8 food you cannot miss in Ximending

Ximending is a popular area where tourists and local Taiwanese people love to visit. To maximize your time there instead of roaming around not knowing what to eat, we listed down 8 food you need to eat during your visit to Ximending.

1. Ah Zong Mian Xian

It's not difficult to find this store, as the queue starts a few streets down the road during peak hours. However, as the queue moves quite fast, you should be able to get your piping hot mian xian, which is flour rice noodle or also known as mee sua, quicker than you think it'll take you. The flavorful thick gravy blends exceptionally well with the soft rice noodle and you can also choose to add pork intestines if you fancy pork organs.

Note: Ladies, there are shops around this store selling cheap and good facial products, and you can keep yourself busy shopping while your partner waits in the queue.

Address: No. 8-1, Emei Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Nearest MRT Exit: 6

2. Soya Milk at Yonghe Chinese Type Breakfast Shop

We went to a few other similar shops, but still find this the best. On top of the soya milk (dou jiang) which comes in sweet version (typical ones which we are used to) or salty version (which comes with you tiao), the breakfast variety served there were equally good.

Address: No. 30 Hankou Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei
Nearest MRT Exit: 6

3. Ru Rou Fan at Tian Tian Li

As compared to Jing Feng Ru Rou Fan, Hu Xu Zhang Ru Rou Fan, Tian Tian Li's Ru Rou Fan is legit the tastiest among all. An uncle (another tourist) sitting next to us ordered at least 3 bowls of Ru Rou Fan before he finally call it off. 

Address: No.1, Lane 32, Hanzhong Street, Wanhua District, Taipei, Taiwan
Nearest MRT Exit: 6

4. Guo Tie at Ba Fang Yun Ji

Dumplings are a common staples among Chinese, be it rice dumplings, Xiao Long Bao, Guo Tie, Gyoza. As such, it is not difficult to find nice dumplings in Taiwan, and many people visit Ding Tai Fong for its famous Xiao Long Bao. Additionally, you can visit Ba Fang Yun Ji to taste nice dumplings. The Guo Tie at Ba Fang Yun Ji were pan fried to its perfection, without a need to queue and very affordable too. 

Address: No.56, Section 2, Hankou Street, Wanhua District, Taipei, Taiwan
Nearest MRT Exit: 6

5. Popcorn Chicken at Ji Guang Xiang Xiang Ji

You'll see this store with striking red signboard once you exit from Exit 6 of the MRT station. Touted as Taiwan's No 1 popcorn chicken, the tender and juicy meat which were well marinated will leave a lingering impression in your mind.

Address: No. 121-1, Hanzhong St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan

Nearest MRT Exit: 6

6. Manga Chicken Steak

A must try when you are in Taipei. Opened by Taiwanese celebrity Nono, this big chicken steak (雞排) is so juicy at every bite that will leave you wondering how they marinate the chicken breast so well that the flavors are all locked in. Even though Nono is a comedian, this chicken steak is no joke and makes other chicken steak like the famous one in Shilin Night Market pale in comparison.

Address: No. 118, Section 1 Zhonghua Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan

Nearest MRT Exit: 6

7. Wangzi Cheese Potato

Just by imaging the combination of hot potato with bacon bit, corn and sliced egg toppings, and then drenched with hot cheddar cheese sauce, I'm sure you're already tempted to give this cheese potato that will melt in your mouth a try.

Address: No. 49-3, Emei St, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Nearest MRT Exit: 6

8. Shaved Ice at Ximen Mango Shaved Ice

To be honest, this shaved ice isn't too cheap, but worth every cents of it with plentiful fresh mango toppings and refreshing and fine shaved ice. A good "investment" if you visit Ximending in summer or during a hot afternoon.

