Taipei Food Guide 2026: 5 Must-Try Restaurants We Revisit
Craving an unforgettable culinary journey in Taipei? We're sharing our top 5 favorite restaurants that we loved so much, we had to go back for more! Dive into Taipei's best bites.
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Craving an unforgettable culinary journey in Taipei? We're sharing our top 5 favorite restaurants that we loved so much, we had to go back for more! Dive into Taipei's best bites.
Taipei Travel Foodie Guide,
5 Must-Visit Spots We Keep Coming Back To!
Words & Photos ©HaiBubu
Taiwan is a true culinary paradise, overflowing with delicious food!
However, finding eateries that truly hit the spot can be a challenge, as some popular places might not always align with everyone's palate.
So, for all you seeking out the authentic, unmissable flavors of Taipei, we're thrilled to share our top 5 favorite eateries – places my husband and I loved so much last year, we just had to visit them again this year!
1. Xing Fu Tang
Our first revisit-worthy spot is none other than Xing Fu Tang!
Xing Fu Tang is one of Taiwan's most renowned milk tea chains.
Strategically located right in the heart of Ximending, it's incredibly easy to access.
Xing Fu Tang's signature brown sugar bubble tea is an absolute crowd-pleaser.
You can even enjoy the delightful performance of the brown sugar being caramelized with a cute dinosaur torch!
Sip on that rich cream, the beautifully torched brown sugar, and the wonderfully chewy pearls all at once, and you'll experience an instant burst of delightful sweetness!
It's this irresistible blend of sweet and rich milk tea that makes it a definite must-try on any Taipei itinerary!
Good to know: there are branches scattered throughout Taiwan, and even at the popular Ximending location, the line moves surprisingly fast. So if you're a fan of sweet beverages, do yourself a favor and give it a try!
2. Ping Jia Tan Go
Next up on our list is Ping Jia Tan Go, a fantastic skewer spot in Ximending.
When we first visited Ping Jia Tan Go, there wasn't an English menu, but on our recent return, we were delighted to find that they now even have one!
It used to feel like our little secret, but now it's clear this place has become a hit with international visitors too!
One of Ping Jia Tan Go's unique charms is the opportunity to savor their special '18-Day Beer'.
This '18-Day Beer' must be enjoyed within 18 days of brewing, and trust us, it's incredibly smooth with a fantastic finish – a taste so good, you'll be thinking about it long after your trip!
Naturally, it's the perfect companion to their wonderfully savory and perfectly seasoned skewers.
Here, you simply select your desired skewers, hand them over to the chef, and they'll expertly grill them for you, brushed with their special spices and sauces.
We especially recommend the succulent pork belly and the sweet corn – absolutely divine!
Beyond those, eggplant and mushrooms also come highly recommended!
If you're looking to unwind with delicious skewers and a refreshing cold beer in Ximending, this spot is an absolute must-visit!
3. Ximen Noodle
Our third revisited foodie gem is Ximen Noodle (西門麵店).
This place is famous for its incredible braised pork knuckle rice in Ximending.
On our recent visit to Ximen Noodle, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that the restaurant had undergone a fantastic renovation and expansion!
While it had a charmingly old-school vibe on our previous visit, we did have a tiny lingering thought about hygiene. Now, however, it's absolutely pristine, and any such concerns have vanished completely!
What's more, they've expanded to two floors, significantly increasing the dining capacity, which seems to have helped reduce waiting times.
(A sure sign of their incredible popularity, we think!)
At Ximen Noodle, ordering the braised pork knuckle rice is an absolute must-do!
Beyond their signature pork knuckle rice, they also offer a variety of delicious side dishes, including spicy wontons and comforting wonton soup.
Jokbal Deopbap features chewy yet tender braised pig's trotters,
and a sweet and savory sauce that's just perfect for the Korean palate.
What's more, the pickled cucumber served with the rice
pairs incredibly well with the deopbap!
Personally, I highly recommend the muscular parts of the jokbal.
They're so soft and tender, making them even better to enjoy with rice!
4. Ah Zong Mian Xian (아종면선)
Our fourth must-visit spot is Ah Zong Mian Xian.
Ah Zong Mian Xian is a renowned intestine noodle soup restaurant located in Ximending,
and it's already famous among many, having been featured frequently in various Korean media outlets.
Personally, I don't usually go out of my way to visit famous eateries,
but Ah Zong Mian Xian was a place where I truly understood why it's so popular,
so I highly recommend you pay it a visit.
The intestine noodle soup, with its deeply flavorful katsuobushi broth,
is a noodle dish I had never experienced anywhere in Korea.
The thick, savory yet umami-rich broth,
and the thin noodles you can slurp right up, truly complement each other perfectly.
It feels less like eating noodles and more like enjoying a comforting porridge.
When you first try it, enjoy the original flavor,
then add the provided garlic and vinegar sauces
to experience a whole new dimension of taste.
Just a heads-up: since intestine noodle soup with katsuobushi broth
can be a hit or miss for some, I recommend starting with a small size
to give it a try first!
5. Haoji Shuijiao (하오지쉐이자오)
My last re-visited foodie gem is Haoji Shuijiao,
also famous as a recommended spot by Chef Lee Yeon-bok.
Their signature dish here is shrimp dumplings!
I couldn't forget the bouncy texture of their shrimp dumplings from my first visit,
so I came back, and the taste was just as amazing!
Thanks to the juicy shrimp, the texture was incredible,
and the dumpling skin was just the right thickness, making it truly delicious!
If you're someone who loves dumplings,
you absolutely have to visit Haoji Shuijiao.
Today, I've shared with you five restaurants in Taipei that I revisited during my trip.
What's great is that the places I've introduced today
are already well-known among Koreans too,
so you can visit them without any worries.
I hope you enjoy some delicious meals, keeping these recommendations in mind!
▼ Curious about more Taipei foodie spots? ▼
At Xing Fu Tang, you can witness a performance where brown sugar is melted with a cute dinosaur torch for their brown sugar bubble tea. Through this process, you can enjoy the harmony of rich cream, torched brown sugar, and chewy pearls.
At Ping Jia Tan Gao, you can taste the '18-Day Beer,' which must be consumed within 18 days of brewing. This beer is said to be very smooth with an excellent finish, pairing well with oily and savory skewers.
Ximen Noodle recently underwent renovation and expansion, increasing seating to two floors and improving hygiene. When ordering the pig's trotter rice, we recommend the tender, muscular part, which is excellent to enjoy with rice.
Ah Chung Flour-Rice Noodle's intestine vermicelli is made with a rich katsuobushi broth, which might not appeal to everyone. Therefore, if it's your first time trying it, we recommend ordering a small size to taste it first.
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