Food and Restaurants

Culinary considerations are definitely one of the top reasons to visit Taipei. Some of the dishes most associated with Taipei are Taiwanese beef noodle soup, a beef stock with thick noodles and chunks of beef served piping hot with or without hot sauce; – there's a reason why this stuff is called stinky tofu and you'll either love it or hate it, finding it won't be a problem, though–just follow your nose; oyster pancakes – an omelet made with fresh oysters, eggs and plenty of lard.

Taipei's international fare will satisfy the fussiest gourmand. Cuisine from all over the world can be found in Taipei's upscale dining rooms and in the populist McDonald's.

Vegetarians are in luck, as Taipei is one of the most vegetarian friendly cities to be found. Most neighborhoods boast at least one Buddhist buffet. The fruit in Taiwan can't be beat and many fruit stands sell pre-cut fruit, great for those steamy days. Look out for the many markets in Taiwan that sell great food at low prices. The area south of Shita University between Hoping and Roosevelt Roads is great for cheap and delicious eats at any time.

When in the northeast, seafood tops the list as the coast abounds with seafood markets small, medium and large. You can buy hundreds of varieties of fish and shellfish at the markets and barbeque them yourself on the beach. Many of these markets have small food stall areas next to them, so you won't have to eat sashimi if you don't feel like cooking for yourself. Astute travelers will notice that many of the shops in the area have vacuum packed plastic bags with what looks like whole and half ducks that have been run over by steamrollers. This is a pressed and salted duck, sold in a ready to eat package, the method of preserving the meat from the days before refrigeration – some find the taste too salty. Fried taro cakes are very popular around these parts, sometimes served with dried shrimp on the top. A surprisingly light oyster soup comes in a clear, delicately seasoned broth with a hint of ginger, served with a handful of plump, fresh oysters. Some of the hot spring resorts in Jiaosi have a local dish consisting of vegetables cooked in hot spring water. Jishan Street in Jiufen offers the best variety of traditional northern Taiwanese snacks.