Great food in Taiwan

The term "bento" originates from Song dynasty in China, which means "convenience stuffs".

Some common seen bentos in Taiwan include drumstick bento, chicken cutlet bento, pork chop bento, soy-stewed pork bento.

▲ Menu. (http://bargains-taipei.blogspot.com/)

Because these boxed lunches are very convenient, they are common lunch options during work.

▲ Grilled drumstick bento (http://www.homeping.tidi.tw/)

▲ Deep fried chicken cutlet bento (www.ipeen.com.tw/)

▲ Soy-stewed pork bento.

(From wikipedia) There are a few variations of beef noodle soup which differ in the way the broth is prepared. The most popular one is braised beef noodles. Braised beef noodles was reputedly invented by Kuomintang's Sichuan Province recruits who fled from mainland China to Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Therefore it is sometimes (misleadingly) referred to as "Szechuan Beef Noodle Soup". The red braised beef noodles is the most common type of beef noodle in Taiwan. The beef is often stewed with the broth and simmered, sometimes for hours Chefs also let the stock simmer for long periods of time with bone marrow; some vendors can cook the beef stock for over 24 hours. This type of beef noodle tends to be spicy because Doubanjiang and Five-spice powder are sometimes added. However, the broth may also have a sweeter taste if the fat from the beef is simmered. There are several variations with the broth, such as spicy, tomato, garlic, and herbal medicine. The tomato variation is popular in Taiwan and features chunks of tomatoes in a rich red coloured soy-tomato broth. Check out this video about Taiwanese beef noodle soups.

▲ Beef noodle soup (braised), featuring juicy beef chunks. (http://tw.tranews.com/)

▲ Order yourself some delicious side dishes in these restaurants. (http://blog.xuite.net/sij555/)

▲ Steam dumplings are often served in these restaurants. (http://solmag.tw/)

In Taiwan, there're two common types of hot pot restaurants: all-you-can-eat hot pot restaurant, and mini hot pot restaurant.

All-you-can-eat hot pot restaurant (USD 10 - 20):   Video Link

▲ Hot pot is irresistible. (http://www.gomag.com.tw/)

Small hot pot is a good choice for individuals. ($3 - $4 USD)

▲ Small hot pots. (http://www.web66.com.tw/)

▲ The menu. (http://vidgaying.pixnet.net/)

▲ Stir fried beef with green onions. (http://vidgaying.pixnet.net/)

▲ Stir fried clams with basil.

▲ Sauteed Pork and squid with dried bean curds and celery.

▲ Chopped cold chicken. (http://www.ipeen.com.tw/)

▲ Stir-fried Bird-nest Fern with sesame oil. (http://kukumei.pixnet.net/)

▲ Fried egg tofu.

▲ These restaurants serve beers. Heinekens are also available. (http://www.ipeen.com.tw/)

There are various types of all-you-can-eat restaurants in Taiwan. The hot pot restaurant just mentioned is one of them. A high class buffet in Taiwan serves a combination of Chinese cuisines, Japanese cuisines, and western cuisines, and more. ($20 - $30 USD / person)

▲ Suchi bars. (http://www.mokafun.com/)

▲ All kinds of Japanese tempuras. (http://netpp.blogspot.com/)

▲ Slow grilled beef. (http://netpp.blogspot.com/)

▲ Seafood collections - 1. (http://vickymavincentpa.pixnet.net/)

▲ Seafood collections - 2. (http://vickymavincentpa.pixnet.net/)

▲ Comfortable dininig areas. (http://rmlove30.pixnet.net/)

▲ Various food selections - 1

▲ Various food selections - 2 (http://food.eztable.com/)

▲ Fruits and dessets. (http://vickymavincentpa.pixnet.net/)

There're 8 famous branches of Chinese cuisine, classified according to where these dishes are originated from.

In Taiwan, Szechuan and Cantonese restaurants are more common, and Fujian cusine is already incorporated into Taiwanese cusine, since a lot of Taiwanese people are immigrated here from Fujian county in China 300 - 400 years ago.

The flavors of some dishes were adjusted based on local people's tastes, and some of the dishes were "created" by Taiwanese people. For example, in many Szechuan restaurants, you may order a dish called "Fifth watch spicy fire pot", the ingredients including duck bloods and pig intestines, which is kind of close to the dish "mao xue wang" in Szechuan province in China. But "Fifth watch spicy fire pot" is not available in China. Therefore, if you want to do some really authentic Chinese food, plan a trip to China instead.

