40 Taiwanese foods we can't live without Part 1 From mountains of shaved ice to chicken cutlets as big as your face, Taiwanese eats all come with superlatives

By Hiufu Wong

Taipei travel essentials: passport, cash, extra stomach. 來台灣旅遊必備的三個要件：護照、現金跟大食量

Small eats 小吃 are the big thing in where the philosophy is eat often and eat well.

Sure, there's the internationally accepted three-meals-a-day format of dining, but why be so limited when you can make like the Taiwanese and do some gourmet snacking 美食小吃 at any time of the day, all day, every day?

The capital has around 20 streets dedicated to snacking.

Every time you think you've found the best streetside bao, the most incredible stand or mind-blowing(令人感到興奮的)這邊的意思是好吃到爆 beef , there's always another one that surpasses it. 無論你覺得今天吃到了什麼好 吃的玩意兒，總會再找到更好吃的東西

Taiwanese food is a mash-up 混合體 of the cuisines of Min Nan 閩南, Teochew 潮 州 and 福建 Chinese communities, as well as Japanese cuisine.

The results of these culinary marriages(這邊的 marriage 指的是結合、搭配跟湊堆) are diversely delicious.多樣且美味

When we asked some Taiwanese friends about the best food on their island, the argument that ensued almost broke up life-long friendships.這一句的意思是，記者 去問了台灣在地人，到底哪些才算是台灣道地小吃美食，結果這些在地人為了爭 辯哪種小吃最棒，個個都顧不得友誼情面，幾乎吵到關係破裂。這句話當然是為 了說明台灣小吃百百種，每個人各有所好，好吃的東西實在是太多了。

"We almost had a war -- we just have too many good eats," was the typical reply.

Food: it's serious, it's respected, it's all excellent in Taiwan.

1. (滷肉飯)

A Taiwanese saying goes, "Where there is a wisp of smoke from the kitchen chimney, there will be lurou fan" 哪家煙囪有冒煙，哪裡就有滷肉飯(braised pork with rice). The popularity of this humble dish cannot be overstated.

"Lurou fan" is synonymous with Taiwan.滷肉飯幾乎可說是台灣的代名詞了

The Taipei city government launched a "braised pork rice is ours" campaign last year after Michelin’s Green Guide Taiwan claimed that the dish is from Shandong Province in mainland China.這件事情是真的，因為抗議信函是我寫的哈哈哈。(之 前米其林美食指南把滷肉飯的魯字，詮釋成大陸的山東美食，弄到台北市政府還 去函去要求更正…)

A good bowl of lurou fan has finely chopped 剁碎的, not quite minced 尚未到絞肉 的地步, pork belly, slow-cooked in aromatic soy sauce 香噴噴的醬油 with five spices 五香粉. There should be an ample amount of fattiness 非常肥非常油, in which lies the magic 這就是好吃的祕訣.

The meat is spooned over hot rice. 肉醬與濃汁上桌前會用湯匙澆在米飯上。

A little sweet, a little salty, the braised pork rice is comfort food perfected 撫慰心靈 的完美食物.

2. Beef noodle (牛肉麵)

You know it's an obsession when it gets its own festival.台北有牛肉麵節，大家可以 明白台灣人迷戀牛肉麵的程度了 is a dish that inspires competitiveness and innovation in chefs. Everyone wants to claim the title of beef noodle king.

Lin Dong Fang's beef shanks 牛腱肉 with al dente 義大利文，英文普遍用來解釋義 大利麵的硬度，完美的義大利麵硬度式夾生，就是中間還有一點硬的麵條，台灣 的牛肉麵也要能彈牙(夾生)，才是口感最佳的麵條 noodles in a herbal soup 中藥 燉的湯頭 are a perennial favorite 一年到頭人們的心頭好. The streetside eatery’s secret weapon is the dollop 一團 of homemade chili-butter 辣椒醬(比較濃稠的那 種) added last.

3. omelet (蚵仔煎)

Here's a snack that really showcases the fat of the land 最足以代表台灣精華的小 吃 of Taiwan. You've got something from the sea and something from the soil.

