New Taipei City’s specialties! Unforgettable delicacies
/ Photos provided by Fisheries and Fishing Port Affairs Management Office, New Taipei City Government
A taste of fresh seafood and desserts
Wanli Crab
Fuji／Yehliu／Guihou Fishing Harbor
During Wanli Crab Festival in the late fall, visit the fishing harbors at the north coast, you can choose crabs by yourself and ask stores nearby to cook for you. Then it’s time to dig in three kinds of wild, delicious crabs. Flower crabs are available throughout the year, a favorite among foodies due to their large size. Three-spot swimming crab has three round spots on the shell, and tastes finer and sweeter than flower crabs. Swimming crab has an appearance that resembles a stone but its flavor is stronger than the other two. Crab lovers should not miss Taiwan’s famous Wanli crabs!
/ Photos provided by Fisheries and Fishing Port Affairs Management Office, New Taipei City Government
Tips for eating crabs
- Male crabs are recommended for wild crabs as they are full of tender meat
- The best season of flower crabs and three spot swimming crabs is from September to December
- The best season of swimming crabs is from Late October to January
Gongliao Abalone and a variety of seafood
Gongliao／Aodi／Maoao
Gongliao is famous for its Jiukong abalone and ormer, which are reared in the intertidal zone and fed with seaweed. The harvest season is from November to February. Gongliao abalone has a firm and crunchy texture, and is delicious and sweet after being steamed, broiled, or grilled. Aodi and Maoao, located along the coastal highway, are heaven for seafood lovers. A wide variety of roadside seafood restaurants serve seasonal seafood throughout the year.
Fresh Abalone Buying Tips
- Gongliao abalone season: November to February
- Various types of pearl abalone packages are available at Gongliao District Fishermen's Association
- A wide range of affordable seafood restaurants can be found in Aodi and Maoao
Gelidium Jelly
Shimen／Gongliao
Gelidium jelly, also known as ‘’sea bird‘’ nest, is a type of algae found in Taiwan inshore and coastal areas. It has a jelly-like mouthfeel after being washed, dried under the sun, boiled and cooled. Added with lemon, honey or fruit bits, it makes a sweet and sour refreshing dessert available in the summer.
Dishes with local characteristics
Jinshan duck
Jinshan Old Street
Jinshan not only has seabed hot springs, but also the not to be missed Jinshan duck! Uses select 130-day-old ducks, with no MSG or extra condiments added during the cooking process. Jinshan duck is so famous because it melts in the mouth while while give off a natural sweetness. Jinshan duck is tasty even without the help of any sauce.
Shenkeng/Shiding Tofu
Shenkeng Old Street／Shiding Old Street
Speaking of stinky tofu, one famous Taiwanese snack, the first place that comes to the minds of many is Shenkeng. However, neighboring Shiding is also famous for tofu dishes! Handmade bittern tofu makes a delicious dish whether pan-fried, boiled, fried or deep-fried. Of course, local desserts such as Douhua (tofu pudding), tofu ice-cream and tofu cake are also must-try local specialties.
Pinglin tea dishes
Pinglin Dist. ／ Pinglin Old Street
Do not miss the unique tea dishes in the hometown of tea plantations.Chicken soup brewed with the mellow and aromatic Paochong tea, egg fried rice with Paochong tea, ice popsicle and ice-cream made with refreshing tea leaves are delicacies you cannot missed in Pinglin.
Wulai Indigenous Cuisine
Wulai Old Street
At Wulai, besides visiting the waterfall, enjoying the hot spring and taking the cable car to Yun Hsien Resort, don’t forget to try the Atayal cuisine at Wulai Old Street! Some of the signature delicacies include the chewy wild boar sausage, aromatic bamboo tube rice, and braised tofu with maqaw (a.k.a. mountain pepper by Taiwanese). Every indigenous dish is unique, charming and worth trying.
Experience the exotic flavors in the bustling city
Yunnan and Burmese Cuisine
Myanmar Street
Along Huaxin Street, one can see signboards in both Chinese and Burmese, and the air is filled with the aroma of curry and coconut juice. The delicacies include fresh fish soup noodles, pea flour noodles, etc., which are rarely seen in Taiwan; visitors can enjoy the exotic delicacies with affordable prices.
Korean Cuisine
Yonghe
There’s a ‘’Korean Street’’in Yonghe,sells a wide variety of popular Korean products, such as instant noodles and soju (Korean liquor). It is a place where many Koreans in Taiwan will come. There are many Korean restaurants near the Street, which serve delicious Korean barbecue, Bibimbap, etc. It’s a good place for Koreans who miss their hometown food, as well as non-Koreans who like to try Korean cuisine.
Vietnamese Cuisine
Banqiao／Xinzhuang ／Zhonghe／Yonghe
There are Vietnam eateries throughout New Taipei City, which serve common Vietnamese dishes such as refreshing pho, and Vietnamese baguette loaded with various ingredients. In Xinzhuang Market, there are eateries that serve a classic North Vietnamese snack, the steamed rice rolls, which tastes like the Cantonese dish, rice noodle roll; it is tasty and refreshing when complemented by mixed fish sauce.
Regional Gourmet Cuisine
Tamsui Ah Gei
Tamsui Old Street
One of Tamsui Old Street’s famous food! The hollowed fried tofu is stuffed with stir-fried cellophane noodles, marinated, sealed with fish paste and finally drizzled with sweet and spicy sauce or the store’s specially made sauce. The simple-looking snack is unforgettably delicious.
Jiufen Taro Ball
Jiufen Old Street
Taro balls are a common ingredient in Taiwanese desserts, as well as one of the famous snacks in Jiufen Old Street. In addition to taro balls, there are sweet potato balls. The chewy and aromatic snack has become a popular choice at the Old Street.
Shimen Rice Dumpling
Shibawanggong Temple
The rice dumpling, a specialty of Shimen, originated from Shibawanggong Temple. The flavors include glutinous rice, purple rice, seafood, vegan and red bean paste, and each store has its own specialty. The delicious dumplings are loaded with multiple ingredients that worth trying.
Sanxia Golden Croissant
Sanxia Old Street
The classic golden croissant, a must-try delicacy of Sanxia. The golden croissants shaped like an ox horn contains different of flavors, including original, brown sugar, butter, etc. Each croissant is the perfect combination of rich milk fragrance, crispy skin and firm mouthfeel.
Shuangbaotai
Bali Old Street
Shuangbaotai is crispy on the outside, and fine, chewy and fragrant on the inside. The sweetness of the coarse sugar makes every bite satisfying. It is a traditional snack brought to Taiwan from China’s coastal area, and has become very popular in Tamsui and Bali region.
Unveil the hidden versions of the local gourmet food