How can I avoid the long wait to eat at the Din Tai Fung main branch on Yongkang Street in Taiwan?

You can eat without waiting by ordering from the Din Tai Fung menu for delivery through the Uber Eats app. It's cheaper because delivery orders come with discounts, and you can receive your food in about 20 minutes after ordering.

Can I still make payments if I install the Foodpanda or Uber Eats app after arriving in Taiwan?

Yes, you can use the delivery services without any issues even if you install the apps locally after arriving in Taiwan. However, to make payments, you must register a card that supports overseas transactions, such as the Travelog card.

How can I easily find the restaurant I want on Taiwanese delivery apps if I don't know Chinese characters?

You can search for the desired restaurant on Google Maps, then click the 'Order' button followed by the 'Delivery' tab in the restaurant's information. This allows you to immediately check whether the restaurant supports Foodpanda or Uber Eats and place your order.

Which apps should I use to order delivery from Three Brothers Shaved Ice and the Din Tai Fung main branch using Google Maps?

According to the delivery tab on Google Maps, you can order mango shaved ice from Three Brothers Shaved Ice through Foodpanda. On the other hand, the menu from the Din Tai Fung main branch can only be ordered for delivery via the Uber Eats app.

Din Tai Fung Taipei: How to Skip the Hours-Long Line

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Din Tai Fung Taipei: How to Skip the Hours-Long Line | TRVLOGUE

Hey there, fellow explorers! It's your favorite travel guide writer here! :)

On my very first morning in Taipei, I witnessed something fascinating right outside my hotel entrance.

Scooters kept pulling up one after another, and hotel guests were coming down to pick up packages.

At first, I figured Ximending was just naturally busy and bustling, but when I took a closer look, the lightbulb finally went off!

Dining out isn't the only way to experience Taipei's food scene!

Before arriving in Taiwan, I assumed that eating out at night markets and crowded restaurants was the only way to go.

Everyone associates Taiwan with street food and vibrant night markets, right? But after walking miles in the humid 90°F summer heat, the last thing you want to do after a long day of sightseeing is stand in another massive queue.

That's when I decided to look into local food delivery apps, and honestly, I wish I had known about this trick from day one!

Having ordered delivery multiple times during my stay, I realized the delivery fees and overall costs are incredibly reasonable here.

Back home, ordering delivery can easily cost ~$32 for just one meal. In Taipei, I ordered delivery four times and spent only ~$51 in total!

No wonder those delivery drivers were constantly dropping off food at our hotel lobby late at night!

Once we tried it, we were hooked. Instead of settling for convenience store snacks, we started ordering full, legendary dinners straight to our hotel room.

Here is the ultimate insider tip: ordering Din Tai Fung on Uber Eats is often cheaper due to exclusive app discounts!

I actually found out about this from a Din Tai Fung staff member at the Yongkang Street main branch when the wait time was too long and we were about to walk away.

Our food arrived in just 20 minutes, steaming hot and absolutely delicious!

Easy Setup On the Go

You might think you need to set up these international apps and verify your account before leaving home.

But I downloaded both Foodpanda and Uber Eats right after landing in Taipei, and they worked flawlessly!

Just make sure you link a credit card that supports international transactions (like Wise, Revolut, or any travel card with no foreign transaction fees).

How to Order Like a Local

Not every single restaurant in Taipei is on these apps, and searching for them in English can sometimes be tricky due to Chinese characters.

To bypass this, use my favorite shortcut: Google Maps!

Simply search for the restaurant you want on Google Maps, tap the "Order" or "Delivery" button under the business info, and it will show you exactly which platform supports it.

From there, a single tap will redirect you to Foodpanda or Uber Eats with the menu already loaded!

Let's try this with the famous San Xiong Mei (Three Brothers) Mango Ice in Ximending!

Search for "Three Brothers Mango Ice" on Google Maps, click "Order," select "Delivery," and you'll see the direct link to order via Foodpanda!

Want another example?

Let's order from the legendary Din Tai Fung Main Branch.

Following the exact same steps, you'll see that Din Tai Fung is exclusively available on Uber Eats!

Since different restaurants partner with different platforms, using Google Maps is the absolute easiest way to find them without dealing with translation issues.

Final Thoughts

I will absolutely use Uber Eats and Foodpanda again on my next trip to Taipei!

While dining out and exploring the street stalls is a huge part of the fun, having a relaxing, air-conditioned meal in your hotel room after a exhausting day is an absolute lifesaver.

If you're planning a trip to Taipei, don't miss out on this hack. Open up Google Maps, hit the delivery tab, and enjoy world-class food without the wait!