Steal My 2 Day Sun Moon Lake Foodie Itinerary!

Come with me for an overnight trip to Sun Moon Lake 日月潭 in Nantou, Taiwan. Taiwan’s biggest natural lake is also a top vacation spot for tourists and locals alike. We followed the same route we took with my dad last year, like the boat tour, the street food at Ita Thao, and lakeside walks. Even though it’s the first time we’re here without him, this trip was full of little memories with him. Here’s our typical 2-day itinerary: where we visited, what we ate, and small hidden gems that stood out.

Overnight Trip to Sun Moon Lake

It’s the first time we’ve been back to Taiwan without my dad. . Coming back felt overwhelming and I didn’t know if I was ready. It was hard to imagine Taiwan without him. But the moment we landed, it really felt like he was with us the whole time. We spent the morning in Nantou, his hometown, to revisit all of his favorite restaurants.

Since we came to Sun Moon Lake last year with my dad, we decided to have an overnight trip there. This time, every little moment reminded me of him. Sun Moon Lake 日月潭 is Taiwan’s largest natural lake, located in Nantou County. It’s known for its scenic boat rides, sunrise views, and as a major producer of quality black tea. It’s the perfect quiet weekend getaway for both tourists and locals.

How To Get To Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake, located in Nantou, might be one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen, with calm, glassy green water surrounded by mountains. It’s peaceful, breathtaking, and just makes you want to slow down.

Since we just spent our morning in Nantou, we’re about 30 minute drive away from Sun Moon Lake. If you’re driving from Taoyuan Airport, it is a 3 hours drive to Sun Moon Lake. You can also get there via public transport first by train, then transferring to the 6670 Taiwan Tourist Shuttle, which is the Sun Moon Lake Route that starts from Taichung Gancheng Station.

Day 1: Sunset Lake Walk and Local Dinner

After a morning of exploring Dad’s favorite restaurants around Nantou, we’re spending the night at Sun Moon Lake. On the first day, we usually checked into our hotel around late afternoon, and rushed over to see most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen in my life right over the lake. Then, we headed out for some classic local Taiwanese dinner. Sometimes, we’ll revisit spots we enjoy, but other times, we’ll try something new that catches our attention!

Hidden Gem Braised Pork Rice 明潭茶老爸麵館

For dinner, we stopped by a local restaurant, 明潭茶老爸麵館 for some quick traditional Taiwanese specialties. We weren’t expecting much from a restaurant we randomly walked into, but it turned out to be a hidden gem. Their menu included traditional dishes like pork intestine noodle soup, rice noodle soup, and various side dishes. If you want some local black tea, there’s also a boba shop inside.

Of course we have to grab the Taiwanese classic, braised pork belly rice. Here it’s served with a warm bowl of white rice, topped with sour pickled radishes and pickled cabbage. The pork was soft and flavorful, with just the right balance of richness to pair with the sour pickles without being too heavy. We definitely cleared our bowls!

Homestyle Local ingredients 日月潭古早味野菜餐廳

We visited this local, super small, family-owned restaurant 日月潭古早味野菜餐廳. They specializes in simple, home-style cooking that are affordable and nostalgic. Their menu is packed with delicious dishes made with Sun Moon Lake’s local ingredients, like foraged greens, wild boar, and local fish from the lake. Each item range from 250-500 NTD depending on the size of each dish.

Their dishes are simple, but the ingredients are so tasty thanks to Sun Moon Lake’s natural habitat, you can taste the difference. We ordered a few dishes to enjoy between 5 people, from their stir fried cabbage and water lily, to their home-style tofu. Their scallion chicken is actually an absolute must-order! It was so yummy, with juicy chicken in savory sauce in every bite. That chicken oil is amazing drizzle on rice! The food here is definitely an 8/10, and was super satisfying for a night 1 dinner.