The eggs are the perfect foil 陪襯物 for the little easily found around the island, while sweet potato starch 番薯粉調製的勾芡 is added to give the whole thing a gooey chewiness 黏呼呼、耐嚼有彈性的口感 -- a signature Taiwan food texture.台灣在地美食的最佳典範

No wonder it was voted best snack to represent the island in a poll of 1,000 Taiwanese by Global Views Monthly in 2007.曾獲選成為台灣最佳小吃

4. (珍珠奶茶)

Bubble tea is representative of the "QQ" food texture that Taiwanese love. The cute-sounding phrase 聽起來很可愛的名字 refers to something that is very chewy, just like the tapioca balls 用樹薯粉製作的粉圓 that are the "bubbles" in bubble tea.

It is said that this unique drink was invented out of boredom 無心插柳來的(因為無 聊之下才創造出來的). Liu Han-Chieh threw some sweetened tapioca pudding into her iced Assam tea on a fateful day in 1988 and one of the greatest Taiwanese exports was born. Huge variations 各種不同的珍奶口味 on the theme have since emerged, including taro-flavored tea 芋頭口味的奶茶, jasmine tea 茉香 or coffee, served cold or hot.

5. (棺材板)

This specialty 知名台南小吃 is a mutated offspring of French toast and .其實是兩種西方食物結合在一起的產物(法國吐司與蛤礪濃湯)

An extra thick piece of bread is hollowed out 挖空 to resemble a flat . It is toasted to harden it and then filled with seafood chowder 海鮮濃稠湯汁.

Legend says 根據傳聞 a Taiwanese chef who studied Western cooking invented this bread-soup-bowl-with-corners.

One day an archeologist tried the toast and told the chef, “It looks just like the coffin I am excavating 挖掘 now.”

Thus, the chowder soup took on its morbid 變態名稱 Chinese name, which means "coffin bread."

6. Slack Season danzai noodles (擔仔麵)

You've gotta love a place called Slack Season and it's the first pit stop on any trip to Taiwan.

The iconic eatery originated in Tainan about a century ago. A fisherman sold noodles during the slack season 淡季 and the joint 小店 became so successful that he quit fishing altogether.

The signature bowl of Slack Season noodles is served in shrimp soup with bean sprouts 豆芽菜, coriander 香菜, minced pork 豬絞肉(肉燥) and fresh shrimps(鮮 蝦).

This bowl of comforting flavors is so addictive 讓人上癮的 that a man from Tainan ate 18 bowls in a row 連續, according to Slack Season. 7. Pan-fried bun (生煎包)

Do you like the fluffiness 鬆軟的 of cake as well as the crunchiness 酥脆 of potato chips? The pan-fried bun gives you the best of both worlds 完美結合兩種最佳口感.

These buns are made with spongy white Chinese bread 紮實白色包子皮 that are pan-fried on the bottom. Break them open to reveal the moist porky filling 多汁的 豬肉內餡.

A Shanghainese staple 上海人的主食, the Taiwanese version 台灣版本 differs in two ways: it is slightly bigger in size and it hits the pan upside-down 台灣版本有別 於上海生煎包的兩個地方是：1.台灣的生煎包比上海的包子大一些。2. 煎好時包 子的面朝下.

8. (割包)

It's a hamburger, Taiwan-style.台灣版本漢堡

A steamed bun 蒸包 sandwiches a hearty filling of braised pork belly 大塊三層豬 肉, pickled Chinese cabbage 酸菜 and powdered peanuts 花生粉.

The filling is chopped up into small pieces and mixed together so there's a bit of everything in every bite. Consider doing this with Western hamburgers.

Take in a big mouthful 大咬一口 and enjoy the salty, sour and sweet flavors and the greasy pork 油滋滋的豬肉 swimming in your mouth 在嘴裡滑來滑去的感覺.

