Taiwanese cuisine is a delightful mix of influences from mainland China, Japan, and indigenous cultures.
Known for its street food, seafood, and flavorful dishes, Taiwanese food offers a unique culinary experience.
Whether you’re in the mood for a savory snack, a hearty meal, or a sweet treat, these 50 authentic Taiwanese recipes will transport you straight to the bustling night markets and cozy kitchens of Taiwan.
1. Beef Noodle Soup
Beef Noodle Soup is a quintessential Taiwanese dish.
It is made with tender chunks of beef, hearty noodles, and a rich, savory broth flavored with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and star anise.
It’s a comforting and filling meal perfect for any time of year.
2. Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
This popular street food features bite-sized pieces of chicken that are marinated, coated in a seasoned flour mixture, and deep-fried until crispy.
They’re often served with fried basil leaves and a sprinkle of five-spice powder.
3. Braised Pork Rice
Braised Pork Rice is a simple yet flavorful dish consisting of slow-cooked minced pork in a savory soy-based sauce served over steamed rice.
It’s a beloved comfort food in Taiwan.
4. Oyster Omelette
Oyster Omelette is a savory dish made with fresh oysters, eggs, and a batter of sweet potato starch.
It’s typically topped with a sweet and tangy sauce, making it a popular night market snack.
5. Stinky Tofu
Stinky Tofu is a fermented tofu dish known for its strong odor.
It’s deep-fried until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and is usually served with pickled cabbage and a spicy sauce.
6. Gua Bao
Gua Bao is a type of Taiwanese sandwich made with a steamed bun filled with braised pork belly, pickled mustard greens, cilantro, and crushed peanuts.
It’s a delicious and satisfying street food snack.
7. Bubble Tea
Bubble Tea, also known as boba tea, is a refreshing drink made with sweetened milk tea and chewy tapioca pearls.
It’s a globally popular beverage that originated in Taiwan.
8. Dan Bing
Dan Bing is a Taiwanese-style breakfast crepe filled with eggs and often topped with scallions and a drizzle of soy sauce.
It’s a quick and tasty way to start the day.
9. Taiwanese Meatballs
Taiwanese Meatballs are large, gelatinous dumplings filled with minced pork, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots.
They’re typically steamed or deep-fried and served with a savory sauce.
10. Three-Cup Chicken
Three-cup chicken is a flavorful dish.
It is made with chicken, soy sauce, rice wine, and sesame oil, all cooked together until the sauce reduces and coats the chicken in a glossy glaze.
It’s often garnished with fresh basil.
11. Minced Pork Noodles
This comforting noodle dish features ground pork cooked in a savory sauce made from soy sauce, rice wine, and spices, served over chewy wheat noodles.
It’s simple yet satisfying.
12. Scallion Pancakes
Scallion Pancakes are crispy, flaky flatbreads filled with chopped scallions.
They’re a popular street food and are often enjoyed with a dipping sauce made from soy sauce and vinegar.
13. Ba-Wan
Ba-Wan are Taiwanese dumplings made with a translucent, chewy dough filled with minced pork, bamboo shoots, and mushrooms.
They’re usually steamed and served with a sweet and savory sauce.
14. Taiwanese Pineapple Cake
Pineapple Cake is a popular Taiwanese pastry filled with a sweet and tangy pineapple filling.
It’s a beloved treat and a popular souvenir for visitors to Taiwan.
15. Salt & Pepper Squid
This delicious dish features squid pieces that are coated in a seasoned flour mixture.
It is deep-fried until crispy and then tossed with salt, pepper, and fried garlic.
It’s a perfect appetizer or snack.
16. Lu Rou Fan
Lu Rou Fan is a comforting bowl of rice topped with braised minced pork.
The pork is slow-cooked in a savory sauce made from soy sauce, rice wine, and spices until it’s tender and flavorful.
17. Taiwanese Hot Pot
Taiwanese Hot Pot is a communal dining experience where diners cook various meats, seafood, and vegetables in a pot of broth.
It’s a fun and interactive way to enjoy a meal with friends and family.
18. Milkfish Congee
Milkfish Congee is a comforting rice porridge made with tender milkfish fillets, ginger, and scallions.
It’s often enjoyed as a breakfast dish or a light meal.
19. Taiwanese Pork Chops
These flavorful pork chops are marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, rice wine, and five-spice powder.
Then coated in sweet potato flour and deep-fried until crispy.
They’re often served with rice and pickled vegetables.
20. Taiwanese Sausage
Taiwanese Sausage is a sweet and savory pork sausage flavored with soy sauce, sugar, and spices.
It’s often grilled and served with slices of raw garlic and steamed rice.
21. Sweet Potato Balls
These chewy, bite-sized balls are made from sweet potato and tapioca flour.
And then deep-fried until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
They’re a popular street food snack.
22. Douhua
Douhua is a silky tofu dessert served with a sweet syrup made from brown sugar and ginger.
It’s a refreshing and light treat that’s perfect for warm weather.
23. Sesame Noodles
These cold noodles are tossed in a rich, creamy sesame sauce made from sesame paste, soy sauce, and vinegar.
They’re a simple yet flavorful dish that’s perfect for hot summer days.
