What to Eat in Taiwan 2025: Trending Foods, Street Snacks & Local Favourites

When it comes to eating well, Taiwan never disappoints. From steaming bowls of braised pork rice to blowtorched street snacks that light up your social feed, the island’s food scene is a lively blend of tradition and reinvention. If you’re planning a trip this year, here’s your essential guide to the Taiwanese dishes and snacks that everyone’s talking about in 2025.

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Lu Rou Fan

A bowl of lu rou fan, braised pork belly over rice, remains the ultimate comfort meal for locals and travellers alike. You’ll spot it everywhere, from old-school street stalls to modern bistros that serve up gourmet spins with slow-braised pork shoulder, truffle shavings or a molten onsen egg on top. This simple dish delivers big flavours every time and proves that sometimes, humble classics are unbeatable.

Gua Bao

Often nicknamed a Taiwanese burger, gua bao is a soft, fluffy steamed bun traditionally stuffed with braised pork belly, pickled mustard greens, crushed peanuts and fresh coriander.

These days, street stalls and night markets love to experiment. Expect fillings like crispy fried chicken, spicy kimchi pork or earthy mushrooms for a vegan option. It’s the perfect grab-and-go snack while you drift through neon-lit crowds.

Taiwanese Fried Chicken

Nothing satisfies late-night cravings quite like Taiwanese fried chicken. Vendors marinate bite-sized pieces, double-fry them until deliciously crisp, then toss them with salt, pepper and fragrant basil leaves. In 2025, snack bars pair crispy chicken with craft beer. Street vendors add fun new dips: try a drizzle of mala mayo or a spoonful of wasabi cheese sauce for a bold twist.

Bubble Tea

Taiwan’s most famous treat keeps evolving. Bubble tea shops show no sign of slowing down. Brown sugar milk tea with glossy pearls is still everywhere, but fresh spins are stealing the spotlight. C

heese tea arrives topped with a savoury foam cap. Fruit teas come loaded with popping pearls. Some vendors torch the brown sugar tops to caramelise the foam, turning every cup into a tiny performance. For an adult twist, try a cocktail-style bubble tea, a buzzy trend this year.

Scallion Pancake

Crispy, flaky and full of spring onion flavour, cong you bing remains a beloved street snack. Vendors cook these pancakes fresh on sizzling griddles by the roadside.

Many put their own spin on it now, with fillings like melting cheese, punchy kimchi or even thin slices of wagyu beef pushing this humble pancake up a notch. Fold it into a paper wrap and eat it hot while wandering night markets under the glow of hanging lanterns.

Stinky Tofu

Few foods split opinions like chou dou fu. Brave the pungent aroma and you’ll see why locals queue for it. Deep-fried stinky tofu is crisp on the outside, tender inside and served with pickled cabbage plus spicy chilli sauce.

Some stalls layer on fiery mala spices or kimchi toppings for extra heat. Just follow the unmistakable scent, it always leads you to the good stuff.

Sweet Potato Balls

These golden sweet potato balls are one of the island’s most moreish street snacks. Vendors fry them until they puff up with a chewy middle and crisp shell. Some dust them with matcha or cocoa for a modern twist. They’re easy to snack on as you explore stall after stall, and it’s impossible to eat just one.

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Pineapple Cakes

No visit to Taiwan feels complete without pineapple cakes. These buttery pastries with dense pineapple filling have been a souvenir staple for years.

Lately, boutique bakeries refresh them with local pineapples, reduced sugar and more tang. Keep an eye out for inventive layers of taro or mochi that turn this simple treat into something new.

Taro Desserts

Taro stays strong on dessert menus. Vendors pile taro soft serve high in cones and swirl it into creamy parfaits topped with boba.

Shaved ice desserts come piled with chewy taro balls and drizzles of condensed milk, a sweet, cooling fix when the humidity hits. If you love mellow, earthy flavours, you’ll want to try every version.

Milkfish Dishes

In southern Taiwan, milkfish rules the table. Home cooks treasure it, and chefs at modern seafood bistros keep reinventing old favourites. Grilled milkfish belly, hearty congee and clear soups highlight the fish’s clean, mild taste. Expect responsibly sourced fish and subtle seasonings that let the fresh flavours shine.

Traditional breakfasts

No morning in Taiwan feels right without a hearty breakfast. Local breakfast shops whip up stacks of egg crepes (dan bing), warm soy milk, pillowy buns, crunchy fried dough sticks (you tiao) and packed rice rolls.

Many classics stay true to tradition, but fresh fillings appear too. Think smoked salmon and cheese dan bing or rice rolls stuffed with spicy pork floss. They’re tasty, quick and proof that old-school flavours still thrive.

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Ready to eat your way through Taiwan?

Taiwan’s food scene in 2025 balances old comforts with new ideas. One evening you’re snacking on fried chicken in a bustling night market, the next you’re sipping a caramelised bubble tea in a stylish café. Start your day with a hot egg crepe, end it with taro ice; there’s always something worth trying, so come hungry and savour every bite.