9. (鐵蛋)

It's called the "iron egg" because this mini egg is tough as nails 鐵釘. With a rubbery consistency 橡皮的口感 these chewy eggs 有嚼勁蛋 dyed black from long-braising in soy sauc 黑嘛嘛的色澤是因為長期浸泡在醬油中的關係, are a highly addictive delicacy in Taiwan. Often made from quails' eggs 鵪鶉蛋, the little balls are cooked for hours in soy sauce then air-dried 風乾. The whole process is repeated over several days until the protein becomes tough and acquires the desired amount of chew.

10. (鳳梨酥)

This iconic Taiwanese pastry is one of the best souvenir 伴手禮(紀念 品)options. These mini pineapple pies are filled with candied pineapple 將鳳梨煮成 糖凝固成一塊一塊鳳梨餡。.

If you want the best pineapple cake experience, try SunnyHills 微熱山丘 which uses only local pineapple 台灣在地的土鳳梨 as filling 餡料. It yields a darker filling 鳳梨 的餡料看上去顏色較深, rougher texture 口感更紮實(塊狀物多) and a more sour 口感較酸 taste.

The traditional pies at other shops are filled with a mix of pineapple and chewable bits of winter melon 冬瓜糖. They have a fruity sweetness and a golden casing of crumbly buttery pastry.

Stores that replace pineapple completely with winter melon to cut costs 節省成本 are committing a big no-no 是不 OK 的

11. Tian bu la (甜不辣)

Tian bu la refers to fish paste 魚漿 that has been molded into various shapes 製成 各種形狀 and sizes, deep-fried, then boiled in a 先熱火油炸再泡在湯汁裡 面煮. Before eating, the pieces of solid fish paste are taken out of the broth and smothered in brown sauce 上面淋上咖啡色醬汁.

Doesn't sound like much 聽起來不怎樣, but it delivers plenty of the sweet flavors and chewy textures beloved by Taiwanese. Tian bu la is basically a Taiwan take on Japanese oden, with more sugariness, tougher fish cakes and a signature sauce.

After finishing the pieces of fish cakes, there's more to come. Get some soup from the vendor and add it to the remaining sauce in the bowl. Mix and drink the flavor bomb.充滿滋味的精華，因為甜不辣的湯汁會在口中炸出美味口感(這邊的 bomb 不要翻譯成炸彈)

12. Ba wan (肉圓)

The ba wan is Taiwan's mega dumpling 超大水餃(任何以麵皮包住肉餡的食物都可 以稱之為 dumpling).

Made with a dough of rice flour, corn starch and sweet potato starch, it looks almost translucent 半透明 after cooking. Pork, veggies and sometimes eggs are stuffed inside and gravy 濃郁的醬汁 is poured on top.

It is commonly believed that ba wan was invented during periods of scarcity 物質匱 乏的貧窮時代. The simple pork dumpling was then a luxurious snack 奢華小點 enjoyed only during the Lunar New Year festival 過去只有過年的時候才吃得到.

13. Fried chicken (鹽酥雞)

In the fried chicken hall of fame 炸雞名人堂, Taiwan deserves its own exhibit 台版 炸雞絕對值得大書特書一番. Not only has it made the giant fried chicken cutlet 超 大雞排 (No. 35 on this list 在本篇的第三十五項台灣美食) a cult classic 絕對經典, but its popcorn chicken 雞米花(因為鹽酥雞是一小塊一小塊的) is dangerously addictive.一吃上癮，欲罷不能

The chicken is chopped into bite-sized pieces 小塊(一口), marinated 用醬料醃漬, dipped in batter 過粉 and deep-fried 油炸. A generous sprinkling of salt and pepper 灑上大量椒鹽 complete the morish morsels 令人上癮的小小雞塊. It's a ubiquitous snack 隨處可見的 on the city streets.

14. Flaky scallion pancake (蔥抓餅)

There is nothing more appetizing than the sight of a flaky scallion pancake 因為炒得 外皮酥脆所以會掉屑因此得名 being slowly torn apart 邊炒餅邊撕開. Add cheese and egg fillings to maximize the visuals(加了蛋與起司的餅)視覺效果更棒. Devour this night market staple 大口吞下這個夜市主要美食 in a few bites to ensure it is steaming hot and chewy.

