Chill Day In Taipei
ๆดฅๆดฅ่ฑๆผฟ (Jin Jin Soy Milk)
The best way to start a day in Taiwan is by eating Taiwanese breakfast. On our previous visit to Taipei, we had breakfast at Fu Hang Soy Milk, which we loved. But this time we wanted to try something a little different. Jin Jin Soy Milk is a local breakfast spot offering an old-fashioned style of breakfast. We wanted to eat a bunch of breakfast items we hadnโt tried. We ordered the salted soy milk, steamed bread, egg cakes, and turnip cake with eggs.
Honestly, I think we ordered way too much food because I struggled to eat everything. I learnt that hot salted soymilk is definitely not my style, but Iโm glad I tried it. I personally love cold soy milk for breakfast the most. The turnip cakes on the other hand? That’s a new favorite for me, and they did it exceptionally well.
Moonshine Coffee Roasters
Moonshine Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee shop with non-coffee drinks, brunch, desserts, and even cocktails. The concrete walls and stainless steel countertops give the space a clean, modern feel, accented with neon signs. Michael ordered a pour-over, and I chose a Hong Kong iced tea. Hong Kong iced teas are a favorite of mine, typically made with black tea and fresh lemon. Ever since my trip to Hong Kong, Iโve been on the lookout for a good one. I was excited to find it here, and it didnโt disappoint.
Michaelโs pour-over was also expertly prepared, which isnโt surprising given how knowledgeable the baristas are. In fact, the owner of Moonshine Coffee Roasters is a Hong Kong Brewers Cup champion, which really shows in the quality of the coffee.
Branch Coffee Roasters
Our second coffee stop was a little place called Branch on a quiet back street. This place was a complete 180 from Moonshine, with a natural wood interior and a very limited coffee-only menu. When we arrived, there was absolutely nobody around. I had no choice but to get a coffee drink, so I ordered a nitrogen espresso, and Michael got a pour-over. This guy definitely knows what heโs doing, because everything was super curated. Again, Michael said the coffee was a 10/10, with a super interesting flavor profile and amazing roasting. At this point, I realized we were really sleeping on the Taipei coffee scene.
Lungshan Temple
Lungshan Temple is the most popular temple in Taipei for locals and tourists alike. It is the oldest and most important temple in the country, dating back to 1738. The original temple no longer stands, as it has gone through earthquakes, fires, and bombings during the war. Still, it stands as an impressive symbol of religion and culture for the whole country.
The first thing I noticed is how every single element of the temple is dripping in detail. Roofs are covered in intricate tilework, emblematic of Taiwanese temples. The pillars are all carved with beautiful imagery and some with golden gilding. Each corner has something to look at. Despite the temple being quite small, it wasn’t hard to spend an hour just soaking in everything. They also provided a very in-depth brochure, so we were able to fill in all the history as we explored.
Yuan Fang Gua Bao
Just around the corner from the temple is Hua Xi Street Night Market, where you can find Yuan Fang Gua Bao. This 60 year old shop has received the Michelin Bib Gourmand award every year since 2020. We had another Michelin Bib Gourmand gua bao in Kaohsiung, and it blew our minds, so we had to try again. Yuan Fang Gua Bao is really easy to find as usually there is a line around the stall, but it does move pretty quickly. They have seating in front of the stall and a room at the back of the stall. That was lucky for us because we really wanted to sit down and experience the amazing flavors.
Gua bao has pork belly, peanuts, cilantro, and pickles in a soft steamed bun. The meat is super fresh and while you are waiting in line you can see it braising in a pot and smelling divine. When we received our food we had to eat right away and it was amazing! Itโs one of our favorite things weโve eaten in Taipei and our only regret is not eating more.
Ximending Youth Shopping Street
Ximending is a lively hub packed with a wide variety of shops and restaurants. Itโs also home to the famous rainbow road that spells out โTaipeiโ. This is one of the main trendy shopping districts in the city, which with why we came. The area is filled with both local and international brands, and you can sometimes find limited Chinese New Year collections at stores like Adidas. Ximending is a great place to hang out grab food, and do a bit of shopping all in one go.
228 Peace Memorial Park
A short walk from the shopping district is 228 Peace Memorial Park, a green space with deep historical significance. Chiang Kai Shek is the most important person in Taiwanese history. On one hand, he is a war hero who led the government in exile, resisted the communist regime, and fought the Japanese invasion. It’s no wonder his legacy is enshrined at Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. On the other hand, he was a brutal military dictator who imposed the longest martial law in history, and he was responsible for the Feb. 28 1947 Incident. On that day, thousands of protestors were killed at the hands of the government, partially leading to the imposition of martial law.
