Taipei Food Guide: The 15 Best Restaurants In Taipei
WARNING: This Taipei food guide is incredibly delicious. If you decide to try out the best restaurants in Taipei, side effects will include gaining weight and extreme happiness.If you’re looking for what to eat in Taipei, this is the definitive list with a variety of places to eat to fit each palette. These restaurants are the must eat in Taipei list. Of course, the top restaurants in Taipei would require reservations or at some you'll just have to wait for a table.
This Taipei Food Guide Is Only For Taipei Restaurants
Taipei street food is amazing and there are many delicious Taiwanese desserts. Please see my other posts regarding what food to eat in Taipei. This list is exclusively the good restaurants in Taipei and excludes street food and dessert places. Some of these good restaurants in Taipei are my absolute favorite. For some, these are are top restaurants in Taipei to eat.
If your visiting Taipei for the weekend and only have a limited amount of meals, this list of what to eat in Taipei restaurants. There is so much good Taipei food, that I’ll have to separate it in to multiple posts. This article will only have the best restaurants in Taipei.
There is a 10% service charge at some Taipei restaurants. Some will say it on the menu otherwise you’ll find it on your bill.
Pricing: Taipei Restaurant Guide
Since Taipei eats have their own economy of pricing, I’ve broken the pricing up to what you can expect to pay for good food in Taipei. Food is very affordable in Taiwan and it's rare to spend more than $30USD per person at a restaurant.
NT$100 or less (US$3.23) NT$100-300 (US$3.23-9.68) NT$300-700 (US$9.68-22.60) NT$700+ (US$22.60+)
Taxes: Taipei Restaurant Guide
In any Taipei restaurant, night market, street food, convenience store and pretty much everywhere, the price listed is the final price. This is unlike in America when tax gets added to your purchase. In Taiwan, tax is already added in to the displayed price.
The only time that the price listed ends up being higher than what you expected is when you get hit with a 10% service charge at a restaurant.
Tipping: Taipei Restaurant Guide
Even if your meal and service are extremely amazing, it’s not expected to tip even at the top restaurants in Taipei. Instead of a tip, most places will add a “service charge” of 10% to your bill.
I like the no tipping policy in Taipei because you STILL get good service. That’s the opposite of my experiences in the United States. You can still go to good restaurants in Taipei and not have to tip.
I’ve been to some nice restaurants in Taipei (Western) that had the “tip” line in the credit bill even after adding a 10% service charge. It’s up to you, but you already tipped. This tipping trick is very common in the United States.
Din Tai Fung
鼎泰豐
Taiwanese
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Of course Din Tai Fung is on this list of best restaurants in Taipei! It's delicious and much cheaper than the other international locations. Din Tai Fung originated in Taiwan and became an international chain after being awarded a Michelin star. This is authentic Taiwanese food to eat in Taipei.
Wait time for all Din Tai Fung locations in Taipei
There are multiple Din Tai Fung locations and that wait time can be over an hour during peak meal times. Reservations can be made by phone (they speak English) otherwise you can just show up and take a number.
If you've never had Din Tai Fung before and are looking for things to eat in Taipei, this should be at the top of your list! Try any of their Xialongbao soup dumplings and you'll be glad you waited in line for such amazing Taipei food.
PRICE RESERVATIONS ENGLISH MENU FOOD CATEGORY RECOMMENDATION LOCATION RATING
$$$ Not Required Yes Taiwanese Crab Xialongbao Website 5/5
Golden Formosa
金蓬萊遵古台菜餐廳
Taiwanese
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Golden Formosa 金蓬萊遵古台菜餐廳 is a Michelin rated Taiwanese restaurant. Unlike Din Tai Fung, Golden Formosa 金蓬萊遵古台菜餐廳 specializes in more common Taiwanese food like fried dishes, vegetables and noodles.
The fried pork ribs here are amazing. After one bite, I felt like it was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. It was crispy, juicy, sweet and a little spicy. It was a symphony of flavors that you must experience if you want to try the best Taipei food.
I’ve rated this place 6/5 it’s one of the best places to eat in Taipei and you need to eat their food in Taipei.
Service is fast and friendly at Golden Formosa 金蓬萊遵古台菜餐廳. The overall vibe is a higher-end restaurant but in the same price range as Din Tai Fung.
PRICE RESERVATIONS ENGLISH MENU FOOD CATEGORY RECOMMENDATION LOCATION RATING
$$$$ Required Yes Taiwanese Fried Pork Ribs Website 5/5
G-Woo
鸡窝
Taiwanese Chicken Soup
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When I was brought to G-Woo 鸡窝, I was very apprehensive about having chicken soup. It’s very hot in Taipei and having hot chicken soup doesn’t sound like it would be on the top of anyone’s “food to eat in Taipei” list. But even though I was reluctant to eat here, I went, I ate the casseroles chicken soup and I left extremely happy.
G-Woo 鸡窝 has the best chicken soup you will ever have! It’s thick, full of flavor and very satisfying. Unlike the chicken soup that is served in the United States, this is THICK and is served with chicken so tender that you can effortlessly cut it with chopsticks.
G-Woo 鸡窝 is one of Taipei’s best kept secrets that you won’t find on any tourist Taipei restaurant guide. Don’t worry though, they have menu available in English, Japanese and Korean.