15. Oyster (蚵仔米線)

A bowl of great should have a thick, flavorful soup base while the thin rice noodles and oysters should still retain their distinct texture 麵條依舊彈牙 不糊掉.

Some people will add chopped intestines 切成一小段一小段的大腸 for a funky dimension to the soup.為這道小吃增添一些奇特的風味(因為外國人不吃動物內 臟的關係)

It is a gooey, slurpable 吃麵時會一直發出的呼嚕呼嚕咻咻聲 dish, more soup than noodle, with an intense briny taste 鹹味.

16. Stinky tofu (臭豆腐)

This is the world's best love-it-or-hate-it snack 不是超愛就是覺得超級噁心的小吃 and Taiwan does it just right 台灣人最懂得怎麼讓這道菜精彩.

The "fragrant" cube of bean curd 豆腐塊 is deep-fried and draped with sweet and spicy sauce. If you hold your nose 如果捏住鼻子不要呼吸, it looks and tastes just like a plain ol' piece of fried tofu 口感跟一般的豆腐大同小異, with a crisp casing 外 皮酥脆 and soft center like pudding 裡面如布丁般軟滑.

But what's the fun in eating that? Inhale deeply and relish the stench 享受那美妙的 臭味, the smellier, the better.越臭越好

17. Sweet potato (地瓜)

Leaving taste, smell and nutritional value aside 撇開…不談, the sweet potato stands out for one particular reason in Taiwan -- it is shaped like the island 地瓜的形狀很 像台灣這個島. For this, the sweet potato occupies a very special place in every Taiwanese heart.在每個台灣人心中都占有一席之地 Taiwan-grown sweet potatoes are added to soup with ginger, or roasted by street vendors in ovens converted from oil-drums, or ground to a flour and added to other dishes to give texture, or fried into sweet potato chips.番薯的吃法很多可以跟薑汁 一起煮成湯，可以用烤的，也可以炸成薯片。

As long as the beloved root vegetable is in it, Taiwanese love it.

18. Shaved ice mountain (刨冰山)

One good thing about the hot, humid and stormy summers in Taiwan is the excuse to eat shaved ice mountain.

An oversized pile of shaved ice is heaped with fresh fruit 刨冰上面堆滿水果 and flavorings 各種醬料與水果, such as mango pieces, juice and sweet condensed milk 煉乳. It wins hands down just by looks alone 刨冰澎湃的外型光是用看的就覺得 了不起。Hands down 是個口語化的說法，意思是 easily, unquestionably.

A more traditional take is a smaller option, less dramatic but with freshly made mini rice balls.

19. Pepper cakes (胡椒餅)

The must-have at Rao He night market 饒河夜市, the pepper cake is a crispy pocket 外皮酥脆的口袋餅 filled with juicy pork that is infused with the aromatic bite of black pepper 包含著香氣十足的黑胡椒. Baked on the wall of a clay oven, the pies are a delicious ode 頌歌 to the pepper plant.

Make sure you get more than one, or risk the overwhelming sense of regret when you have to wait again in the long queue for more.這邊記者建議一次多買幾個，才 不會因為吃一口太美味，又得折回來排隊而感到後悔莫及。

20. Din Tai Fung Dumpling House (鼎泰豐小籠包)

Xiaolongbao may be a Shanghainese delicacy 上海點心, but some argue that the Taiwanese perfected it 台灣人早已經將這道美食昇華到更高境界. Taiwanese restaurant Din Tai Fung does its Shanghai comrades 同胞 proud with their succulent 多汁的 pork soup dumplings.

Din Tai Fung’s bite-sized xiaolongbao have a consistently high quality 品質一致風味 絕佳. Their paper-thin wrappings 皮薄 hold rich hot broth 內餡熱且多汁 and tender pork meatballs.

Gasps can be heard intermittently 讚嘆聲此起彼落 at Din Tai Fung as diners brave the scalding hot 燙口的 soup that squirts out 噴汁(小籠包咬開之後) upon biting the dumpling.