Photo Diary: Taipei, Taiwan Food Trips!

(This trip happened last 2014)

My Taiwan trip has been pretty amazing -- nice people, affordable expenses, old and modern cultural wonders and one of the most delicious food trips I've ever had!

Night market food staples are all a must try. Sadly, we were not able to try the stinky tofu because we thought we could have it on a different night but that did not happen. But yep, I have a reason to go back! I said to friends that food tripping in Taiwan is enough reason for me to go back there.

So here is what we had during our 3-day trip:

Pork cutlet that I ordered at the insanely elegant Taipei 101 food court.

This pickled side dish was so good. I had 2-3 portions of this.

Tried this Rose Tea Latte at a Starbucks branch near our hotel

Shilin Night Market is the most popular night market in Taipei and many tourists, as well as locals, flock here everyday to buy their favorite street foods as well as other non-edible items. It's a food mecca, I tell you! So many things to try but so little tummy space. 

TIP: Keep in mind that if you buy one food item, share it with your buddies so you will not feel full right away and have more space to try the rest. 

If feeling thirsty, they have lots of fresh juices that you can try.

This bread was a slice of heaven! Subtle flavors and soft to chew.

Sausage with what I first thought was sausage as well but it was rice. Ingenious!

Flavorful balls!

Another set of juice for the night. How I wish I can remember what this was but I can't. But it was sweet and refreshing.

Hot Star Chicken! Big and tasty! Originally from Taiwan and good that it is available here in Manila.

My favorite! This potato dish smothered with a lot of that cheese and filled with so many toppings!

This looks like trash but this was milk tea. And the presentation of the vendors, with all the flair and fancy moves, made this all the more exciting to drink!

Breakfast at Ximending District - also a well-known commercial district that totally comes to life at night! Our search for breakfast made us stop at this woman's stall. For the first round.

Yum! 

Pancake-like and quite filling. One was not enough for me as it was so delicious.

Din Tai Fung - A Michelin-starred restaurant that is known for their Xiao Long Bao. It was the first time for me to dine in such a prestigious place when it comes to great food.

Good thing the queue was short so we were able to sit ourselves right away

Xiao Long Bao! The soup inside was just right to whet one's appetite. One basket is not enough.

Our DTF experience!

Yakult! Yakult! And more Yakult! Or at least they were. Different brand I guess.

As big as my Samsung Note 2 phone. Loved it!

Ximending Night Market

The ingredients of my favorite potato dish -- corn, pineapple, egg, scallions and 3 types of meat. Plus the sauce and the cheese on top!

Carbo-loading! But so worth it.

More night market finds.

And Yakult-like drink that I took home in Manila

Now this is one unique, and a bit cringe-worthy, drink. White Bittergourd shake. Gosh! It was like any shake at first but the bitterness will follow after. Did not finish this at all.

Lunch on our last day.

Refreshing drinks

The famous Mango Shaved Ice. Three of us shared this one and it was so refreshing. And sweet and creamy. The shaved ice was so fine and milky.

Another cherry on top of our vacation was this rolled shaved peanut brittle taro ice cream with cilantro. Weird! But it will grow on you and you will like it. Same thing happened to me. 

Our last dinner before going to the airport. There was a typhoon coming and we were quite thankful that we were out of Taiwan before that happened. We were not prepared for one. But still, we bulked up some with our dinner and filled our tummies because we never know what could happen, if we will get stranded or not. Good thing, all was smooth for us.

This pork stew was the most tender and softest that I've had. Hands down! And delicious too!

Convenience store finds

Potato salad with shrimp bought from the neighborhood Family Mart.

Another salad.

See? Taiwan's street food will make you come back for sure. And it will not create a hole in your pocket. Everything was delicious!

Will have that stinky tofu soon!


~Lovelee~


Read more of my Taiwan trip:
Taipei, Taiwan Day 1
Taipei, Taiwan Day 2 & 3

Photo Diary: Taipei,Taiwan (Day 2 & 3)

(This trip happened last 2014)

The long-awaited part 2 of my Taiwan trip!

I got so busy with work and other stuff that I have so many backlogs. I always imagined doing them but did not get near the goal.

So here I am, finally succeeding in doing so.

Memories of our day 2 and 3 in Taipei, Taiwan:

DAY 2 

Day 2 started with a quick stroll along Ximending District in search of our local Taiwanese breakfast fare. The change of the environment during daytime was very noticeable because their night life here is very much alive and kicking! Come morning, everything is slow-paced. 

There you go! Our breakfast find! It was like a pancake with egg and ham and it was so good. I can have this everyday. 

After fueling up, on the road to the zoo.

We made the long travel going to the Taipei Zoo. It was too bad that the cable car was not in operation that day so we took  the long route. 

One big attraction of the zoo are the uber cute pandas so it is a must-see!

There they are! But they just slept the entire time so we were not treated to a cute show-off.

Something to take home.

The zoo has a healthy collection of animals like these elephants.

This was a unique shot that I absolutely loved!

After the scorching walk at the zoo, it was time to have that late lunch. Since it was late already, we decided to try our luck at Din Tai Fung and we got in! No queues. We were seated right away and for that, we were mighty glad as we were bone tired.

Our lunch treat to ourselves! Not bad. All these for only around Php1,600+. Those Xiao Long Baos lived up to our expectations.

You will also be treated to the sight of the staff creating those sumptuous XLBs.

Come night, we did not go far, instead, we explored the Ximending commercial district which was also known to locals and tourists alike. So alive at night!

Our food finds for the night. That potato snack made a repeat performance as it was really delicious and filling.

This was something that I will never repeat again. The white bittergourd shake (cringe cringe). It tasted normal and sweet but the bitter kick will come right after. Never again but I'm glad I was able to give it a shot.

DAY 3

Day 3 started very sad for me. I got a message in the middle of the night saying that my grandmother passed away. That news got me in denial at first, not much emotions, but when it finally sunk in, I cried helplessly in our hotel toilet. There was no use rebooking a new return ticket because we were scheduled to leave that same day anyway. 

Lunch time!

Longshan Temple. It was being renovated that time but good that it was still open to the public.

The iconic Red House Theater found along Ximending. 

A cool treat for the sweltering heat. The shaved peanut ice cream roll with cilantro. Weird at first but it will grow on you.

See you indeed in the future!

My Taiwan experience was a great one despite the sad event that happened to me. The people were nice, food was amazing especially the streetfoods, money conversion was not a pain in the pocket for us and it was a cultural delight for us first timers.

Would I go back? Definitely! The food trip alone is enough to make you come back. =)

~Lovelee~


Read more of my Taiwan trip:

Taipei, Taiwan Day 1
Taiwan Food Trip