Sun Moon Lake Circular Walk & Iconic Viewpoints

Of course, the best part of the evening was walking around Sun Moon Lake Circular Walk during sunset. This walking path goes almost all the way around the lake, with a mix of wide boardwalks, garden paths, and forested stretches. This walk passes by several iconic viewpoints around the lake, like:

• Shuishe Pier – Main pier and ferry hub, popular sunset photo spot
• Hanbi Trail – Red-brick walkway right by the water with great reflections
• Meihe Garden – Small garden and pavilion with mountain views
• Zhushi Garden – Another peaceful rest stop with benches and open lake views
• Lalu Island Viewpoint – Clearest shot of the sacred island across the water
• Xiangshan Visitor Center – Sleek modern building with a wide lookout deck

The next morning, I woke up at 6 a.m. and went back to the trail for a sunrise run. Seeing the familiar spots where my dad has walked with me before made me cherish the small moments of life even more. Because if we didn’t try every single day, we would’ve missed the most beautiful sunrise run in my dad’s hometown, visiting one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. 

Matcha Prince

Of course, when you’re in Sun Moon Lake, you get tea! Matcha Prince is a spot we found near Xiangshan Visitor Center that offers drinks made of matcha, Hojicha, and of course, Sun Moon Lake’s black tea, as well as tea-based ice cream. They have a to-go stall as well as a sit-down restaurant side that serves light meals and desserts.

They had pretty yummy matcha drinks! You know how much I love matcha, so I had to get myself a matcha latte! You know it’s good if we grabbed there tea both days we were there! It’s the perfect drink to pick up before or after a stroll around the lake. They’re open from 9:30 to 5:30 daily, so if you’re near the visitor center, it’s a good spot to grab some tea!

Day 2: Sun Moon Lake Boat Ride

Today’s a full day of exploring and food before heading back to Taoyuan. We’re taking a boat ride around the hotspots of Sun Moon Lake, stopping for a beautiful scenic hike with gorgeous temples and peaceful natural environements. Then we’re ending the day at Ita Thao for delicious traditional aboriginal street food, like grilled boar skewers and mochi.

Refreshing Tea at Sun Moon Lake Black Tea House

We had to first grab some tea at Sun Moon Lake Black Tea House 日月潭紅茶館 to stay hydrated during our boat ride. This tea house is actually operated by the local Yuchi Farmer’s Association to promote local products. Their 5 floors has everything from gift shops to restaurants, so it’s definitely worth a stroll.

I grabbed an iced black tea for 50 NTD, made from their local Ruby #18 leaves. It’s too sweet, but has this natural smoothness to it. The flavor is bold and clean, with a subtle hint of something like honey or spice that’s not sugary, just naturally fragrant. Cold, refreshing, and exactly what I needed before getting on the boat.

Sun Moon Lake Boat Tour

The best way to explore Sun Moon Lake fully is taking the boat ride and visiting all the different areas around the lake. Our boat ride starts from Chiang Kai Shek Pier (蔣介石碼頭), but depending on how busy it is and where you’re staying, you could also be boarding from Shuishe Pier (水社碼頭).

This is absolutely the right way to explore Sun Moon Lake. It’s under $10 per person and takes you between the three main piers. Each stop is super unique, and the ride itself is relaxing and fun. You’re free to get off at each pier, explore, and then just catch the next boat when you’re ready. Boats come every 15–30 minutes, and the full loop includes Shuishe, Xuanguang, Ita Thao, and Chiang Kai Shek. Each area is super unique, and the ride itself is relaxing and fun.

玄光碼頭

Our first stop was Xuanguang Pier 玄光碼頭, one of the main gateways to the mountain trails around the lake. It’s the starting point for a super popular hiking route that takes you up to Xuanzang Temple and eventually Ci En Pagoda. We got lucky that day: it wasn’t too crowded, but there were still a handful of other hikers around. If you want a quieter experience, definitely try to come on a weekday.

