If you haven't been to Taiwan, don't say you know Chinese food, and you definitely can't go to high-end restaurants.

Cai Lan once proposed a golden rule: "When you go to Taiwan, you must never eat at high-end restaurants. Their Shanghainese cuisine doesn't look like Shanghainese cuisine, and their Cantonese cuisine doesn't look like Cantonese cuisine. In short, none of them are authentic."When you arrive in Taiwan, you'd better give up on high-end restaurants, and then throw away cholesterol and calories and embrace snack stands.The most romantic stories of Taiwanese people all happen at roadside snack stands or night markets.

▲ The most common roadside stalls in Taiwan

Taiwanese people's lives are given by snacks

Taiwan is a very urban place. High-end hotels are deserted, but ordinary restaurants and civilian snack stands are doing booming business.

Taiwanese people joke that wages have not increased for more than 20 years, so they can only afford to eat at snack stands!

The variety of snacks cannot prove the living standard, but can only prove the infinite love of Taiwanese people for snacks. Musician Chen Sheng said: "The advantage of Taiwan is that there are no big dishes, only snacks."


▲ Chen Sheng often takes a group of brothers on bicycles to travel around the island, but in fact they eat all the way from Taipei to Tainan, eating five meals a day. Suddenly, what was supposed to be a three-day trip suddenly became ten days. "Honestly, Taiwan's snacks are so delicious. The farther south you go, the better, fresher, cheaper, and more welcoming."
Taiwan is not even half as big as Zhejiang Province, so there are no internal differences. Small.
  
From the west to the east of Taiwan, there are dietary differences at the height of a central mountain range; from Taipei to Tainan, it takes more than an hour by high-speed rail, and the tastes are completely different.
  
Only snacks have become a common theme in Taiwan.



▲ Taiwan food map drawn by foreign netizens

Snacks have penetrated into every corner of Taiwan, including night markets, roadsides, convenience stores, scenic spots...Food is the most important thing for people, and snacks are the most important thing for Taiwanese people.
For Taiwanese people who have returned from other places, the most important thing they miss when they return home, apart from snacks, is snacks.
  
I miss the crispy and squeaky chicken drum roll; I miss the cup that contains a thousand millilitersAncient black tea; miss the steak, oyster omelet, pan-fried buns with Taiwanese sweet and spicy sauce...
  

▲ Chicken drum rolls, with crispy chicken skin on the outside and a whole chicken drumstick on the inside.
  
Even politicians use various methods to involve snacks in their games. It is said that snacks can"tease the taste buds of voters." If there are few snack types in a certain place, it will be So despised.



▲ Hsinchu City was once called a "food desert", and Mayor Lin Zhijian was quite unconvinced. So the Hsinchu City Government compiled 51 gourmet restaurants and published "The Mayor Takes You to Eat Good Food". The picture shows Mayor Lin Zhijian, source: Strait Shinkansen

When you arrive in Taiwan, you must feel the pride of Taiwanese people in their snacks:
Roadside food stalls The signboards are bright and eye-catching, and a variety of snacks are displayed on the counter. The sparks on the stove and the shouts of the store burst out together, which makes your mouth water.
  
Before you even get close to a store, you hear "Welcome". When you get closer, the store owner will enthusiastically introduce how delicious his snacks are. The words are filled with excitement. gained confidence.



▲ The colorful signs of Taiwanese snack bars

Taiwanese snacks originated from the common people and are inherently down-to-earth.
  
Jiao Tong, a leader in Taiwan's food industry, said: "Taiwan's specialty food is mainly snacks, and snacks are mostly developed around temples."



▲ Jiao Tong’s status in Taiwan is equivalent to Cai Lam. Chen Xiaoqing wrote a preface to his new book and said: "I must have a meal with Jiao Tong in my lifetime."

Why do Taiwanese people love to invent snacks?

"夯" is a word used by Taiwanese to describe popular snacks. Taiwanese have 10,000 reasons to invent "super-powerful" food.
  
Danzi noodles were originally a snack invented by fishermen to supplement their household income.
  


▲ "Danzai" means carrying a shoulder pole in the Hokkien language. Every year from Qingming Festival to Mid-Autumn Festival, Tainan is stormy and dangerous, and even the most daring and fearless fishermen cannot go out to sea. Fishermen call this period "Du Xiaoyue". The founder of Dan Zai Noodles, fisherman Hong Tao Tou, started selling Dan Zai Noodles in order to make ends meet.


