While in Jiufen, you can try A-Zhu Peanut Ice Cream Roll along the alleys. I got curious about the peculiar combination of ice cream, coriander, and peanuts, but I love all those three ingredients, so I decided to give it a try. On paper, it sounds weird, but boy oh boy, it was so good. The bits and pieces of peanuts give depth to the flavor, and then the hint of coriander just gives a burst of lightness. Jiu Fen is mostly crowded on the weekends, so it’s recommended to visit this stall on weekdays, any time between 9am and 5pm.

One of my favorite snacks where I live is cuapao or gua bao (mini siopao with braised pork, pickled mustard greens, and peanut), and I was not aware that the snack originated in Taiwan, so I definitely had to try it during my visit. This is Lan Jia Gua Bao in Gongguan Night Market. The lines are always pretty long, so I’d recommended visiting after lunch or dinner hours.

This is the famous Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle in Ximending. My absolute favorite food that I’ve tried so far in Taipei. I feel like for those who are not used to fishy taste or bonito flakes, this will be kind of an acquired taste. The menu only has one thing - thick misua noodle soup in fishy broth with pork intestines and coriander. This place is always a blockbuster but the line moves pretty quickly because of the expert cashier and expediters by the counter. Since it is a hot dish, I’d definitely recommend trying this for dinner. The city gets really hot in the afternoon, but hey, if the craving hits, then the craving hits.