青龍步道

The hike kicks off with Qinglong Trail 青龍步道, a steep path lined with stairs that cuts through thick greenery. It’s well-marked and easy to follow, but the incline is steep. Even though we weren’t in hiking clothes, we decided to just go for it. It was a quiet and peaceful hike. But in the heat, this 20 minute trail ended up taking 40 minutes, but really felt like a hour!

玄奘寺

About halfway up, we reached Xuanzhang temple 玄奘寺, a gorgeous, quiet temple with a giant statue of Guanyin. Even with a few other visitors walking through, it felt calm and grounded. The temple itself is small but beautifully kept, with incense, golden statues, and a donation-based water station that saved us after the climb. Full of history, peace, and stillness, this temple felt almost like a Studio Ghibli scene and I think I could have stayed for hours. We took a short pause here just to soak it all in.

Ci En Pagoda

From the temple, it’s another 20 minute uphill hike to Ci En Pagoda, a 12-floor tower built in 1971 by Chiang Kai-shek to honor his mother. The pagoda sits at the highest point around the lake. You can climb all the way to the top for a full panoramic view of Sun Moon Lake, Lalu Island, and the surrounding mountains.

We went all the way up the 12 story spiral stairs inside to check out the view. This pagoda was so tall, the stairs actually seemed a little scary! But, the panoramic view was totally worth the climb. It truly made me in awe of how beautiful Taiwan is. It’s open to the public daily from 9 AM to 4:30 PM, so I’d definitely making the climb.

Mushroom Tea Eggs 阿婆香菇茶葉蛋

After our long hike, we had to stop for a snack at 阿婆香菇茶葉蛋, the famous tea egg stand right by Xuanguang Pier. They sell mushroom-infused tea eggs, made with Sun Moon Lake’s iconic black tea, for just 15 NTD each. Since it’s so hot after a hike, they also sell ice cream too! The aroma hits you before you even see the stall. The eggs are so flavorful. They’re savory, earthy, and perfectly steeped, with just the right balance of soy sauce, tea, and shiitake. 

It’s cash only, but it’s so affordable that all you need are coins. Since it’s positioned right at the end of the trail, nearly everyone getting off the hike or the boat makes a beeline for it. There’s almost always a bit of a line, but it goes really fast. They’re open daily from 9:30 AM until 5:00 PM, or until they’re sold out.

Street Food at Ita Thao Shopping District

The last stop of the boat ride is, of course, my favorite: the food stop. After a day of hiking and temples, I’m so ready to explore the foods of 伊達邵老街, the Ita Thao Shopping District. You can seriously go all out and sample a little bit of everything.

A lot of the food here reflects the area’s Indigenous culture, which makes it feel different from other night markets like Raohe or Ximending. This street is packed with some of the best traditional Taiwanese street snacks like wild boar sausage, sticky bamboo rice, grilled mushrooms, cuttlefish skewers, mochi, and even millet wine if you’re feeling adventurous.

Juicy Fried Cabbage Buns 年記高麗菜包

The first thing that caught our eyes were these massive crispy cabbage buns at 年記高麗菜包. This bright red stall is one of the more popular stalls on this street, and there’s usually a line. The entire menu is vegetarian, from their buns to their deep fried veggies. We started our snacking session with a small order of their whole fried mushrooms (100 NTD). It is so yummy and packed with umami seasoning on top.

The buns are freshly wrapped, stuffed with a super savory mix of cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, glass noodles, and spices. Then, deep fried until golden brown and crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside. Every bite has that earthy aroma of mushrooms, and it’s stuffed to the brim with cabbage. There’s hot sauce with various spiciness on the counter for you to add, and I highly recommend you drizzle some on.

This little stall is open daily except Wednesday and Thursday, from 9:30 AM to 6 PM. Don’t worry about the lines, they move super fast! Definitely try this cabbage bun if you visit Sun Moon Lake!

