Most people come to Taiwan expecting the traditional Chinese food- after all Taiwan was once part of China and its people are predominantly from Mainland China.  But standard Chinese fare like sweet and sour chicken, chop suey and fried rice are actually quite difficult to find. Taiwanese food is delicious and full of fresh seafood, tofu and all kinds of tasty noodle dishes. A local favourite during the winter is hot pot. If you go for the real ma la ho guo (spicy hot pot), you are most likely to sear your taste buds forever! You may never eat ‘Chinese” again. Vegetarians will be pleased to find a huge selection of tofu dishes all cooked and served to look like meat by Taiwan’s vegetarian Buddhists.

The pre-packed meals eaten by locals are called biandongs and are small boxes of lunches and dinners of white rice, vegetables and meat and cost a reasonable NT$50. The Taiwanese are inveterate travelers and in modern Taiwan, you find several establishments catering American style fast food choices as also many Asian specialty restaurants serving Thai, Vietnamese and Indian food and Japanese sashimi and sushi bars. Tanshui, just a half-hour ride from the centre of Taipei, is easily accessed by train or car and promises a picturesque view of the northeast coast and the best seafood restaurants in Taiwan.