Author　Wendy Ng Photo　Wendy Ng, Johnson Wang, MiNe Flickr, Taiwan Scene, Wiki 有一種餓叫做嘉義人怕你餓 – This colloquial phrase in Chiayi is loosely translated to mean: There is one kind of hunger called “Chiayi people are afraid you are hungry!” This expression sums up Chiayi’s reputation as a food paradise and the locals’ warm hospitality and their passion for food. The fact that the Netflix series Street Food episode of Taiwan focuses on Chiayi is testimony to its excellent culinary scene. Get ready to eat non-stop with this ultimate foodie’s guide to the best things to eat in Chiayi.  1 ..read more

Author Catherine Shih, Kuan Yuan Chu Photographer Zha Nan, Taiwan Scene, ABV Bar & Kitchen  After touring the lantern festival and feasting your eyes on some colorful, splendid light displays, another feast of late-night snacks awaits! We’ve got four popular dining spots in Taipei that are open late to satisfy your stomach and taste buds while enjoying the sleepless vibe of Taipei’s winter nights.  DRINK RESPONSIBLY  Zha Nan Taiwan Bistro Xinyi  渣男 信義一渣  Wandering around the alleys of Xinyi District near Xiangshan Park (象山公園), one cannot help but notice Z ..read more

Author Catherine Shih, Kuan Yuan Chu Photographer Taiwan Scene, Little Tree Food, Machiko Lan  Back in 1997, when Michelin inspectors were busy shuttling through high-end establishments, they were also looking for good local bang-for-your-buck restaurants. Thus, the Michelin Bib Gourmand Award was born. As a special category in the Michelin Guide, it was created to promote authentic, high-quality restaurants with dishes offered at medium price points while also respecting the uniqueness of local cuisine.  Recently, the 2022 Michelin Bib Gourmand Award list for Taipei has be ..read more

Author / Catherine Shih Photographer / Samil Kuo From ciabattas to vegan bread, there are plenty of high-quality choices when it comes to baked goods in Taipei. As the hot summer months draw to an end and autumn nears, the heartwarming aroma of mixed wheat and cream fills the air. The sight of round, plump rye bread or thin, crisp baguettes on display in bakery windows are the dreams of bakers and hungry customers alike. We’ve uncovered three scrumptious bakeries throughout Taipei, sharing their unique ways of making bread and the concept of hometown flavors ingrained in their recipes. Sousan ..read more

Made from yeast, sugar, and tea, kombucha is a sweet fermented drink that has become a top choice when it comes to healthy beverages worldwide. Kombucha has become the new star when it comes to healthy drinks in Europe and the United States, and is gradually becoming popular in Taiwan as well. It can easily be made with quality Taiwanese tea, herbs, and fruits nourished by the local terroir, giving birth to kombucha flavors unique to the country.(Read also:Innovative Tea for A New Generation with Wangtea Lab) But let’s back up for a moment. What exactly is kombucha? For the uninitiated, kombuc ..read more

When the summer heat begins to rise upwards of 30 degrees Celsius, the residents of Taipei have no choice but to hide indoors — only daring to venture outside once the temperature cools down. Local evening markets, which operate starting in the late afternoon, and continuing until the blazing sunsets, are the premier choice for many office workers just getting off work. Even if you miss the traditional market in the morning, evening markets in Taipei that open from afternoon to night still offer all kinds of daily supplies for purchase. (Photo/Yengping) Whether it’s shopping for daily necessit ..read more

We all know that Taipei’s summer sun is hot and spicy, but sometimes the best way to fight the scorching heat is to combat poison with poison — only this time, we are going to detox with some gastronomic delights. While spicy dishes might gently numb your lips, eating spicy food to dissipate heat is a practice grounded in scientific fact. A moderate amount of spicy food can promote blood circulation and relieve the heat while you sweat, allowing your body to regulate its temperature. Meanwhile, sweat evaporation also burns calories! If you choose the right variety, some chili peppers are anti ..read more

During the sweltering summer days in Taipei, the hot sun and stuffy air can make one feel restless. In addition to gorging on iced drinks and escaping to air-conditioned rooms to get out of the heat, you can also use herbal dietary therapies to get rid of the humidity and heat in your body, bringing about a sense of calming coolness from the inside out. We paid a visit to Daily Health (德利泰), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) experience center in historic Dadaocheng, where founder Ching-niu Chen (陳清鈕) introduced us to Chinese herbal ingredients and traditional medicinal materials that can be ..read more

Tofu is a key ingredient in many of the local delicacies in Taiwan. It is commonly found in everything from home-cooked meals to soups and even in desserts. On a global scale, tofu has become synonymous with healthy food in recent years — solidifying its indispensable role as the “white platinum” delicacy of traditional Asian cuisine and culture. (Read more: Herban Kitchen & Bar: A Western Vegetarian Oasis in Taipei) In Taipei’s bustling Zhongshan District, there is a handmade tofu shop called Oneway (萬味豆府) tucked away in a local neighborhood. As the sun rises, unlike most office workers ..read more