The fishermen walked through the streets carrying poles. They boiled the oily noodles with boiled water, used minced meat or shrimps, braised eggs as toppings, and finally packed them. In a delicate little bowl, a bowl of danzi noodles is done.
  

▲ Add meat sauce to the Danzi noodles

Every bowl of Danzi noodles has its own merits, The soul lies in the soup base and toppings.
The soup base is usually made with grass shrimp to provide the basic taste; while the toppings remain unchanged forever, the meat sauce, which enhances the noodles and soup to a delicious and rich flavor.
  

▲ Danzi noodles, with fresh shrimps, are considered high-end.
  
Some delicacies appear to relieve nostalgia, such as beef noodles. In fact, the prototype of Taiwanese beef noodles is Sichuan beef noodles.
  

▲ Taipei’s most famous Yongkang beef noodles. Beef noodles first came from the military dependents' village in Gangshan, Kaohsiung, where Sichuan veterans gathered. They tried to make a Taiwanese version of Pixian Douban, then braised it to make the soup base; they used large chunks of beef from American cans as toppings to make a low-quality version of beef noodles, which became very popular in Taiwan.
  
As now, Sichuan people take Sichuan cuisine wherever they go.
  
It’s a pity that the men in Sichuan are not very good at craftsmanship, and Taiwan’s climatecan’t make Douban similar to Sichuan’s, and it eventually became "Taiwanese Sichuan Beef Noodles".
  
In Taiwan, there are many snacks similar to those with mainland place names: Wenzhou wontons, Tianjin scallion pancakes, Mongolian barbecue...</span >These snacks that represent nostalgia are often very different from their mainland relatives.


▲ Taiwanese food critic Lu Yaodong went to Sichuan in search of Sichuan beef noodles but came back in vain: "I walked through the streets for two hours and found nothing. In the end I ate two A plate of husband and wife's lung slices and a bowl of dumplings, and a pound of Pixian bean paste came back."

Some snacks are even so delicious that they directly conquer the Taiwanese people, no reason is needed.

Taiwanese people like to eat QQ poppy food, so they invented tapioca rice balls and pearl milk tea, the evil fat house Happy Tea;


▲ The pearl milk tea shop in Kenting, the powder balls are pearls.

I fell in love with Western-style dining, and invented the "Gua Bao". This Taiwanese version of hamburger conquered the locals when it arrived in the United States. ……


▲ Guobao is also called tiger bites pig or cut bag, which is similar to Roujiamo. A special semi-circular steamed bun is "cut" in half, and then stuffed with soy sauce-braised pork belly, sauerkraut, peanut powder and coriander to make a steamed bun. Guabao has caused a sensation in major cities in the United States. The New York Times once introduced it in a special article in its food section.
  
Why is it that Taiwanese can invent so many snacks?
There is an unwritten axiom in the food circle: places with frequent cultural exchanges generally have good food culture.
  
In modern times,Taiwanese people have accepted the most diverse cultures. There are few ethnic groups and cultures as complex as those in Taiwan.
The more than 1 million mainlanders from all over the country who came to Taiwan in defeat directly promoted the development of snacks in Taiwan.
  

▲ Map of Taiwan's aboriginal people, Taiwanese people have "four and a half ethnic groups", namely aborigines, Hakkas, Hokkien people, other provinces and Vietnamese who migrated to Taiwan in modern times.
  
Hualien in eastern Taiwan is a city as long and narrow as a town in mainland China.
  
Here, you can find military village delicacies made bypeople from other provinces whose ancestral home is Dachen Island, Zhejiang; you can also seeMountain pepper sausages made by the indigenous Taroko tribe; there are even Vietnamese snacks opened by Vietnamese women who married in Taiwan Shop...


▲ Hualien Aboriginal Street


▲ Aboriginal magao sausage, made with mountain pork and mountain pepper.
  
If we want to summarize, Taiwanese taste may be a kind of tolerant and large-scale food culture, which has the flavor of war and displacement. It is a rare hybrid between Chinese and foreign cultures. The mixed food comes out.


