Taiwan is much more than street food! Here are 7 must-visit restaurants for your next trip

Philstar.com went to Taiwan—alongside media friends and influencers—and visited interactive barbecue restaurants, traditional banquet tables and a Bib Gourmand-recognized dining, and each revealed a mouth watering side of Taiwan.

Taiwanese Mongolian BBQ?

Our food tour began at Great Gobi Mongolian Barbecue – Songjiang Original Store.

Unlike traditional restaurants where diners simply choose from a menu, guests first select their preferred ingredients—from meats and vegetables to noodles and sauces—before handing them over to chefs who stir-fry everything on a circular grill.

I chose marbled beef, lamb, greens and a few chilies before watching the ingredients come together on the large flat pan. What made the experience even more interesting was learning that the style of Mongolian barbecue popular today was actually developed in Taiwan decades ago, making this interactive dining concept uniquely Taiwanese.

The restaurant offers an extensive buffet spread featuring endless hot pot ingredients, cooked dishes, steamed dim sum, drinks and desserts. Guests can even make their own bubble tea!

Great Gobi Mongolian Barbecue – Songjiang Original Store
Address: 3F, No. 152, Songjiang Rd., Zhongshan Dist., Taipei City 104, Taiwan
Opening Hours: Daily, 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; 5–9 p.m.
Contact: +886-2-2581-9151

Tamsui’s gastronomic heritage

If Tamsui tells the story of Taiwan’s historic relationship with trade and the sea, its cuisine reflects that same connection.

Lunch at Red Castle 1899, located inside Tamsui’s iconic red-brick Red House, offered a refined interpretation of local flavors while preserving the character of traditional Taiwanese cuisine.

Among the dishes served, the Tamsui agei best represented the place. The bite-sized version of the town’s signature stuffed tofu pouch gave a more elegant take on a snack that visitors usually encounter along Tamsui Old Street.

Another memorable dish was the Typhoon Shelter-style soft-shell crab. The cooking style traces its roots to the typhoon shelters where fishermen prepared seafood with generous amounts of garlic, chili and spices. Crunchy and savory, it felt like the perfect companion to an ice-cold drink, especially when paired with peanuts, seafood and Tamsui’s famous fish crackers.

Other highlights included steamed sea bass with preserved cordia berries, cabbage stir-fried with fragrant sakura shrimp, and comforting chicken soup with garlic and clams.

Together, the dishes reflected the abundance of Taiwan’s northern coastline while showing how local ingredients can be transformed into refined culinary experiences.

Red Castle 1899
Address: No. 6, Ln. 2, Sanmin St., Tamsui Dist., New Taipei City 251, Taiwan
Opening Hours: Daily, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Contact: +886-2-8631-1168

The shared table experience

One of the biggest lessons from dining in Taiwan was that meals are rarely meant to be enjoyed alone.

At restaurants like Nanhai Fishing Village – Luzhou Branch, dishes arrive at the center of the table, inviting everyone to share and sample different flavors.

The meal featured many Taiwanese favorites, including three-cup chicken, pineapple shrimp balls, Hakka-style stir-fry, crispy fried oysters, sweet-and-sour pork ribs and chicken soup with pineapple and bitter melon.

While the restaurant offered a wide selection of dishes, what stood out most was the rhythm of Taiwanese group dining: a balance of meat, seafood, vegetables and soup, all enjoyed together.

Throughout the trip, this communal style of eating became one of the most memorable parts of experiencing Taiwanese food culture.

Nanhai Fishing Village – Luzhou Branch
Address: No. 308, Jixian Rd., Luzhou Dist., New Taipei City 247, Taiwan
Opening Hours: Daily, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.; 5–10 p.m.
Contact: +886-2-8282-3663

The depth of Hakka cuisine

Taiwan’s culinary identity is shaped by many communities, and Hakka cuisine gives a glimpse into the traditions of one of its largest cultural groups.