This park memorializes those who died that day, and the park was named after the day the massacre took place. While the park itself is relatively small and simple, with quiet paths for walking, it offers a calm break from the busy city. For such dark and intense history, you’d hardly know anything happened here. As you wander through, youโll also notice a variety of interesting birds that add a bit of life and charm to the peaceful surroundings.
Instil Coffee Zhongshan
We wanted squeeze in one more specialty coffee shop in the day, so we checked out Instil Coffee. They have an extensive coffee menu as they mostly serve pour overs and espresso based drinks. As a non-coffee drinker I was lucky enough to get a kombucha, one of only two non-coffee menu items. Michael got a pour over which was difficult to choose as they have a vast array of beans.
The baristas there are very knowledgeable and are happy to explain the tasting notes of the beans. The interior is a modern minimalist vibe with neutral colors and dark moody lighting. Even though itโs not the most interesting interior, the simplicity really has a calm feeling which is a perfect for a nice cup of coffee.
Ningxia Night Market
One of our favorite things to do in Taiwan is exploring night markets. In Taipei, weโve only visited Raohe Night Market and we knew we needed to see more. Ningxia Night Market is near Taipei Main Station located in the heart of the city. Itโs opens everyday with tons of venders to choose from. The only downside is that the markets’ streets are very narrow, making it hard to walk through and look around carefully.
Burst and Crispy Squid
One of the most popular stands in the market is Burst and Crispy Squid. This is a fried squid stuffed with cucumber and various veggies. Itโs a really unique menu item I havenโt seen before in Taiwan. This is the most popular item at the market, and we stood in line for 30 minutes. Next to the fried squid stall is Liu Yu Zi Taro Egg Balls which is extremely popular, so make sure to check you’re standing in the right line.
When we finally got to order, we only had to wait a minute or two to get our piping hot fried squid. They sliced it and we ate it right away. The cucumber combatted the grease and the oils from the squid which made for perfect harmony. I loved the different crunchy textures from the cucumber and fried squid.
Tong Nian Papaya Milk
Another night market stable is papaya milk. Weโve only had this once when we visited Kaohsiung but we loved it so much we needed to have it again. Tong Nian Papaya Milk is near the entrance of the market. After having a taste of the papaya milk, we couldnโt stop drinking it. The texture was very smooth with a creamy subtle papaya taste. She really has mastered the consistency as it wasnโt too runny. I always think the milk will be too heavy, but it really is the perfect consistency and super refreshing when enjoyed with greasy food.
Yammy Peanut Cilantro Ice Cream
A common item weโve seen at every night market is peanut ice cream with cilantro. Weโve only tried it once in Juifen and we loved it! At Yammy Peanut Cilantro Ice Cream, they had something different that we havenโt seen before. Of course you can add regular cilantro, but they also had cilantro Doritos as a topping. Cilantro Doritos are my favorite chips in the world, but I’ve only seen them in Taiwan. My other favorite foods are ice cream and peanuts, so this was literally made for me. The taste is very flavorful as the crunchiness complimented saltiness, and saltiness danced with the nuttiness. If you donโt like cilantro it’s not for you. But for me, it was the perfect combo
Sanchong Itiengong Temple
Sanchong Itiengong Temple is a Taoist temple located in a residential neighborhood. Itโs very beautiful at night because of the lanterns draped around the temple. It’s not a typical temple for tourists as there is not much information about it in English, and is primarily visited by locals. Sanchong Itiengong Temple is not a must do in Taipei, but if youโre in the neighborhood at night itโs a great place to take a quick stop. We attempted to visit a similar temple in Kaohsiung, but it was partially closed for renovation.
Shilin Night Market
Shilin Night Market is one of the biggest night markets in Taipei. We definitely could tell as it was slightly difficult for us to navigate. Unlike Ningxia Night Market, Shilin Night Market has everything from food to games and shopping. At this market, instead of having specific stalls to go to we were looking for specific food.
One night market staple are king mushrooms, we saw the line was busy so we decided to join too. The mushroom is a great hearty vegetable and we were able to get it topped with different seasonings. Around the market, we kept seeing large bowls of a drink called aiyu jelly. This is a popular drink in Taiwan made with dried fig seeds, water, sugar, and some limes. This drink was so refreshing and slightly swee.t which is perfect to have with some street food.
Our last stop was to get a pork bun. Our favorite pork bun is at Raohe Night Market so we wanted to try want other places had to offer. Cheng Zu had a variety of buns with different meats and fillings but we got the classic pork bun. It was slightly crispy on the outside with a piping greasy pork filling. It was good but our favorite is still at Raohe Night Market.
Final Thoughts
From breakfast to night markets, everything in Taipei felt consistently good and easy to enjoy. The coffee shops, street food, and local spots all added something different to the experience. It was a relaxed trip built around eating and exploring. Taipei is a really smooth and memorable city to travel through.
