Michelin Guide Street Foods in Taipei’s Wanhua District
Come with me to Taipei’s Wanhua District, the oldest district of Taipei, to try Michelin recommended street foods and more! This trip back to Taiwan was a last minute trip back to Taiwan due to a family emergency, so we just tried to enjoy every little moment. I was born and raised in Taiwan, but I still love traveling with my parents and seeing Taiwan through their eyes. As we walk around Wanhua, they shared with the dishes they growing up, music they danced to, stores they used to love, and even restaurants they ate together when they first started dating
How To Get To Wanhua
Wanhua is very close to a few popular districts, so it’s quite easy to get to. Wanhua Train Station is one TRA train stop away from the Taipei Main Train Station. It’s also easily accessible via the metro on the MRT Blue line or Green line.
For tourists, the Taipei Sightseeing Bus also has routes that stop at various tourist spots in Wanhua. You can hop on or off whenever you’d like, so there’s many ways of getting around the area!
Where To Visit In Wanhua
Wanhua district is one of the oldest districts in Taipei. It not only has unique religious and architectural landmarks, but also artsy shopping areas. Best of all, it has some of the oldest and most well known street foods and restaurants in Taipei. Some Wanhua tourist hotspots include Lungshan Temple, Huaxi Night Market, and Ximending.
Longshan Temple 艋舺龍山寺
The Longshan (or Lungshan) Temple 艋舺龍山寺 is one of Taipei’s main attractions. First established in 1738, this temple is designed to be a classic four-unit building with a courtyard. Dedicated to various Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian deities, the temple is a key example of the diverse religious influences in Taiwan.
Inside, the temple is painted a bright red and gold, covered in intricate carvings retelling the stories of legendary creatures and gods. At it’s peak hours, the busy temple can be packed with people, praying for blessings, placing their offerings, and admiring the artwork.
This temple is near the Longshan Temple Station of the MRT, so it’s easy to find. Swing by while you’re in Taipei to get a glimpse of one of Taiwan’s oldest temples!
Huaxi Street Night Market 華西街觀光夜市
In the past, Huaxi Street Night Market 華西街觀光夜市 was also called the “Snake Alley”. Popular in the past for selling snake, turtle, and other delicacies, this walking area now boasts 3 Michelin-recommended street food restaurants. It’s also home to many other restaurants that have been in the area for more than a few decades. To try the true age-old classic Taiwanese foods, Huaxi Street Night Market is the place.
It’s 5 minutes walk away from the Longshan Temple MRT station, so it’s super easy to get to. The night market itself opens at 4 pm, but the street is open for exploring all day! If you’re visiting the restaurants here, be sure to check their individual opening hours as well.
Ximending 西門町
Ximending 西門町 is a hotspot for the younger crowd of Taipei as well as a food and shopping paradise! I had a chance to visit Ximending this trip. It was an incredibly fun day packed with shopping and street food! Home to some of the most iconic foods in Taiwan, Ximending is a great place to taste test great foods, and also purchase souvenirs and snacks for friends before you head home.
I share a couple of the food spots I got to try in my post about Ximending. Read more about Ximending HERE!
What To Eat in Wanhua
Many of Wanhua’s food options are age-old Taiwanese classics that have survived for more than a few decades. Some of these are even Michelin-recommended! Wanhua’s food options are truly a glimpse of the traditional Taiwanese flavors my parents loved. From the classic braised pork belly gua bao and pork belly rice, to simple desserts like hot mochi and agar jelly, Wanhua’s foods help me understand Taiwan’s, and my parents’, favorite flavors.
Braised Pork Belly Rice – 萬華小王煮瓜 (9/10)
For lunch, we went to try one of Taipei’s Michelin-recommended street food restaurants – Wang’s Broth in Wanhua District. My parents told me they’ve been coming here since they were in their 20’s. Opened since 1975, they’re known to serve the best braised pork belly rice in Taiwan.
Their menu is small, but everything was so delicious! You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. We ordered a little bit of everything:
- Steamed Minced Pork with Pickle Soup (70 NTD)
- Braised Cabbage (35 NTD)
- Braised Tofu (15 NTD)
- Duck Egg (20 NTD)
- Braised Pork Belly Rice (35 NTD)
I personally love their braised cabbage, it’s super rich and flavorful! Their pork belly rice is sticky and savory, with a little sweetness as you’re chewing. Even during non-peak hours, it’s packed with people.