Address: No. 17, Hanzhong Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan
Nearest MRT Exit: 6

Taiwan Trip Day 9 - Express train to the airport & Hello Kitty plane

Travelling to the airport from Taipei city area has become easier with the opening on the Taoyuan Metro Express Train in March 2017 (see timetable here). At the advice of the hotel staffs, we took the MRT to Beimen instead of Taipei Main Station as Beimen station is nearer to the Express Train station than Taipei Main Station which save us from walking more with our heavy luggage, and it took us less than 40mins to reach Taoyuan Airport.

Taoyuan Metro Express Train Station

Taoyuan Metro Express Train

To experience something different, we choose to take the Hello Kitty plane back. Many people were  taking photos excitedly when the plane appears at the boarding gate, and the hype continues as we board the Hello Kitty theme plane. 

Hello Kitty Pillow - which you can bring back home :)

Hello Kitty Safety Instruction Card

Hello Kitty Menu

Hello Kitty Biscuit

Meals on Board - we bought the cutlery set back too :)

With this, we ended this wonderful trip to Taiwan to earn money for the next trip!

Previously: Taiwan Trip Day 8 - Travelling to Shen Keng & Shifen by bus

Taiwan Trip Day 8 - Travelling to Shen Keng & Shifen by bus

We intended to go to Shifen, and as it was a weekend, we did not want to take the Pingxi Branch Rail Line to avoid the crowds. Instead, we took the bus route, and since Shen Keng is on the way, we decided to visit the Shen Keng Old Street as well.

After breakfast at Yong He Chinese type breakfast shop (永和豆漿), we took the MRT to Muzha to catch a bus to Shen Keng.

From Muzha MRT station, walk out towards the main road (where there is a OK Mart).

Cross the road and you can see this bus stop nearby. If you do not want to visit Shen Keng, you can take Bus number 795 to Jingtong, Pingxi or Shifen directly. 

Here is the route map of Bus Number 795.

Bus number 795 also goes to Shen Keng, as well as bus number  660, 666, and 819 at the same bus stop. We took 660 as it came first of the buses that came first, and drop off near the entrance of Shen Keng Old Street.

Shen Keng, also known as Toufu street of Taiwan, is famous for having numerous stores selling toufu related products. We had some toufu ice-creams, and the toufu ice-cream comes in different flavors such as yam and sesame. 

There were also stores selling souvenirs, clothes, accessories at the old street. After spending some time browsing through the stores, we settled down at Gu Zao Cuo to try out the famous hand make toufu from Shen Keng.

They also sell uncooked hand-make toufu and you can buy some back to cook.

We ordered only a clay pot toufu as we were still full from breakfast. Unlike typical toufu dishes, we did not got "sick" of the taste even though it is just 2 of us sharing this claypot of toufu. Not only the toufu was nice, the toufu skin was delicious as well. 

We went back to the same bus stop and took Bus Number 795 to Shifen, passing through beautiful sceneries and also the town of Jingtong & Pingxi. 

From far, we can already see that the sky of Shifen is filled with sky lantern. 

Many people visit Pingxi and Shifen to release sky lanterns (放天灯), also known as Kong Ming Lanterns. People will write their wishes on a sky lantern, and after lighting up the sky lantern, it'll raise to the sky, symbolizing good luck and also bringing your wishes to the almighty. We choose to go to Shifen to fly the sky lantern as it is done along the railway tracks instead of normal pavement.

There are many shops in Shifen selling the sky lantern, and the prices are the same. You can jus pick 1 of the vendors you are comfortable with. Different colour symbolizes different type of wishes and the shop owners will explain to you and help you to with the release of the sky lantern.

The rustic charm of Shifen.

We had some nice stuffed chicken wings, where the bones of the chicken wings are removed, and fried rice are stuffed with glutinous rice.

Wishing bamboos along the railings.

After bidding this charming old town good bye, we took the bus back to Muzha, then MRT to Taipei for more shopping and eating at the night markets.

Previously: Taiwan Trip Day 6 & 7 - Back to Taipei & Review of City Inn Hotel Ximending

Up Next: Taiwan Trip Day 9 - Express train to the airport & Hello Kitty Plane