Szechuan cuisine in Taiwan

▲ Chinese menu - 1 (http://wenzai.pixnet.net/)

▲ Chinese menu - 2 (http://superp.pixnet.net/)

▲ Gongbao chicken (http://superp.pixnet.net/)

▲ Eggplants with garlic sauce (http://wenzai.pixnet.net/)

Cantonese cuisine in Taiwan

▲ Salted shrimps (http://forum.pchome.com.tw/)

▲ Deep-fried boneless duck with taro stuffing (http://forum.pchome.com.tw/)

▲ Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce (http://blog.xuite.net/oilking168/)

Hunan cuisine in Taiwan

The menu (with English) of 1010 Hunan cuisine

Hangbang cuisine in Taiwan

▲ Chinese menu - 1 (http://poetry.pixnet.net/)

▲ Chinese menu - 2 (http://poetry.pixnet.net/)

▲ Stir-fried crab claws with chili sauce (http://blog.xuite.net/jerome1103)

▲ Braised codfish with tofu (http://blog.xuite.net/jerome1103)

▲ Deep-fried beancurd skin roll stuffed with shrimp and minced pork
(http://yunhoney2013.pixnet.net/)

▲ Steamed sweetened cream with coconut milk bun
(http://yunhoney2013.pixnet.net/)

There're several types of Japanese restaurants. Let me list a few: (1) Ramen house (2) Yakiniku restaurants (3) Japanese porkchop restaurants (4) Traditional Japanese restaurants (5) Revolving Sushi restaurants.

Ramen house

▲ My favorite ramen house in Taipei. (http://purinpei.pixnet.net/)

▲ Their fried chicken ramen. (www.ipeen.com.tw/)

▲ Roast pork cutlet ramen. (http://copee416.pixnet.net/)

Yakinikurestaurants

▲ Japanese BBQ in Taiwan - 1 (Chinese Menu). (http://www.ipeen.com.tw/)

▲ Japanese BBQ in Taiwan - 2. (http://www.look2.com.tw/)

▲ Japanese BBQ in Taiwan - 3. (http://www.ipeen.com.tw/)

▲ Japanese BBQ in Taiwan - 4. (http://235.tw.tranews.com/)

Japanese porkchop restaurants

▲ Anzu porkchop restaurant. (http://kidday.pixnet.net/)

▲ Juicy and very delicious deep-fried porkchops. (http://kidday.pixnet.net/)

▲ Deep-fried oysters. (http://changfong.pixnet.net/)

▲ Porkchops and shrimps. (http://changfong.pixnet.net/)

Traditional Japanese restaurants

In a traditional Japanese restaurant, all kinds of Japanese foods are provided. Those foods include sushis, salads, hot pots, tempuras, hand rolls, BBQs.

▲ Hand rolls. (http://www.momoya.com.tw/)

▲ Grilled mackerels. (http://www.momoya.com.tw/)

▲ Tempuras. (http://www.momoya.com.tw/)

Kaiten Sushi restaurants

The menu (with English) of a famous chain restaurant featuring Kaiten Sushis.

▲ Kaiten Sushi. (http://www.ipeen.com.tw)

Some commoly seen items of a Korean restaurant in Taiwan include: small side dishes, seafood pancake, kimchi tofu soup, bibimbap, BBQ.

▲ Bibimbap and side dishes. (http://0283691302.tw.tranews.com/)

▲ Seafood pancake. (http://0283691302.tw.tranews.com/)

▲ Kimchi tofu soup. (http://0283691302.tw.tranews.com/)

Nowadays in Taiwan there're many foreign workers and foreign brides from south east Asia, and they bring their food cultures when they come. Some Thai food and Vietnamese food photos are attached.

Thai food

▲ Moon shrimp pancakes. (This dish is "invented" here, not a traditional Thai dish, but it is very popular in Taiwan) (http://portable.easylife.tw/)

▲ Thai Style Hot & Spicy Chicken. (http://072614907.tw.tranews.com/)

▲ Kra Prao Moo. (http://portable.easylife.tw/)

▲ Steamed Lemon Fish. (http://portable.easylife.tw/)

▲ Tom Yum Goong. (http://life.chinatimes.com/)

Many vegetarian restaurants in Taiwan are cafeterias. For non-vegetarian restaurants, additional meal options for vegetarians are usually available. There're also some restaurants providing delicate set meals for vegetarians, or providing high class buffets.

Many Taiwanese do veggies for healty reasons or religious reasons. And doing veggies occasionally may save the lives of animals and is considered a green behavior.

▲ Chain vegeterian restaurant in Taiwan - 1. (http://appleapplecat.pixnet.net/)

▲ Chain vegeterian restaurant in Taiwan - 2. (http://appleapplecat.pixnet.net/)

▲ Veggie buffet - 1. (http://changfong.pixnet.net/)

▲ Veggie buffet - 2. (http://changfong.pixnet.net/)

▲ Veggie buffet - 3. (http://changfong.pixnet.net/)

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