Pro tip: They actually have a branch at the airport, so before you head home, you can definitely try this out!
Braised Pork Belly Gua Bao – 萬華源芳刈包 (9/10)
Right beside Wong’s, you will find Yuan Fang Guabao, a 60-year-old shop selling gua bao, buns stuffed with super tender pork belly. Yuan Fang is another Michelin Recommended street food here in Wanhua. You won’t miss the spot, because you can smell the freshly steamed buns just walking by.
This might be the most tender and soft buns I have ever tried, and it’s only 60 NTD! The pork belly seriously melts in my mouth, and are perfectly complimented by the sour pickled cabbage and peanut powder. The restaurant also sells various soups to go with your bun. The line may seem long but this place is super super super worth it. I highly recommend giving it a try!
Hot Peanut Mochi – 北港甜湯 (7.5/10)
Beigang Sweet Soup 北港甜湯 has a giant pot of mochi cooking in the kitchen area, making it irresistible for us to stop and grab a bite. They serve hot and cold classic desserts made of taro, red bean, and green bean, as well as hot peanut mochi, their specialty. Opened for over 70 years, this is a Wanhua dessert hot spot for the locals and tourists alike.
Their specialty, hot mochi, is always boiling in the pot of syrup. The mochi is then covered in a powder made of crushed peanuts and sugar, which melts onto the surface of the sticky mochi. It’s simple, but super super satisfying.
Craft Black Tea Boba – 可不可熟成茶
Kebuke, 可不可熟成茶 treats black tea boba like a coffee shop, and specializes in pure tea or tea lattes. They use quality black tea leaves from Sun Moon Lake, offering you different varieties like how you’d choose a coffee bean origin at a fancy coffee shop.
Another thing I love about Kebuke Black Tea is their storefront. Kebuke locations always have these ornate decorations of tea cans designs and wooden shelves, plus branded descriptions of their tea leave origins. It brings you into a different environment, even if you’re just at a to-go stand on Taipei’s busy streets.
Their drinks range between 35 to 70 NTD. The menu includes a bunch of honey-sweetened tea, tea lattes, milk foam teas, and fresh fruit teas. You can add boba or agar boba to your tea as a topping. It’s honestly the widest variety of black tea flavors I’ve encountered! If you prefer black tea over green, Kebuke will be your choice!
Old Fashioned Wintermelon Agar Jelly – 古早味麻糬菜燕
I grabbed a traditional wintermelon agar jelly for 20 NTD at this 古早味麻糬菜燕 stall in the Monga Night Market. This little street stand sell traditional agar jelly and mochi with powdered peanut sugar. The agar jelly is chewy, bouncy, yet has a light brown sugar sweetness.
It’s a great low-calorie treat to take around as you get started with your night market walk. If you’re ever in the Guangzhou Street Night Market area, be sure to try out this classic treat!
Ay Chung Flour Rice Noodle Soup – 阿宗麵線
While we’re in Ximending, my dad said I had to try one of his favorites: Ay Chung Flour-Rice Noodles 阿宗麵線. They have been around since 1975 serving only one thing – Flour Rice Noodles 麵線. You won’t miss this place walking around, because as a true Taiwanese icon, it always has the largest line and a crowd of people standing outside, each with their own bowl of noodle soup.
The restaurant operates like a well-oiled machine, with the employees rapidly scooping bowls and taking orders. If you go, I highly highly recommend getting a big bowl (75 NTD)! You order in line, then add your own condiments when you get your bowls.
The noodles are soft, silky, and literally melt in your mouth. The soup is a slightly salty and smoky thickened umami-packed dashi gravy. The noodles are topped with braised pig intestines, which I know can be intimidating. Trust me on this and just take a bite, because it adds a rich, chewy fattiness to the noodles. Both pair so well with the noodles!
There’s always a line here, but it moves rapidly. Be prepared to be slurping your noodles soup standing up or sitting on a stool, because there are no tables! Of course, you can also take them home to enjoy in the comfort of your own home or hotel room.
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