Grass jelly is a traditional dessert widely consumed in East and Southeast Asia. Its main ingredient is the natural plant Mesona chinensis, whose decocted extract is chilled and solidified to form a dark brown, jelly-like texture. In Taiwan, grass jelly is popular as a refreshing treat in the summer and as a light, health-conscious snack. It is enjoyed by people of all ages at night markets and eateries.
Sausage is a general term for foods made by stuffing meat and other ingredients into animal intestines or similar casings, then heating and processing them. It is a traditional food with diverse forms and flavors around the world. Its origins date back to ancient times, and it has developed as a processed meat product suitable for preservation and portability. Unique recipes and cooking methods have been created to suit the culinary cultures, religions, and climates of different regions, and a wide variety of sausages are enjoyed in both everyday life and festive occasions in Europe, the Chinese-speaking world, Asia, and North and South America. In Taiwan, a type of sausage known as ""xiangchang,"" characterized by its sweetness and juiciness, is popular and can be easily enjoyed at night markets, street stalls, and eateries throughout the country, including the well-known Guangzhou Street Night Market in Taipei.
Goji Berry and Eel Soup (枸杞鰻魚湯) is one of the representative medicinal-style soups found in Taiwanese night markets. It primarily uses goji berries (also known as wolfberries) and eel, featuring a combination of ingredients selected for their nourishing and health-promoting qualities. This dish is mainly served at major night markets, particularly in Taipei City and places such as the Guangzhou Street Tourist Night Market, where it is available at food stalls and small eateries. It is popular not only among local residents but also among tourists. Blending the gentle sweetness of goji berries with the rich flavor of eel, this soup exemplifies the fusion of tradition and modern food culture in Taiwan. It is noted for its deep, savory taste as well as its high nutritional value.
The set of snake soup, blood, liver, and venom is a traditional food culture in East Asia that allows people to enjoy snake in various forms. This dish, particularly seen in places like the specialty restaurant ""Asian Snake Restaurant"" in Taipei, Taiwan, includes a serving of snake meat soup along with snake blood, liver, and even venom. Snake cuisine is valued by locals and tourists alike for its unique medicinal properties and traditional health benefits, and it is also deeply connected to the folk beliefs and traditional medicine practices of East Asia.
Brown Sugar Shaved Ice with Six Toppings is a type of Taiwanese shaved ice dessert served at ""Hei Yan Ancient Taste Brown Sugar Shaved Ice Jinzhou Shop"" located in Taipei, Taiwan. Finely shaved ice is topped with homemade brown sugar syrup, and customers can choose six different toppings such as tapioca pearls, sweet potato balls, and pearl barley. This dessert is popular for its distinctive combination of Taiwan's traditional shaved ice culture, the rich flavor of brown sugar, and a variety of colorful toppings.
Ah-Chung Goose is a dish served at specialty goose meat restaurants, primarily centered around Taipei, Taiwan. Known for its smoked and uniquely prepared goose, Ah-Chung Goose enjoys high popularity among both locals and tourists. Goose meat is widely used as a traditional ingredient in Taiwan and southern China, characterized by its firm texture and rich flavor. At locations such as Ah-Chung Goose Jilin Second Branch, carefully selected goose meat is prepared with care and served as a representative dish of Taiwanese food culture.
Pan-fried xiaolongbao is one of the representative dim sum dishes of the Chinese-speaking world, originating from the shengjianbao of the Shanghai region in China. It is a wheat-based snack. Unlike the typical xiaolongbao, which are steamed, pan-fried xiaolongbao are cooked on an iron pan, giving the surface a crispy texture and making the soup-filled interior a distinctive feature. Today, they are enjoyed not only in mainland China but also in Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and various Chinese communities worldwide, with diverse variations having developed through migration and cultural exchange. This article describes the pan-fried xiaolongbao served at ""Paidui Shuijianbao"" in Taipei, Taiwan, focusing on its preparation methods, ingredients, and regional characteristics.
Mango ice cream is a type of frozen dessert with mango as its main ingredient, widely enjoyed in Taiwan and other Asian countries. In particular, the mango ice cream served at Snow King Ice Cream, a long-established specialty shop in Taipei, Taiwan, is known for its rich flavor that makes use of the freshness of green mangoes and for preserving the natural texture of the fruit. It is highly popular among both locals and tourists, and has become a representative example of fruit-based ice cream in Taiwan.
Minced pork ice cream is a type of ice cream served at Snow King Ice Cream, a long-established ice cream shop in Taipei, Taiwan. It is characterized by a unique flavor that combines sweet ice cream with stir-fried minced pork, resulting in a taste where sweetness and saltiness coexist. This flavor is considered one of the innovative attempts reflecting Taiwanese food culture and preferences, and among the shop’s unique lineup, it is particularly known as an unusual option.
Quail egg skewers are a type of street food popular within the night market culture of Taiwan. The dish typically consists of small quail eggs skewered and then fried or grilled on an oil-coated or heated plate. It is widely recognized as a staple snack in venues such as Taipei's Ningxia Night Market. Quail eggs are commonly consumed in East Asia and Southeast Asia, including Taiwan, and are valued for their high nutritional content and ease of eating, making them a popular choice in both street food stalls and home cooking. At Ningxia Night Market in particular, various sauces and toppings are used to create unique versions of the dish, attracting not only locals but also tourists.
