Taipei is a world-class food destination where you must try beef noodle soup, xiao long bao (soup dumplings), and minced pork rice (lu rou fan). Explore night markets for scallion pancakes, stinky tofu, pepper buns, and fried chicken, while starting mornings with traditional soy milk and fried dough sticks.
When eating street food or strolling through night markets, it is perfectly acceptable to eat and walk. It's often the only option! You may wonder where everyone puts their garbage (and goes to the bathroom!)
Taiwanese beef noodle soup (台湾牛肉面) is the country's national dish. It unites braised beef and chewy wheat noodles in a slow-simmered broth with a tickle of Sichuan spice and a tang of pickled mustard greens.
If you're wondering what to buy in Taiwan, bring home a little of the island's flavor and artistry with pineapple cakes, high-mountain oolong tea, handmade ceramics, Indigenous crafts, jade jewelry, and market finds like lantern keepsakes, local snacks, and beautifully designed stationery.
Yes, you can absolutely wear red in Taiwan; it's a very auspicious color symbolizing good fortune, happiness, and celebration, used extensively in festivals, weddings, and temples, though you should avoid writing someone's name in red ink as it's considered bad luck and a sign of death. Red clothing is common and welcomed, especially during festive times, and generally, you can wear whatever you like, with few restrictions.
Traditional style breakfast includes Fried bread and Oven Baked Cake(燒餅油條). Egg Pancakes (蛋餅), Steamed Bread with Eggs (燒餅夾蛋), Rice Balls (飯糰), and porridge (粥) with different side dishes. If you love fluffy eggs, Fuhang Soy Milk (Taipei) will be a great place to visit.
The story behind bubble tea, Taiwan's iconic drink. Typically a combination of milky tea and chewy tapioca 'pearls', the beverage also known as boba tea is so beloved it was the subject of a years-long legal battle. This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
Conclusion. While Taiwan's tap water meets basic safety standards, concerns about pipeline integrity and potential contamination highlight the importance of additional filtration. With GUNGDAI's advanced water purification systems, you can enjoy clean, safe, and great-tasting water with ease.
Tipping is also not common practice in Taiwan. Patrons don't need to add additional costs to a meal's base price. Servers in the country make a living wage and don't rely on tips. Some locals may consider efforts to tip as rude behavior.
In summertime you'll see a lot of people in sandals or flip-flops, but they're unlikely to set foot in a high-class restaurant without putting on proper shoes. Speaking of footwear, we strongly advise you to bring shoes that are both breathable and comfortable when you're doing a good amount of walking.
If you're eating with Taiwanese people they will probably insist that you eat more even if you say you're full. The etiquette here is to politely insist you're full. Your host is just being a good host by offering more food and making sure you're not just too shy to eat more.
Breakfast shops tend to open around 5-6am. More traditionally-Taiwanese breakfast places (danbing, youtiao, tangbao, tea etc.) close earlier at around 10am, while those that offer more western-style food (danbing and tea, but also hamburgers and coffee) stay open later, until 12-2pm.
While certain restaurants (namely homegrown Din Tai Fung) can be pricey, especially if you're in a large group, ordinary food in Taiwan is remarkably cheap. Enjoy Taiwanese street food like cong bing scallion pancakes for pennies on the (Taiwan) dollar, or indulge in bubble tea (but get half sugar, OK?).
The "333 rule" in clothing refers to two popular minimalist fashion concepts: the viral TikTok trend of using 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 shoes to create numerous outfits (9 items total) for styling practice, and the more extensive Project 333, where you select 33 items (including clothes, shoes, and accessories) to wear for three months, excluding essentials like underwear, workout gear, and sleepwear, to simplify your wardrobe and reduce decision fatigue. Both methods focus on versatility, quality over quantity, and creating a functional capsule wardrobe.
While these envelopes are typically thought to be filled with money, they also carry a darker connection to the spirit world. According to local folklore, picking up a red envelope could mean you're being tied to a ghost seeking a spouse—often someone who passed away without marrying.
