In the evening, night markets open all over the city selling a plethora of clothes and household goods, but their real draw is the food.
Much of Taipei's street food has its roots in mainland China, but the people of Taiwan have put their own spin on the dishes. Flavored with star anise, Taiwanese basil, chilis, pickled vegetables, white pepper and cilantro, the street foods of Taipei might not be strictly native to Taiwan, but they just seem to taste better there.
1. Sheng jian bao
These small pork dumplings topped with nutty, toasted sesame seeds are worth waiting for. They hail from Shanghai, where they are commonly eaten for breakfast. If you travel to China in Shanghai, you can taste Shui jian bao and compare the difference between them.
In Taipei you'll find them at night markets being cooked in oiled, shallow pans while people line up -- sometimes 40 deep -- to get the chance to savor them.
Try it at: Linjuang Night Market, Tonghua Street, Taipei
2. Chou doufu
Famous around the world for its unmistakable odor, chou doufu, or stinky tofu, is a Taipei night market specialty.
Fermentation gives the tofu its distinctive odor and delicious taste.
Although it's available elsewhere, it's best from street vendors, who usually make it by hand in the traditional (rather than mass-produced) way. It's served deep-fried or grilled and topped with pickled vegetables.
Those new to the dish often find that deep-fried chou doufu is less intimidating and less, well, stinky.
Try it at: Raohe night market, Rahoe Street, Taipei
3. Oa misua
A Taiwanese specialty often seen in the night markets, oyster vermicelli, or oa misua, is a soup made from misua, a thin Chinese wheat-flour noodle.
In Taiwan these noodles are steamed until the sugar in the noodles caramelizes and turns the noodle brown. The thick, rich broth is topped with fresh oysters, finely minced garlic and cilantro and a bracing splash of vinegar.
Try it at: Shilin night market, 101 Jihe Road, Taipei
4. Gua bao
Gua bao is the sort of street food that inspires big name chefs to serve knock-offs at posh restaurants for inflated prices. But this pork belly bun (or "Taiwanese burger," as it's sometimes called) tastes even better on the streets of Taipei.
Braised pork belly is served in a steamed bun with fresh cilantro, pickled mustard greens and pulverized peanuts, creating one of the world’s greatest snacks.
Try it at: Gongguan night market, Luoifu Rd, next to the Gongguan MRT station, Taipei
5. Hujiao bing
Baked in a clay oven, hujiao bing may not look like much, but they’re a deceptively delicious, meaty snack. They're wheat buns (more accurately, pies or pockets) topped with sesame seeds and filled with minced pork, caramelized green onions and lots (and lots) of ground black pepper.
The name translates literally to “black pepper pie.” The baking method gives them a crisp bottom; the contrast with the steaming, savory filling is impossible to resist.
Try it at: Raohe night market, Rahoe Street, Taipei
6. Niu rou mian
A Taiwanese specialty, niu rou mian is a spicy beef soup with hand-pulled noodles. A kind of similar noodled can be found in mainland China, especially Lanzhou, a destination of Silk Road tours.
The aromatic broth has subtle hints of cinnamon and star anise and the beef is cooked until it is ridiculously tender.
Served on the side is a mixture of finely chopped ginger and garlic, chili flakes in oil and tart, pickled mustard greens. The Taiwanese like to sprinkle these spicy pickles on top.
Try it at: LaoPai Niurou La Mian Da Wang, Chongqing Nan Lu Yi Duan 46 Xiang, Taipei
7. Douhua
A popular Taiwanese dessert made from the softest, silkiest tofu that you can imagine, this dish has its origins in China, where it's a savory snack. But in Taiwan, douhua is a sweet dessert often served with large, chewy boba, or tapioca pearls, and simple sugar syrup.
In winter it's served warm, in the summer, over crushed ice.
Try it at: Shilin night market, 101 Jihe Road, Taipei
8. Ba wan
They're often called Taiwanese meatballs, but these savory snacks are more like dumplings, with a glutinous outer wrapper stuffed with bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms and pork. Sticky, chewy ba wan are served with a sweet and spicy sauce and topped with cilantro.
Ba wan are a traditional Taiwanese snack food considered by many to be the country's national dish and can be found at every night market in Taipei.
Try it at: Shilin night market, 101 Jihe Road, Taipei
9. Cong you bing
Another dish with its roots in China, cong you bing is a flaky scallion pancake made with hand-rolled dough. The Chinese rendition of this flatbread is usually thicker and doughier than its Taiwanese counterpart and sometimes stuffed with meat.
In Taipei you’ll find vegetarian versions that are light and fluffy, the result of many thin layers of dough being folded over each other. Cong you bing also can be tasted in mainland China if you have a China travel.
Try it at: Shilin night market, 101 Jihe Road, Taipei
10. Dachang bao xiao chang
Found at every night market in town, dachang bao xiao chang is a popular snack. The name literally means "big sausage wrapped around small sausage," and it's served in manner similar to a hot dog.
A sausage casing stuffed with sticky rice acts as the bun -- it's split open and a tender ground-pork sausage is inserted. Topped with garlic and basil, it's also available in different styles flavored with butter, chili or black pepper.
Try it at: Shilin night market, 101 Jihe Road, Taipei
No comments:
Post a Comment