At Jinshan Hakka Restaurant – Original Store, dishes highlighted the cuisine’s emphasis on bold flavors, preservation techniques and resourceful cooking.

The salt-baked chicken preserved the meat’s natural juices, while the Hakka-style stir-fry combined pork, dried squid and tofu in a savory dish that has become a classic.

A big surprise was the ginger pork intestines. The chewy texture and refreshing combination of ginger and vinegar made it one of the dishes everyone kept returning to.

Throughout the trip, I noticed that many restaurants served variations of familiar Taiwanese comfort food—braised pork knuckles similar to the Filipino pata tim, poached chicken reminiscent of Hainanese chicken and steamed fish prepared in different styles. Each restaurant had its own interpretation.

At Jinshan, my personal favorite was the seafood and tofu with crab roe. It’s rich, silky and comforting, and it showed how simple ingredients can come together into something super satisfying.

Jinshan Hakka Restaurant – Original Store
Address: 1F, No. 5, Aly. 2, Ln. 250, Sec. 5, Nanjing E. Rd., Songshan Dist., Taipei City 105, Taiwan
Opening Hours: Daily, 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.; 5–9 p.m.
Contact: +886-2-2765-9906

Everyday flavors from local favorites

You can also get memorable food experiences by asking the locals where they go for familiar dishes.

At Tian Jin Seafood Stir-Fry Restaurant, a neighborhood favorite, classic Taiwanese flavors are showcased in dishes like crispy tofu and shrimp, bamboo shoots and other seasonal vegetables.

Later, at Gutsuo Restaurant, the feel-good experience continued with home-style dishes, such as braised beef brisket casserole, scallion oil chicken, Hakka-style stir-fry, sweet-and-sour yellow croaker and the house specialty—stinky tofu.

Trying stinky tofu was an experience in itself. The aroma was admittedly intimidating at first—and impossible to miss while walking through Taiwan’s night markets—but the actual taste was surprisingly enjoyable. The interesting flavor that made it worth trying.

Tian Jin Seafood Stir-Fry RestaurantAddress: No. 117, Minle St., Datong Dist., Taipei City 103, Taiwan
Opening Hours: Monday–Saturday, 12–2 p.m.; 5–9 p.m. (Closed Sundays)
Contact: +886-2-2557-3577

Gutsuo Restaurant
Address: 1F, No. 41, Ln. 132, Guanghua Rd., Luzhou Dist., New Taipei City 247, Taiwan
Opening Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.; 5–9 p.m. (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays)
Contact: +886-2-8281-1616

Understanding Taiwan’s culinary simplicity

No food journey through Taiwan would be complete without experiencing one of its Michelin-recognized restaurants.

At Mao Yuan Restaurant, a Bib Gourmand recipient in the 2025 Michelin Guide Taiwan, the focus is to simply allow quality ingredients and traditional techniques to shine.

The restaurant’s signature white-cut chicken immediately stood out among the many poached chicken dishes we tried throughout the trip. The meat was exceptionally tender and flavorful, although the reddish tint from the poaching process was unfamiliar to me at first.

The Taiwanese sausage and fresh oysters with garlic sauce were also table favorites, showing how dishes prepared with minimal intervention can still leave a lasting impression.

Mao Yuan represents the kind of cooking that does not need excessive decoration. It relies on consistency, quality ingredients and recipes refined over the years.

Mao Yuan Restaurant
Address: No. 185, Sec. 2, Chang’an E. Rd., Zhongshan Dist., Taipei City 104, Taiwan
Opening Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.; 5:30–9:30 p.m. (Closed Mondays)
Contact: +886-2-2752-8587

Through Wave of Food, travelers discover that the best way to understand Taiwan may simply be to take a seat, share a meal and let the stories unfold. — May Dedicatoria

Experience your own way of discovering Taiwan through Taiwan 100 Ways at the campaign event happening at One Ayala, Makati, on August 22–23, where visitors can explore themed travel experiences, discover new itineraries and find inspiration for their next Taiwan adventure.