24. Salted Chicken
Salted Chicken is a dish made by poaching a whole chicken in a seasoned broth until tender and juicy.
It’s often served cold and garnished with sliced scallions and ginger.
25. Pickled Cucumbers
These quick and easy pickles are made by marinating cucumber slices in a mixture of vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce.
They’re a refreshing side dish that pairs well with many Taiwanese meals.
26. Zongzi
Zongzi are glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves and filled with savory ingredients like pork, mushrooms, and salted egg yolk.
They’re traditionally enjoyed during the Dragon Boat Festival.
27. Popcorn Shrimp
These crispy, bite-sized shrimp are coated in a seasoned flour mixture and deep-fried until golden brown.
They’re often served with fried basil leaves and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
28. Taiwanese Braised Tofu
Braised Tofu is a simple yet flavorful dish made by simmering tofu in a savory broth made from soy sauce, rice wine, and spices.
It’s often served as a side dish or a vegetarian main course.
29. Pork Belly Buns
These steamed buns are filled with tender, braised pork belly, pickled mustard greens, cilantro, and crushed peanuts.
They’re a delicious and satisfying street food snack.
30. Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice
This flavorful fried rice is made with succulent shrimp, sweet pineapple, and a mix of vegetables, all stir-fried with rice and a savory sauce.
It’s a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors.
31. Taiwanese Fried Chicken
This popular street food features marinated chicken pieces that are coated in a seasoned flour mixture and deep-fried until crispy.
They’re often served with fried basil leaves and a sprinkle of five-spice powder.
32. Meat Sauce Noodles
This comforting noodle dish features ground pork cooked in a savory sauce made from soy sauce, rice wine, and spices, served over chewy wheat noodles.
It’s simple yet satisfying.
33. Taiwan Sweet Potato Congee
This comforting rice porridge is made with sweet potatoes and rice cooked until creamy.
It’s a simple and nutritious breakfast or light meal.
34. Pickled Daikon
These quick and easy pickles are made by marinating daikon radish slices in a mixture of vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce.
They’re a refreshing side dish that pairs well with many Taiwanese meals.
35. Taiwanese Pork Floss
Pork Floss is a dried, fluffy meat product made from finely shredded pork that’s been cooked with soy sauce and sugar until it becomes light and airy.
It’s often used as a topping for rice and congee.
36. Eggplant with Garlic Sauce
This savory dish features tender eggplant cooked with a garlicky soy sauce.
It’s a simple yet flavorful side dish that pairs well with rice.
37. Taiwanese Steamed Fish (清蒸魚)
This dish features a whole fish that’s steamed with ginger, scallions, and soy sauce until tender and flavorful.
It’s a healthy and delicious way to enjoy fresh fish.
38. Taiwanese Sweet and Sour Pork
This dish features tender pork ribs that are cooked in a sweet and tangy sauce made from vinegar, sugar, and ketchup.
It’s a popular dish that’s often served with rice.
39. Fried Rice Vermicelli (炒米粉)
This stir-fried noodle dish is made with thin rice vermicelli, vegetables, and often shrimp or pork.
It’s a flavorful and satisfying dish that’s perfect for a quick meal.
40. Taiwanese Fish Ball Soup
This light and flavorful soup features fish balls made from ground fish and seasonings, served in a clear broth with vegetables.
It’s a comforting and healthy dish.
41. Steamed Dumplings
These delicate dumplings are filled with a savory mixture of pork and soup that bursts in your mouth when you bite into them.
They’re a popular dim sum dish.
42. Spicy Beef Noodles
This spicy variation of beef noodle soup features a rich, spicy broth made with chili oil and spices.
It’s a warming and hearty dish perfect for spice lovers.
43. Pork & Cabbage Dumplings
These dumplings are filled with a mixture of ground pork and chopped cabbage, then boiled or steamed until tender.
They’re often served with a dipping sauce made from soy sauce and vinegar.
44. Taiwanese Radish Cake
Radish Cake is a savory dish made from grated radish and rice flour, then steamed and pan-fried until crispy.
It’s a popular dim sum dish and street food snack.
45. Sweet Mung Bean Soup
This sweet and refreshing soup is made from mung beans cooked with sugar and sometimes flavored with coconut milk.
It’s a perfect dessert for hot weather.
46. Pork & Shrimp Wontons
These delicate wontons are filled with a mixture of ground pork and shrimp, then boiled and served in a savory broth.
They’re a comforting and delicious meal.
47. Taiwanese Soy Milk
Soy Milk is a popular breakfast beverage in Taiwan, often enjoyed with fried dough sticks called youtiao.
It can be served sweet or savory, depending on your preference.
48. Taiwanese Fried Tofu
This simple dish features cubes of tofu that are deep-fried until crispy and served with a dipping sauce made from soy sauce and garlic.
It’s a delicious appetizer or snack.
49. Taiwanese Sweet Potato Balls
These chewy, bite-sized balls are made from sweet potato and tapioca flour,
And then deep-fried until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
They’re a popular street food snack.
50. Sticky Rice
Sticky Rice is a savory dish made from glutinous rice cooked with soy sauce, mushrooms, and often topped with shredded pork or chicken.
It’s a traditional dish often enjoyed during celebrations.
