Taipei Travel Guide

Ask Taiwanese people living abroad what they miss most about home, and nine times out of ten the answer is: "The food!" Once you have eaten your way through Taipei, chances are that you might find your stomach arguing against going home.

Chinese food If you like Chinese food you will definitely eat very well in Taipei. Taiwanese cuisine is known for its seafood dishes and flavorful, slightly heavier sauces. If you like variety, why not go for Peking one night, Hunan the next, Shanghai on Saturday, and spice it up with Szechuan on Sunday? Whatever your favorite style of Chinese, you are sure to find it. At upscale Chinese restaurants, you can expect to enjoy pleasant surroundings and excellent service. Between the top-end restaurants and the night market food stands, there are PLENTY of inexpensive to moderately priced eateries. If you are in an unknown area, a good way to tell a restaurant's reputation is by how crowded it is around 7p. It is still true that most Chinese restaurants pay more attention to the food than to the decor. However, in recent years restaurant owners have tried to put more effort into creating an attractive dining room, though often at the expense of quality of food. Therefore stick to the rule of thumb: do not worry about the plastic flowers and faded vinyl floor, sit down and get ready to eat some of the best Chinese food you've ever had!

International food It used to be that if you wanted to eat something other than Chinese, the best bet for Western food would be in Tien Mu or a hotel. In the past few years, though, restaurants offering food from all over the world have popped up. For great Western food and breakfasts try Grandma Nitti's Kitchen. Do you like Indian? Taipei has several Indian restaurants. French, German, Swiss, Middle Eastern, American, Greek, Mexican, Indonesian, Thai (plenty of Thai!), Korean, Spanish, and even English food can also be found. For convenience, variety, and value, check out the teatime, lunch and dinner buffets offered by most of the major hotels. Some specialize in one type of cuisine, but many offer a mix of East and West. Lunch will usually be NT$700 or less. If you crave fast food, American, Japanese (and Chinese), burgers, noodles, chicken, and pizza joints are scattered generously throughout the city. Japanese food Due to both Taiwan's history and the number of Japanese people living and working here, Japanese restaurants are everywhere. The only problem is that most of them serve Taiwanese Japanese food, which is passable, but it will not do if you want the real thing. For years, Lin Sen North Road has been home to several great places offering Japanese food catering to Japanese businessmen. Unfortunately, usually the menu is in Japanese and/or Chinese. If you head up to Tien Mu, your will have better chances of finding an English menu. Also, because many Japanese live in Tien Mu, the restaurants tend to be more authentic. If it is a bowl of Japanese-style ramen that you want, you will be happy to know that the number of restaurants specializing in ramen has grown exponentially.

Department store food courts Want a cheap (NTD150 or less), delicious meal that will not cut into your shopping time? Check out the basement Food Courts in department stores such as Mitsukoshi, Sogo Department Store, Takashimaya, and Asiaworld Shopping Center. The common eating areas are clean and crowded around noon and 7p. Choose from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Southeast Asian, or McDonald's fare. Ice cream, fruit juice, and crepe stands can also be found. With pictures of the food and prices clearly marked, ordering is quick and easy.

Night market food No trip to Taipei is complete without at least one visit to a night market- try Shihlin Night Market! Before, after, or during your browsing, stop and try some of Taiwan's best-known snacks. Chou Do Fu (Smelly Tofu) is just that, but many foreign visitors have loved it on first taste. You will also find delicious fried and steamed meat-filled buns, oyster-filled omelets, refreshing fruit ices, and much more.

Cafes In contrast to some restaurants, Taipei's cafes are always clean, attractive (or at least unusual), and usually offer a few simple meals or sandwiches on their menu as well as coffee, teas, soda, and juice. The price of a cup of coffee can be steeper than at home (averaging from NTD50 - NTD150), but remember that you are also paying for the atmosphere. For those craving a cup of tea, many places offer a variety of hot and cold teas, including English tea with milk, Chinese and Japanese teas, and herbal and fruit-flavored teas. If you come for lunch, until 2p many cafes offer set meals which include a drink. As set meals usually cost just a little more than a single drink, consider cafes for a light, inexpensive meal. In addition to the usual cafes, Starbucks coffee has also become ubiquitous around Taipei.

Bars/Pubs Taipei has many bars and pubs, so chances are at least one is YOUR kind of place. In addition to neighborhood bars, Taipei has more than its share of hostess bars. Just bring plenty of funds for the drinks and the company. For a more dignified atmosphere, the hotel bars are usually elegant and you'll be able to mix with both local and foreign business people. If you are looking for a piece of home, there are Australian, Japanese, British, Irish and American-style bars like My Other Place. Some have televisions so that you can watch your favorite sports. There are also a number of gay bars which provide a welcoming atmosphere. Finally, discos, especially those near National Taiwan University and Shi Da (National Taiwan Normal University), combine drink, dancing, and loud music that ranges from rock to alternative to techno.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 189