Food in Taiwan

I have been asked by several people if I'm going to pack some foods that I'll miss while I'm there.  Funny but I can't think of one thing that I can't live without for two years.  I'm so excited about the foods I'll get to try and eat each and every day.  When communicating with a couple of people who live in Kaohsiung, they have told me to not be worried; "There is plenty of American food in Kaohsiung.  You can find McDonald's and other American food."  To me, that is not a positive; that's a negative.  I am so looking forward to eating my way across this island and trying all the foods it has to offer.

Taiwanese cuisine is known for amazing dumplings and noodles. 

and so much more!  I can't wait!

I watched this great movie, "The Raw and the Cooked", about a culinary tour of Taiwan.  I am so excited to try the local food after see that video.   Check out the website - Taiwan Food Culture - and you'll see what amazing foods I'll get to experience. Here is an article from that site that focuses on Kaohsiung:

Taste Taiwan’s everyday life at Kaohsiung Liuho Night Market

Visiting a night market is definitely one of the best ways to get a glimpse of local culture in Taiwan and, of course, to have a bite of authentic light Taiwan snacks.

Leaving hundreds of unnamed destinations behind, we zoom in on Liuho Night Market, the very unique spot in the southern capital of Taiwan, Kaohsiung. The Liuho Night Market is one of the three most popular night markets among international tourists, along with Shihlin Night Market in Taipei and the Temple Night Market in Keelung.


As its name suggests, Liuho Night Market occupies Liuho 2nd Road all the way from Jhongshan Rd. to Zihli Road, a length of 380 meters. The strip accommodates more than 170 stands, selling delicacies for the most part, in addition to some clothes and recreational booths.

With a history over 60 years, Liuho Night Market was founded in late 1940s when it was known as Dagangbu Market, meaning 'Great Harbor Mart’. The convenient water transportation and its geographical location near the Love River brought crowds of people together and created a demand for a marketplace back in those days.

In 1987 the Kaohsiung City Government (KCG) enacted a regulation that every day from six pm to two the next morning cars and scooters were prohibited from entering the area. Since then the Liuho Night Market has gradually developed into an internationally recognized must-visit site.

Strolling around Liuho Night Market, it is almost impossible to resist the various types of delicacies that are prepared using different methods and served with gracious Southern (Taiwan) hospitality.
Certain vendors even boast a history spanning several decades. One that is widely acclaimed is Jheng Lao Pai Papaya Milk, which was founded in 1965 by the Jheng family.

The proof lies in the fact that the drinks at Jheng Lao Pai only use papayas from Pingtung, melons from Chiayi, strawberries from Dahu, Tainan, and starfruit from Cholan, explained Jheng.
To achieve a truly rich aftertaste you must rely on fresh in-season fruits and fresh milk, said Jheng.

Another product that also secures the stand’s popularity among visitors is the sliced tomato. Tomatoes are chopped into bite-sized bits and drowned in a special sauce made of ground ginger, soybean sauce, sugar and, not so surprisingly, a few of Jheng Lao Pai’s secret ingredients.

If papaya milk sounds like a relatively widely accepted product to the visitor, bolder souls are advised to try some of the market’s other Taiwanese eateries.

Frankly pointing out what it sells through its name, Dongshan Duck Head is a delicacy that people really should try. The owner originally ran a seafood stand but gave it up because of excessively high rent. She went to Dongshan in Tainan City to pick up the local methods of cooking and later established her duck head business at Liuho. It has now been more than ten years and she has never looked back.

Dongshan’s secret to building and maintaining customer loyalty lies in the spice pouch for stew that packs heady Chinese herbals such as licorice, cassia twigs, aniseed and, once more, those secret ingredients. The crispy taste and thick texture carry a wonderful aftertaste that keeps people coming back for more.

Snake dishes are another Liuho Night Market specialty. Snake soup is said to have the power to purify the blood, add brightness to the eyes, facilitate the metabolism and expel poisons from the body. It’s also good for the liver and kidney and can promote immunization and help improve the health.

Roast mullet roe and tendon are two other fine choices for those looking for local flavors. The key to good taste here is baking the mullet roe to a golden brown using charcoal, so that the surface is slightly seared and the inside is soft and smooth.

This dish is served with garlic sprouts and sliced white turnips, which contribute to a sweet and soft yet crispy taste in the mouth. Mullet tendon, on the other hand, is roasted over a heavy fire to create a solid texture.

Another five-star booth in the Liuho Night Market is Roast Meat’s Home. Ingredients such as roast chicken legs, wings, and tempura are first simmered with herbs then roasted over charcoal. The secret behind the success of these delicacies is simmering in a sauce that truly stimulates the appetite.
Many other light foods like salty stuffed dumplings, seafood porridge, peanut rice dumplings, hot pot, fried ice, eel noodles, teppanyaki, stinky tofu, sugar gourd, oyster omelet and more can all be found in the Liuho Night Market.

Liuho Night Market is open 6pm to 2am seven days a week and is easily accessible either by train, bus or MRT.

Written by Cho Yin-cheng, Photos by Cho Yin-Cheng.