Taipei - Street Food

The thing that I love the most about Taipei is the variety of street food. Perfuming the air of a lot of streets in Taipei are pork and multiple types of dough frying. You can buy these dishes on the sidewalk and get instant gratification - faster than fast food. New Yorkers have it good with the street food - pizza, bagels, falafels, etc. However, for the price and variety, I think Taipei beats New York for street food. Below's a list of street foods that I had - my fiancee thinks the list I compiled is 2% of the street food available in Taipei. I've listed the names in Mandarin (I don't speak it), so here's my crappy approximation of what they sound like.

Shen Jian Bow (Fried Soft Dumplings) - 12NT or $0.38
This is the first thing that I want to eat when I land in Taipei. The dough is thick and soft, but gets a nice color from being seared on the grittle. Fillings inside are super juicy and flavorful. They consist of pork (shien row), garlic chives (joe chai), or cabbage (ga-lee chai). Usually topped with a sweet soy mix and a chili paste. The chili paste they use in Taiwan is much different than what I'm used to. It's more salty and not really spicy at all...I like it a lot.

Tsong Yo Bing (Scallion Pancake) - 15NT or $0.47
Basically thin and round like a crepe, but pleasantly chewy due to multiple layers. Scallions fill this pancake and adds a nice savory and slightly sweet flavor.



Tsong Jwa Bing (Fried Dough with Sausage) - 15 NT
I think the same pancake as the tsong yo bing, but crumpled up to get an even fluffier texture from rocking two spatulas and bashing it up. I added the slighty sweet, super fatty sausage patty and I was in heaven.


Dan Bing (Egg Sandwich) - 20NT or $0.63
A nice, soft sesame bread stuffed with a fluffy egg and topped with some familiar ingredients - scallions, sweet soy, and that same chili paste. The perfect breakfast item. There are different variations of this as well using the tsong yo bing and filling it with the egg and scallions.



Cho Dofu (Stinky Tofu) - 20NT
Stinky tofu is exactly what it sounds like. It's fermented tofu that gives it a really rich flavor, kinda like a blue cheese. This is then deep fried to get a crispy texture. Served with pickled cabbage. Most people (outside of Asia) can't stand the smell of this...some may describe it as rotten garbage. I disagree and thinks it tastes great...granted I've heard some versions of cho dofu are unbearable.

Hu Jiao Bing (Pepper Bun) - 15NT
This is like a dumpling, but instead of a soft texture you have what's like a crispy sesame roll. The pork inside is slightly spicy from what I assume is white pepper and like most dumplings in Taipei - this is juicy and very flavorful.


Hey Shang Chaung (Black Sausage) - 10NT or $0.31
An aboriginal sausage that is hella tasty. Cooked with a sweet wine and chinese herbs, this sausage is crispy and super fatty goodness - there are huge chunks of fat in the sausage...so good.