Best Food In Taichung
Grandma A Xiangsi Noodle Shop ้ฟๅฌคa็ธๆ้บตๅบใ
One of our favorite countries for breakfast cuisine is Taiwan. This is something we will never skimp on when visiting Taiwan. So of course, our first stop in Taichung had to be Taichung Second Market to get breakfast at Grandma A Xiangsi Noodle Shop. This restaurant has plenty of menu options and a lot of seating in and around the kitchen. Even though it was popping, we were able to find a place to sit. We ordered two of their most popular items, the 6 in 1 platter and the dry noodles.
The 6 in 1 platter had turnip cake, taro cake, sausage, rice sausage, tempura, and egg. I really enjoyed it and I would easily come here again as I love turnip and taro cakes. The sausage in Taiwan is very interesting to me as it was sweeter and harder compared to Western style sausages. It was a great combo and we finished with clean plates. The dry noodles were rather simple, but they had a station where you can dress your noodles in various oils and coat in peanut sauce. The noodles with the oils and the sauce created a nutty and spicy flavor which had me beaming. This breakfast was for sure my style, and Iโm glad I donโt live nearby because I would visit way too often.
Laiโs Tea Shop ่่ณด่ถๆฃง
Located in Taichung Second Market is Laiโs Tea Shop. Luckily the shop is right across from Grandma A Xiangsi Noodle Shop. Iโm not sure if the location is strategic, but everyone in the breakfast restaurant had cups of tea from Laiโs Tea Shop. Since the menu was in Chinese with so many things to chose from, I asked their staff for their most popular drink which is sweet black tea. It wasn’t too sweet, but it really hit the spot and went great with breakfast. I can understand why locals choose to pair Lai’s tea with their meals, it’s definitely the move.
Phase Coffee Roasters
Phase Coffee Roasters is a very popular specialty coffee shop located in Taichung. They offer a wide range of coffees, teas, brunch, and dessert. Interior design is definitely a main draw, with dark moody lighting, great attention to detail, and an aesthetic staircase. There are seating areas on both floors, and every corner was dripping in vibes. Michael got his usual pour over and I got a red oolong au lait.
Surprisingly, it took over a half an hour to get our drinks which we havenโt experience in a coffee shop before. If you’re just passing by it’s possible to get take out, but if you want to sit down then plan for some leisure time. While the drinks were amazing and high quality, Iโm not necessarily sure it worth the wait. Still, seeing some of the incredible sandwiches and waffles come out makes me think it’s a great spot to chill out and enjoy a nice brunch.
Minimal
Minimal is the world’s only Michelin star gelato store. When I first heard about it, I wondered how there were no other gelato stores anywhere on Earth that were good enough. Surely it’s overhyped, right? But I really wanted to see and experience why it received its star. The owner used to be a pastry chef at a Michelin star restaurant. Quality and presentation are everything, so the experience is very tightly controlled. At Minimal, he creates unique sorbets and gelatos that are very different than a normal shop.
There is only one location in Taichung, and when we arrive the queue was massive, so we got in line and waited. We only had to wait around 15 minutes, which was great because it can be up to 2 hours some days. When we finally got to the counter, they explained you can choose two flavors in one cup. Iโm thankful they show the tasting notes, and they were so helpful in helping us choose the best combos.
We ordered half and half sorbet, one side being yakult, shiso, and apple while the other side was sake, ginger lily, and honwaka. For the gelato, we got half olive oil, oolong tea, and magnolia leaves, and the other half was rum, dried longan, and honey. Now hopefully you can see why this shop is so unique, these are not your average gelato flavors. Everything is so intentional, and despite the odd combinations, it all comes together in perfect harmony. I can see why they received their star as it takes a master to create these unique flavor profiles and make them taste good. I especially loved the gelato as I prefer creamier textures. It truly felt like the highest of gelato experiences.
Sumugaga Coffee
Sumugaga Coffee is another specialty coffee shop in Taichung. This coffee shop is a bit smaller than Phase Coffee Roasters but the coffee is just as high quality. The interior is interesting as the shop has an upside down T like structure. The backroom has a large shared table where people were working or studying surrounded by smaller tables on the walls. Sumugaga Coffee is truly a coffee shop, as they offer no non-coffee beverages which is a problem for me as we needed to get one drink per customer.
I got an affogato and Michael happily drank the espresso and scooped out the coffee for me. The ice cream was really creamy and I did enjoy the slight coffee flavor that remained. Michael got an iced pour over as it was too hot outside to get a hot drink. Usually he prefers hot pour overs, but when a shop is this good, you know you can trust it.