Traditional Sesame Peanut Boiled Millet Mochi 小米燒麻糬

Next, we got some traditional boiled mochi at 小米燒麻糬. This little stall specializes in mochi made with millet and sticky rice. An order of 2 mochi balls is 50 NTD. You can choose from sesame, peanut, and red bean flavor. The soft, chewy rice cakes are simmered until perfectly bouncy, then rolled in roasted peanuts and sesame powder. It’s the perfect balance of sweet, nutty, and chewy!

The stall also sells wintermelon tea and herbal tea for 50 NTD each to go with your mochi. If you’re walking around Ita Thao looking for a sweet treat, try this mochi stall!

Grilled Skewers at Yi Ding Shao Barbeque 一鼎燒

Walking around the street, you’ll be smelling the meats grilling at Yi Ding Shao Barbecue 一鼎燒 before you even see their stall. For 45 NTD a skewer, you can choose from 3 different flavors of wild boar sausages, grilled salted pork, wild chicken, or zucchini. You also can get a free skewer if you buy 10!

They are opened from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM on weekdays, and from 11:30 AM to 8:30 PM on weekends. If you love savory snacks, definitely don’t skip the juicy, smoky boar sausage, with just the right amount of sweetness. It was Dom’s absolute favorite. I actually loved the chicken skewers, which had this perfect char that made them super satisfying.

Oolong Tea Soft Serve – Tea18 朝霧茶莊

To finish off our food tour in the heat, we grabbed some ice cream at Tea18 朝霧茶莊. Open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM, Tea18 is a boba shop, dessert cafe, and souvenir shop all in one specializing in Sun Moon Lake’s unique Ruby 18 Black Tea grown in their in-house tea farm.

They have an outdoor dine-in area with a minimum purchase of 45 NTD, but it’s a great spot to just sit down and relax with a cold tea, or a soft serve cone.

For our little ice cream break, we ordered a creamy black tea soft serve for about 120 NTD. Honestly, any tea based dessert here in Sun Moon Lake is automatically a 10/10. This soft serve comes also with a little black tea cookie, and both have that deep, black tea aroma that lingers. It’s sweet, rich, and the perfect way to cool down after a long day of walking around.

Local Barrel Roasted Chicken 香記桶仔雞

I’m about to put you on a restaurant that I can easily say was the best meal we had this entire trip. If you’re driving around Sun Moon Lake, you’ll noticed a ton of different restaurant serving 桶仔雞, or barrel chicken. So, we went into 香記桶仔雞, a random family-run countryside restaurant that specialized in Taiwanese barrel roast chicken 桶仔雞.

Each chicken is marinated with special blends of spices, and stuffed with fresh herbs. Then, it’s hung inside a barrel to slowly roast over charcoal until the skin turns golden and crispy while the meat stays super juicy. When the chicken arrives at your table, they give you this big bowl filled with chicken juices and essence that dripped out during roasting. I am sorry, but nothing will ever beat that chicken essence drizzle that over hot rice. It was pure liquid gold.

The rest of the menu was also truly perfection. Their salt and pepper barbecue boar was smoky, tender, and packed with flavor. Taiwanese sausage is also a must order here, and you can smell it as they grill it! The seasonal veggie stir fry was also 10 out of 10. The owners told us that their secret is that all their dishes are actually cooked with their fat rendered from their roasted chicken. It gives everything that subtle umami flavor that you really can’t find anywhere else. We literally finished every single dish on this table in 15 minutes. That’s how you know the meal is very very very very good.

Oh, by the way, I have to talk about the passion fruit here. They sell both freshly picked passion fruit and bottled juice. It was honestly the best passion fruit I’ve ever had in my entire life. It was sweeter than bubble tea, almost like candy, but still super refreshing.

This was such an incredible find and honestly a spot that I’ll come back to again and again. Each dish ranges from 150-350 NTD, so it was super affordable as well. This is the kind of gem that I low-key wanted to gate-keep for myself, but this place deserves all the love. Honestly, we all agreed every single dish here blew our minds.