"It is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice." If the richness of ethnic groups is the intrinsic reason why Taiwanese people are keen on inventing snacks, then Taiwan's rich products are sufficient and necessary external conditions.



▲ A map of the differences in products across Taiwan

Taiwan looks like a sweet potato, but difficult-to-gnaw mountains and hills occupy the entire island Two-thirds of the area, and the rest are lakes, streams, plains, volcanoes, islands...Almost all geographical terms you can think of are used in Taiwan superior.
Any province, city, or autonomous region in mainland China alone is dwarfed by Taiwan's natural resources.
  

▲Chishang, Taiwan, produces the best rice in Taiwan. Snacks made from rice and wheat include: Danzi, salted rice noodles, rice noodle soup, Tainan rice cakes, braised pork rice, fried rice noodles, ancient salty porridge, fried rice...


▲ The picture shows a sailfish hunter in Taitung. Taiwan has a long coastline and is surrounded by excellent fishing ports. Seafood is produced in all seasons. Representative snacks include: oyster omelette, black wheel, and
  
Aiyu produced in the Chiayi Mountains. The pectin is squeezed out to make it amber-shaped and smooth. The soft Aiyu jelly, topped with lemon juice and topped with ice cubes, is Taiwanese’s favorite in summer "Lemon Aiyu";



▲ Lemon Aiyu

Pineapples produced in Nantou have fewer pores on the surface and are better and sweeter than pineapples. No winter melon puree is added and pure pineapples are used. The stuffing is called "Pineapple Cake". When you bite it open, you can see the strands of pineapple, as if you can smell the sunshine;

The "milkfish" produced in Tainan is a Taiwanese favorite. The whole fish is boiled to make milkfish rice noodles; the fish bones are boiled into stock to cook rice to make fish porridge; the fish skin is wrapped in fish paste and cooked into soup with fried dough sticks; the fish belly is rich in fat and fried dry, three cups...


▲ Pan-fried milkfish belly

Complex eating habits coupled with rich products,have made Taiwanese stand up early At the top of snacks.

From Taipei to Tainan, visit Taiwan with night markets


I haven’t eaten any night market snacks. It doesn’t count as having been to Taiwan.
  



▲ Taiwan night market

The night market is a gathering place for grassroots snacks, from the north to In the south,almost every city has a lively night market.

Perhaps you will fall in love with night markets more than Taiwan’s beautiful mountain and sea scenery.

Taipei: Ningxia Night Market




📍Between Minsheng West Road and Nanjing West Road Road section
💰Must-try snacks: Grandma’s rice balls, pepper shrimps, oyster omelet on the edge of the ring, pork liver Wings, Liu taro egg yolk taro cake

Taipei is The master of night markets, the most famous Shilin Night Market, the Huaxi Street Night Market where the movie "Mongolia" was filmed, the locals' favorite Raohe Street Night Market, the literary youth's favorite Normal University Night Market... ...Have a private collection of almost half of Taiwan’s authentic and delicious snacks.
  
The smallest Ningxia night market is also worth a visit. The night market is 400 meters long in total, but it carries the taste memories of old Taipei people.
The Ningxia night market, which has existed since the 1950s and 1960s, is "the most ancient" and sells traditional snacks. Grandma's rice balls, pork liver rolls, oyster omelette...Many time-honored stalls here have been making it for decades.

Keelung: Temple Kou Night Market




📍Rensan Road near Dianji Palace, Renai District, Keelung City
💰Must-have snacks: tempura, butter crab, Chenji bubble ice, nutritious sandwiches

Keelung is located at the seaport, and seafood is one of the main snacks in the night market. After entering the night market, first take a photo at the intersection filled with lanterns, and then happily face all kinds of seafood such as snails, oysters, lobsters, marine fish, and eels.
  
Because it's close to the sea, the snacks here are plentiful and reasonably priced, so long queues are common. Until two or three o'clock in the morning, many food stalls are still steaming.
  

▲ Miaokou Fried Seafood

Taichung: Fengjia Night Market




📍Intersection of Fengjia Road and Fuxing Road, Xitun District, Taichung City
💰Must-try snacks: Japanese octopus balls, cheese and potatoes, black tea stinky tofu, small intestine wrapped in large intestine

Taichung is the economic, transportation, and cultural center of central Taiwan. The Fengjia Night Market here has also become the Whampoa Military Academy of snacks. It is said that newly developed snacks in Taiwan must first be tested in Fengjia Night Market, and only if they are successful can they be promoted to the whole Taiwan.
  