PRICE RESERVATIONS ENGLISH MENU FOOD CATEGORY RECOMMENDATION LOCATION RATING
$$$ Recommended Yes Taiwanese Chicken Soup Website 5/5
Uncle Shawn
燒肉餐酒館
Yakiniku (table cooked BBQ)
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Uncle Shawn 燒肉餐酒館 is on of those places to eat in Taipei that you’ll always remember for the sounds, smells and sights of sizzling meats. After my first bite of BBQ at Uncle Shawn 燒肉餐酒館, time stopped. I reflected on how lucky my life has been to take me to Taiwan just to eat at the top restaurants in Taipei…and then one tear fell from my eye. Uncle Shawn 燒肉餐酒館 is one of the best places to eat in Taipei that serves up happiness.
Make reservations! I’ve been to Uncle Shawn 燒肉餐酒館 twice without reservations and I regretted trying to go to one of the top restaurants in Taipei without one! I ended up waiting almost 2 hours each time. They speak English very well so making reservations over the phone won’t be a problem.
At Uncle Shawn 燒肉餐酒館, they cook the BBQ for you right at your table. This is to ensure each piece of high quality meat is cooked to perfection.
Uncle Shawn 燒肉餐酒館 is known for their BBQ and other modern dishes. The beef tongue, brisket, pork jowl, scallops with sea urchin are all incredible. This is the food to eat in Taipei for BBQ lovers.
PRICE RESERVATIONS ENGLISH MENU FOOD CATEGORY RECOMMENDATION LOCATION RATING
$$$$ Recommended Yes BBQ Short Rib Website 5/5
Master Spicy Noodle
大師兄銷魂麵舖
Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup (Modern)
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Taiwan beef noodle soup is one of the most popular things to eat in Taipei. Master Spicy Noodle 大師兄銷魂麵舖 takes that tradition and puts a spin on it!
At Master Spicy Noodle 大師兄銷魂麵舖 they serve the beef as thinly sliced pieces rather than cubes and serve the noodles on the side. That sounds simple, but they use the highest quality ingredients to create an incredible taste.
Master Spicy Noodle 大師兄銷魂麵舖 serves the best noodles you will ever have. I actually said “wow” after my first bite. I didn’t know how good you can make noodle until finding this food to eat in Taipei.
For some reason, Master Spicy Noodle 大師兄銷魂麵舖 doesn’t make it on to the touristy Taipei restaurant guide. It’s incredibly popular and wait times are typically over an hour. But that’s why I’ve created this list of top restaurants in Taipei so you can experience the best noodles you will ever have!
There are at least 3 locations in central Taipei so look out for it!
PRICE RESERVATIONS ENGLISH MENU FOOD CATEGORY RECOMMENDATION LOCATION RATING
$$$ Not Required Yes Noodles Anything Website N/A 5/5
Jin Feng
金峰
Taiwanese
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If you’ve had Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice 魯肉飯 (Lu Rou Fan) before, then you know this should be on your must to eat in Taipei list. Lu rou fan is super savory, tender and extremely satisfying. It’s a simple dish with braised pork, rice and all the pork fat juices on top for about $1USD!
To eat this good food in Taipei, you’ll need to mix up the rice with the meat and juices. This is to ensure every bite is full of flavor.
Local Taipeirestaurants like Jin Feng 金峰魯肉飯 have amazing food that you can get quickly and are incredible affordable. It’s not one of the nice restaurants in Taipei, but it is one of the tastiest. Jin Feng 金峰魯肉飯 is popular with tourists and locals.
If you’re looking for what to eat in Taipei that’s authentic Taiwanese, then Jin Feng Braised Pork Rice 金峰魯肉飯 is the place for you.
PRICE RESERVATIONS ENGLISH MENU FOOD CATEGORY RECOMMENDATION LOCATION RATING
$ Not Required Yes (Ask) Taiwanese Pork Rice Website 5/5
Shengyuan Xiao Long Bao
盛園絲瓜小籠湯包
Taiwanese Dumplings
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When I’m craving xiaolongbao, my Taipei food recommendation is Shengyuan Xiao Long Bao 盛園絲瓜小籠湯包. You can get high quality and affordable dumplings without the crazy wait.
At some good restaurants in Taipei like Shengyuan Xiao Long Bao 盛園絲瓜小籠湯包, you’ll find an English menu but not an English menu form. You’ll have to match up the English translation to the Chinese characters which makes for an Taipei eating experience.
Shengyuan Xiao Long Bao 盛園絲瓜小籠湯包 is your next best option for Xialongbao after Din Tai Fung. Not only does Shengyuan Xiao Long Bao 盛園絲瓜小籠湯包 have good food in Taipei, they also have bigger and cheaper Xialongbao (soup dumplings) than Din Tai Fung. It’s also located a short-walk from the original Din Tai Fung located by the Dongmen MRT station.
Best of all, it's cheap and the portions are BIG! Pro-tip: Order a few items to start then add-on later!
PRICE RESERVATIONS ENGLISH MENU FOOD CATEGORY RECOMMENDATION LOCATION RATING
$$ Not Required Yes Dumplings Xiaolongbao Website 5/5
Wenting Hot Pot
問鼎 麻辣鍋 養生鍋
Hot Pot
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