Tainan is widely considered the culinary capital of Taiwan, and for good reason. Its food scene is deeply rooted in history and tradition, offering a unique blend of authentic Taiwanese flavors that are often sweeter than in other parts of the country. The city is a paradise for food lovers, known for its small, delicious (小吃) and a vibrant street food culture.
This will be a very long post just on my 3 days 2 nights in Tainan!
This time we use a private car charter from Taichung to Tainan.
It takes about 3hours non-stop from Taichung to Tainan by Car, but we stopped by several places before reaching Tainan.
We had breakfast at Taichung lai lai soybean before departing for the next city.
Lai Lai Soybean Milk Shop (opens 24 hours)
Address: No. 91之2號, Section 3, Wenxin Rd, Xitun District, Taichung City, Taiwan 407
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| Xiao long bao, egg pancake and soy milk |
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| Our car to Tainan, very big and spacious! |
We had a pit stop in Chiayi, Xingang for lunch and a short walk.
Stopped by this Duck soup place that sells some traditional tasting duck thick soup~
its really cheap like NT40 per bowl..
Xingang Duck Soup (新港鸭肉羹)
Address: 616, Taiwan, Chiayi County, Xingang Township, Zhongshan Rd, 奉天大廈17號
It is also open daily from 7am - 6.30pm! (do check google before going just in case)
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| A bowl of delicious and warm duck soup |
Walking along the xingang old street~新港老街
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| Xingang old street |
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| XinGang Fengtian temple |
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| This is a shop that make and sells traditional Taiwanese snacks soft peanut candy |
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| The name of the shop |
Century-old Jinchang Li Newport yee
Address: No. 85號, Xinmin Rd, Xingang Township, Chiayi County, Taiwan 616
After that we travelled to the central Chiayi to try the famous fish head soup!
The restaurant was really crowded and we had to wait for about an 1hour to get a table.
but i can tell you that it is really worth the wait totally!!
林聪明沙锅鱼头SMARTFISH
Address: No. 361號, Zhongzheng Rd, East District, Chiayi City, Taiwan 600
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| the crowd |
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| soo many people waiting for a table |
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| the menu |
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| Finally got a table and ordered our food |
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| ordered some drinks nearby while waiting for a table |
After food , we proceeded to head to Tainan.
We reached Chimei Museum, it is a good place for some nice photographs :D
since the museum is closed, so we just walk around the area~
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| Managed to take some photos of the statue with their reflection |
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| The area is really peaceful in the evening but cold as well |
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| A lone christmas tree infront of the museum |
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| Some photos of the Christmas tree |
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| The entrance of the Museum |
After the Museum, we went to have our dinner.
first shop : 度小月 noodles
This shop sells one of the best egg noodles in Taiwan!
A small, flavorful bowl of yellow noodles is served in a savory shrimp broth, topped with a special braised minced pork sauce, a single shrimp, and a touch of minced garlic.
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| We really love this noodle soup |
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| This is how they cook the noodle |
Next stop, we tried another Tainan's delicacy
they sell a type of freshwater eel called 鱔魚.
It tastes kind of similar to the Japanese unagi.
There are typically two main variations of this dish:
- Dry Stir-Fried Eel Noodles (乾炒鱔魚意麵): The eels are quickly stir-fried over an incredibly high flame with a medley of vegetables, a distinct dark sauce, and the signature chewy egg noodles. The high-heat cooking gives the dish a smoky flavor known as "wok hei."
- Eel Noodles in Thick Soup (鱔魚意麵羹): This version features a thick, viscous soup base that is both sweet and sour, with the same fresh eels and noodles submerged in it.
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| We tried this stall that was still opened late at night (near the tainan market area) |
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| We ordered the fried eel and minced meat rice (Lurou fan) |
After a heavy dinner , we went for a walk at Shennong street (神農街).
The place looks really Instagramable at night with the lanterns and lights.
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| From the entrance |
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| The lantern makes the place looks really nice and with a traditional vibes |
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| Lantern with the street name |
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| the outer side of the street |
Then lastly, after a very long day, we head to the night market.
Dadong Night Market, which opens only on Monday, Tues and Fridays so please take note.
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| Since we already had a very full dinner, we just bought Taiwan sausage |
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| Also played the nightmarket games~ |
We reached the hotel quite late at night..
This time, we managed to book nicer hotel at a reasonable price and the hotel is located beside a mall which was super convenient!
The Place Tainan
Address: No. 368號, Section 1, Zhonghua E Rd, East District, Tainan City, Taiwan 701
It cost about SGD$100 per night, booked during the promotion period~
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| the hotel is really comfortable, only bad point is that the bed is very small, smaller than a queen size bed |
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| View of the quiet Tainan street from our hotel |
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| The same view in the morning~ |
Day 2 in Tainan
We booked the name car charter for our second day in Tainan, reason being, there are no Train in Tainan.
The Uber / Taxi in Tainan is slightly more expensive compared to other cities..
So we thought it would be better to have our private car and driver to tour around the city.