Starting from the side entrance of Fengjia University and extending to Fuxing Road, the most important thing about Fengjia Night Market is the huge crowds and novel food.
  

▲ Japanese Octopus Meatballs

Tainan: Garden Night Market




📍Section 3, Haian Road, Section 3, Hewei Road, North District, Tainan City
💰Must-visit snacks: Amei marinated guava, Tongda charcoal grilled chicken steak, Jie swordfish black wheel, spring roll ice cream

On the street Ask anyone online and ask which city has the best food, and they will eventually come back to Tainan.
  
Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan. "One Prefecture, Two Deer and Three Mongolia" refers to Tainan. Many traditional snacks originated here, and it is known as "South Garden, North Shilin".
  
In the minds of many Taiwanese people, the Garden Night Market in Tainan, the city of gourmet food, is the number one night market in Taiwan. Although it is so crowded that it is difficult to walk, it still cannot stop Taiwanese people from loving it.
  

▲ Night markets all year round in Taiwan.
  
People are buzzing, action is flying, and flash neon signs guide foragers to the city that has removed its make-up.
If you want to see the real Taiwan, you have to hold a skewer in your left hand and a Taiwanese beer in your right hand, walking and eating in the cool evening breeze. Then everything you see is Taiwan.

Snacks you can’t miss when going to Taiwan now


Generally, local food promotions will list the TOP10 list , and in Taiwan, you can find the TOP50 that are different in minutes.
  
In November, Taiwan can also feel a slight chill, which reminds Taiwanese: It's time to take supplements.



▲ Oyster large intestine noodles. Taiwanese have completely inherited the dietary supplement culture of Guangdong and southern Fujian. Judging from the rate of kidney disease and liver disease, the rate of kidney disease and liver disease may be even higher than that of the latter.
  
When you go to Taiwan now, you must first not missTaiwanese Mutton Stove.
Taiwanese mutton mostly relies on imports, and the quality is not as exquisite as that of northern sheep. It cannot be divided into "upper brain", "lower brain", and "cucumber strips"...
However, the appearance of the mutton stove has brought the meat quality back. First cut the mutton into pieces, saute it with sesame oil and ginger to make the meat firm and fragrant; then stew it with Chinese medicinal materials for several hours.
  

▲ Mutton stove, mostly used in casserole.
  
Other small changes are due to the careful thinking of Taiwanese people.
  
For example, does the mutton come from live sheep or frozen, ewe or eunuch sheep? Should it be paired with choy sum, clams, or traditional rice wine, onions, ginger, garlic, and Chinese medicinal materials?
  
A good pot of lamb on the stove compliments winter. It is best to experience the mutton stove"The cold wind is whistling outside the window and the hot air is floating indoors."



▲ Mutton stove, there are dozens of Chinese medicinal materials used to make the soup base, and each store has its own unique recipe.
  
Medicinal Braised Pork Ribs, Another well-known tonic delicacy in Taiwan.
  
Every winter, stalls selling medicinal braised pork ribs will appear in the night market. No need to go to a restaurant, for a few tens of NT dollars a bowl is the highest level of braised pork ribs with medicinal herbs.




▲ Shilin Shiquan Spare Ribs, it is said that at its peak, 5,000 bowls were sold a day

Although the meat has a medicinal aroma, But the taste is still original when you bite it. Every piece must be eaten cleanly to be worthy of the person who cooks the ribs.



▲ Choose rib meat of about ten centimeters, add more than ten kinds of Chinese medicinal materials such as angelica root, astragalus, wolfberry, licorice, etc. and simmer over low heat, filter out the medicinal materials The bitter taste, combined with the seasoning made from soybeans and chili peppers, gives the pork ribs a perfect flavor.
  
In addition to sheep and pigs,sesame oil chicken and ginger duck can't escape Taiwanese people's winter food supplement list.



▲ Taiwanese Ginger Duck

If medicine is to cure diseases and food is to cure stomach, medicine and The combination of food can heal people's hearts.
The same applies to snacks. Whether they are fried, boiled, boiled or fried, as long as they are delicious, they seem to make people forget the coldness in front of them.