Taichung Meatball
Taichung food culture is similar to other parts of Taiwan. But one thing in this region that is truly special is Taichung meatballs. We went to a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, fittingly called Taichung Meatball. Open since 1933 they have mastered the art of simplicity of their menu. They only serve three things: Taichung meatball, glass noodle soup, and fish ball soup. We tried the Taichung meatball and fish ball soup.
The fish ball soup isnโt something extraordinary but it has a nice simple broth with spongy fish cakes. I didnโt do much research when looking up the famous Taichung meatball but it was a lot different from what I expected. The meatball was wrapped in a thick, chewy dumpling skin. Surrounding the meatball was a thick gravy like sauce which had a soy sauce and savory flavor. We really enjoyed the taste and havenโt had something exactly like that before. Our only regret is that we couldnโt eat more since we had to eat later.
Feng Chia Market
Feng Chia Market is one of the most popular markets in Taichung, located near Feng Chia University. It is said to be one of the largest night markets, but that is said about many of Taiwans markets. Still, we wanted to check it out. Weโve been to night markets all around the world, but some of our favorites are located in Taiwan. This time we tried to get items we havenโt tried before.
MINGLUN Pancake
We started our night market journey by lining up at Minglun Pancake. This stand can have a very long line as the food is very cheap and some people order a large amount. Minglun Pancake sells egg pancakes with several sauces that can be single or mixed. Iโm not the biggest fan of eggs, so I was really nervous if I would like it or not. When arriving, we needed to pick our queue number first and once it was showed on the board then we could order.
The staff spreads a thin batter on the griddle that is then topped with eggs and green onions. The key is to eat it right away as itโs cools down rather quickly. Our first bite was okay but after we bit off the cool part, it was piping hot. As someone who doesnโt like eggs, I really enjoyed the taste of the dish as it had a thin scallion pancake texture and the sauces had a rich taste.
ๅธ้็ขณ็ค่กๆค้ค Pepper Cakes
Even though weโve had pork pepper buns in Shilin Night Market and Raohe Night Market in Taipei, we wanted to try outside of the capital. This is the only stand we saw near the entrance of the night market that sells pepper buns. Usually this place has a long queue as well, but that day we were able to grab and go. The texture of the bun was light and flaky while the meat was juicy and steaming hot. I recommend making a small bite in the bun to help release the steam from the inside. The buns tasted really fresh and had the same base taste compared to the other pepper buns weโve tried. The taste was fine but our favorite still is the Fuzhou Pepper Buns in Taipei.
Xioa 8
Near the entrance of the market is Xioa 8 which sells fried sweet potato balls. This snack is usually made out of sweet potatoes, tapioca starch, and sugar. We were able to see it being freshly prepared on the side as they were cutting up the dough to be put in the fryer. This was our first time trying this Taiwanese night market staple. It has a chewy texture with a light crunch on the outside. The taste was slightly sweet and the insides were hollow. Some people top theirs with plum or various other powders but we just ordered ours plain to try the original taste.
Roast Duck Wrap
For our last item, we walked around the market until we spotted something that we wanted to try. Roast duck with a steamed bun popped out at us. It was filled with roasted duck, pickles, onions, and a sweet sauce. It was a nice filler meal but it wasnโt the most memorable thing weโve ate.
Miyahara
Miyahara was an ophthalmologist clinic in 1927 when Japan was colonizing Taiwan. These days, the iconic building has been renovated to include a massive gift shop, bakery, Michelin star restaurant, and an ice cream parlor. Miyahara really is the premier tourist attraction of Taichung, with plenty of food, gifts, souvenirs, and only a few minutes from the train station. Inside, the building is magical. Towering bookshelves and whimsical decorations lead a lot of people to describe it like the library in Harry Potter.
Around the outside is the ice cream shop, which has over 50 flavors. There are teas, fruits, chocolates, and even cheese categories. As if picking a flavor wasn’t hard enough, you also get to choose two cookies to go on top, making one of the most extravagant sundae’s I’ve ever seen. Of course, the quality of the ice cream wasn’t like Minimal, but it was still surprisingly good. The better experience is the visual beauty of the ice cream and the building.
Final Thoughts
Taichung was honestly such a great place to just walk around and eat whatever caught our eye. We tried a good mix of foods and found some spots weโd definitely go back to. Even the things we didnโt love were still fun to experience. Taichung has a thriving food scene that makes you want to visit just to get some more.
