Opened by a British chef who married a Taiwanese guy, Britshake serves soft…
Kaohsiung
Sanmin St heaves with cheap and cheery stalls brandishing all kinds of deliciousness. One of the most famous is Chou's, for its duck cooked in angelica…
Tainan
A haven for the health and environmentally conscious, this restaurant uses naturally farmed local produce. The Asian fusion food is light and lightly…
Tainan
Fusheng is famous for wǎnguǒ, a Tainan speciality that translates into 'pudding in a bowl'. Essentially steamed rice gruel embedded with sliced pork,…
Taichung
Fermented cabbage is the star here and it appears in various dishes – the signature hotpot (酸菜鍋, suāncài guō) alongside dried shrimp, celery and whatever…
Southern Taiwan
Locals say this is the best bantiao shop on Meixing St. The noodles, made the traditional way, are indeed delicious. There's also an assortment of other…
Xinyi
Inside former military-dependent Village 44 is this lovely cafe/performance space/lifestyle shop with marble floors, retro lighting and great acoustics…
Eastern Taiwan & Taroko National Park
Excellent set meals – one of them featuring utterly delicious chilli chicken with mountain pepper – come with miso soup, fruit salad and as much rice as…
Taichung
This small shop is famous for its stepped-up bento classics: rice with succulent fried pork chop (香酥排骨飯, xiāngsū páigǔ fàn) or with flavourful fried…
Central East Coast
In a spacious Japanese-style wood-and-glass building at the entrance to the Dulan Sugar Factory complex, this is a fine place to try regional delicacies…
Xinyi
Tasty, meat-free noodle and rice dishes from Yunnan and Myanmar. Coconut curry vegetables come recommended, as does the peppery deep-fried tofu in sesame…
Kaohsiung
Great place for breakfast or a late-night snack – it's open all the time. At a glance it's just a regular street shop that specialises in milk tea, but…
Tainan
A smoky one-man affair that does one thing only but does it really well – chicken skewers. The cuts are cherry-picked, not too fatty, too lean or too…
Tainan
Set in a Japanese-era merchant's house, this is a fun place to try traditional dànzǐmiàn (擔仔麵), a simple dish that mixes noodles with a tangy meat sauce…
Eastern Taiwan & Taroko National Park
This refreshingly air-conditioned coffee shop and afternoon eatery doubles as a showroom for the owner's handmade leatherwork. Home-cooked meals are full…
Taipei
This smart Taiwanese dessert place has been in business since 1951 and serves up high-quality, classic sweet-bean soups and shaved ice. Its signature dish…
Kaohsiung
At this small, 60-year-old stall, place your order and watch the lady assemble the rolls, her hands darting over huge plates of Chinese cabbage, sprouts,…
Kaohsiung
A clean, crisp-looking bistro that prides itself on using local produce as much as possible. Greens and seafood from Kaohsiung, pork from Pingtung and…
Songshan
A perfect spot for a leisurely Sunday lunch and perhaps melting into a boozy afternoon (there's wine and beer on the menu). Food is brunchy – avocado on…
Northern Taiwan
Taro, peanut, green mango and many more ice-cream flavours have been blended with the region's chillis at this modern store just up from Nanao train…
Taipei
In the basement of tiny Dinghao Mall is this secret gem – the best-value juicy dumplings in the city. It's always heaving, but the line moves fast and the…
Hualien
This modest shop has been whipping up delicious dumplings of all sorts, as well as noodles and soups, since 1975.
Taitung
While by no means meat-free, this semi-fast-food, counter-order place has plenty of vegetarian options, some vegan, and most incorporating at least some…
Chiayi
Zhongle Rd, just across from Minxiong Train Station, is lined with shops selling a Minxiong speciality – goose! But this shop has the most customers. The…
Taipei
This restaurant in the Landis Hotel is consistently rated as having the best French food in town and is also one of the fanciest dining experiences on…
Tainan
This worthy modern restaurant is a popular venue for weddings. It's a good place to try more elaborate restaurant-type dishes such as the delectable…
Taipei
Open since 1963, this is one of Taipei's top spots for beef noodles, especially of the hóngshāo (紅燒; red spicy broth) variety. Beef portions are generous,…
Taipei
Join the locals – you can spot this place as it's the only one with a long line – for bags of sugary doughnuts twisted into sticks, puffed into balls or…
Taipei
With long queues that compete with the other darling of Huashan Market, Fuhang, this cute little sushi and sashimi-platter place offers well-priced sets,…