Boba + Hotpot + Street Food Markets = Taiwan. Right? Or so that’s what I thought. Taiwan unexpectedly boasts some of the liveliest and craziest bar scenes I’ve ever seen. Taiwan is definitely a city that’s more than meets the eye.
Helpful Apps
Uber is common and easy to use in Taiwan if you want to travel by car.
Google Maps is the best way to get around with accurate train times.
Metro Taipei is great to use if you want to take the metro! It has all the information from routes to fare costs (but tickets will have to be purchased at the station)!
Food
- Stinky Tofu
Taipei is known for their night markets, but get ready for some intense and pungent odors! They’re known for their fish balls and especially, their stinky tofu. What is stinky tofu, you ask? It’s fermented tofu that smells like absolute farts. The Taiwanese say this dish is absolutely delicious, but to be honest, I wasn’t too much of a fan. It’s hard to get past the scent, but even afterwards, it seems to be more of an acquired taste. The texture isn’t like the silken and soft tofu; instead, it’s more texturized with various grooves and bumps throughout. On top of that, I’m not too much of a fan of tofu. However, if you are, I highly recommend trying it at least once.
2. Raohe Night Market
If stinky tofu is’t your style, then no need to worry because Raohe Night Market offers an assortment of dishes! Everything is available from skewered meats, sweet desserts, and finger food. The choice is yours!
3. Xin Fu Tang
If you’re an avid boba lover (and even if you’re not), a must-go location is Xin Fu Tang. This place is wildly popular and as of December 2024, still has super long lines! But don’t worry– it goes by super fast! As someone who grew up drinking boba almost every day, I can say that the Brown Sugar Boba here is amazing! We have this franchise in California, but it does not taste the same. It’s way better in Taiwan. The flavor tastes like a milky ice-cream, but it’s not too overly sweet! I’m also usually very picky about the boba (i.e., the brown tapioca balls at the bottom of the drink) because if it doesn’t have the right texture, it’ll ruin the drink for me. However, the boba here is perfectly chewy and adds additional sweetness to the drink.
4. Hotpot
Last but definitely not least, you MUST go to a hotpot restaurant. I don’t care where you go, JUST CHOOSE ANY! I would randomly go into any hotpot restaurant that I saw while roaming the town, and they never failed to satisfy my soul. The typical hotpot restaurant here will usually have a list of different broths to choose from (ranging from sweet to savory to spicy), unlimited toppings, a bar where to create your own dipping sauce, and, my favorite, a desserts bar! The desserts bar can include ice-cream, gelato, or crushed ice drinks– typically something cold to drown the heat of the hotpot.
Activities
- Xingmending Shopping District
At the heart of Taipei is Xingmending Shopping District. Here, you’ll be exposed to bright neon lights, foreign smells, sidewalks lined with shops, and streets congested with traffic. It’s a perfect one-stop-shop for getting food, going shopping, and being immersed in Taiwan’s youthful culture.
- Maokong Gondola
The Maokong Gondola is a bit on the outskirts of Taipei because it resides by the mountain range. The gondola will take you to the peak of the mountain, passing by various temples and statues. The ride itself is very fun because you get a picturesque view of the mountainous terrain against the city view. You can also opt to ride a typical cable car or a glass-floored cabin!
Once you get to the summit, make sure to eat at the Maokong Tea House where you get a breathtaking view! Enjoy tea while you chow down on traditional Taiwanese food. Afterwards, make sure to try ice-cream at a nearby store because this will be unlike any other ice-cream you’ve tried! The ice-cream here is typically made with tea leaves; you can see spots of the tea leaves with the ice-cream. It adds a very unique flavor and aroma to the overall flavor. I was a huge fan of this!
- Jiufen (AKA The “Spirited Away” town)
Near the oceanside, the rainy city of Jiufen sits atop a cliff with a narrow street market for all kinds of food and shopping. It’s famous for its Old Street market where people are bustling. If you enjoy tea, I highly recommend visiting a tea shop within this market; they sell a Michel-star oolong tea that is everything you could ever want!
This backdrop of this mystical place is frequently compared to the Hayao Miyazaki movie Spirited Away. It rains frequently throughout this city, so it’s common to have a dense fog surrounding the area. Nature truly surrounds you in this place; it feels like all of the elements are in harmony with one another. The ocean water brings calm; the crisp air fills lungs; the tree trunks bring security; and the heat and warmth is brought by its people. As much time as you spend around the busy areas, make sure to also enjoy the nature scenery by taking a walk up Mount Keelung Trail which is right by the Old Street market.
- Block Party (Row of Outdoor Bars)
If you want to turn up and party, then Taipei is perfect for you! It has an unexpectedly loud and intense party scene where you could bar-hop all night. A lot of the bars are outside with anyone who’s passing by to quickly stop and get a drink from a cart. Typically, someone or some bar is blasting loud music, and many people are singing along. You’ll see a HUGE crowd of people with a drink in their hand, hanging out and having fun. If you want to participate, a good place to start is Fake Sober Taipei which is at the intersection of Songshou Road and Lane 20, Songshou Road. When you head towards this direction during a weekend evening, it’ll be impossible to miss the large crowd of people partying and having fun.
Scenery
The beauty of Taipei is that it ropes in both the old and the new. As a city that’s fast-growing and measuring up to the modern world, buildings from a few decades ago can vastly differ from with the new builds of today. Although many new buildings have been constructed, like the ostentatious Taipei 101, there are also ancient temples and older buildings all around. However, I love that it still has its historic charm. And to have an exquisite view overlooking the city, I highly recommend going to the observation deck located on Bishan Road in the Neihu District. There’s stairs that lead up to a temple, andt the view during morning and night are both incredible!
Lifestyle
The people of Taiwan were very friendly and open-minded. I met a few Taiwanese natives who were introduced by my husband’s friend who lives there. They were all very easygoing, kind, and easy to converse with. In addition, at the block parties, there would be what seemed like thousands of people on the streets hanging out. There were groups of people young and old, grungy and nerdy, loud and quiet. Everyone would be drinking and enjoying each other’s company, singing along to a Jay Chou song that was blasting from the speakers. (More information on where to find these block parties in the “activities” section above!) Overall, as a Korean-American, it was easy to blend in with the Taiwanese crowd, and I thoroughly had a great time!
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