First stop is for breakfast at:
YongLe Market, 永樂市場
Address: No. 123號, Section 3, Guohua St, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700
There are many food in this market, alot are quite famous and also it is really crowded.
We decided to takeway the food and have it elsewhere instead, we bought these 3 food!
- 富盛號碗粿 Fu Sheng Hao Bowl Rice Pudding
A must-try for Tainan visitors, this 70-year-old shop serves a distinctive rice pudding with a dense, savory texture. Topped with a unique sweet soy sauce, marinated pork, and shrimp, it’s a taste of authentic local flavor. Don't forget to add the garlic paste for an extra kick! - 阿松割包 Ah Song Gua Bao
This is basically braised pork all wrapped in a soft steamed bun with a special peanut sauce. - 小卷米粉 Squid Vermicelli
A clear, sweet broth is made from fresh squid, and the thick, chewy rice vermicelli soaks up all the deliciousness. It's a simple dish that is incredibly satisfying and a local favorite.
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| this is a famous among the Taiwanese as well |
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| 富盛號碗粿 Fu Sheng Hao Bowl Rice Pudding |
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| Braised pork bun shop |
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| 阿松割包 Ah Song Gua Bao |
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| Squid Vermicelli |
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| 小卷米粉 Squid Vermicelli |
We also stopped to get some pudding before having our breakfast.
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| This pudding is also sold at 7-11 or family mart in Taiwan |
After getting all the food, we stopped near a river and had our breakfast there.
it was really nice and peaceful, not so many people around.
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| had our breakfast near the river |
Another famous and must eat in taiwan is their 溫體牛 (Its a really fresh beef)
溫體牛 (Wēntǐ niú) is a very special and highly prized type of beef, especially in Tainan, Taiwan. The term "溫體" literally translates to "warm body," which refers to beef that has never been refrigerated or frozen.
This is what makes it so unique:
- Ultimate Freshness: The key is the incredibly short time from slaughter to plate, typically within 6 to 8 hours.
- Unique Texture and Flavor: Because the meat hasn't been chilled, it retains its natural moisture and has a distinct texture—it's incredibly soft, tender, and has a pleasant chewiness that you don't get from frozen beef.
- The Signature Dish: The most famous way to eat 溫體牛 is in Tainan-style beef soup (牛肉湯). Thin slices of the fresh beef are placed in a bowl, and then a ladle of boiling hot, clear beef broth is poured over it.
We tried 溫體牛 from 2 different stall in Tainan.
First is 文章牛肉汤
Address: No. 300號, Anping Rd, Anping District, Tainan City, Taiwan 708
They are closed on Thursdays so please take note!
This is one of the famous shop in Tainan visited by many locals and tourists.
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| this is what we ordered |
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| You can see the pinkish fresh beef, scalded with just the hot soup |
After a pretty heavy breakfast, we went to visit some of the attractions in Tainan.
Anping Tree House 安平樹屋
admission fee for foreigner: NT70
The Anping Tree House was originally a warehouse for the British trading company Tait & Co. in the late 19th century.
Today, wooden walkways and bridges have been built throughout the complex, allowing visitors to safely explore the inside of the tree house and even climb to a rooftop observation deck for a bird's-eye view.
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| Some old houses near the entrance |
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| The treehouse area |
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| Look at tree roots |
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| Are can walk around the area, there are paths |
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| Finished exploring the treehouse~ |
Next stop Anping Fort (安平古堡)
It is a historic fortress in Tainan and one of the most significant landmarks in Taiwan. Its history spans nearly 400 years, making it a crucial site for understanding the island's colonial past.
It was a really nice visit, especially on a cool winter day~
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| gloomy day in tainan |
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| Alot of walking and stairs |
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| Observing the fortress |
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| Canon and tower |
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| Beautiful flowers blooming outside the fortress |
We walked to Anping old street from the Anping fortress.
The old street is quite small but its worth to visit~
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| BBQ Meat |
We also tried the Shrimp roll, 周氏蝦捲, selling one of the best shrimp roll ever!
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| Shrimp rolls in Tainan |
月世界 or Moon World Tainan
after so much food we went to 月世界 or called Moon World.This is one of the less visited places, but it is getting more visitors as time goes by.
It has a Unique "Lunar" Landscape, but do prepare for quite abit of walking to experience the beautiful landscape.
Sharing some photos taken there:
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| Looking like another planet |
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| Ignore the lights on the bottom left , otherwise it looks really nice |
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| In black and white |
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| Overlooking the hill |
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| Dried out 'lake' |
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| Beautiful winter sky |
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| View of the hill and dried lake |
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| very beautiful and relaxing place |
溫體牛 at 旗哥牛肉湯
Address: No. 126號, Section 1, Zhonghua N Rd, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan 704
Open daily but check google before visiting!
this is one of the best meal ever in Tainan!
this place was recommended by our driver, and is patronized by mainly the locals.
I honestly feel that this is much better than the one we went earlier.
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| The soup, the beef with Sesame oil was one of the best ever~ |
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| Yummy |
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| The shop is located at the roadside with free parking behind |
林百貨 Hayashi department store
It is a historic and beautifully restored landmark in Tainan, Taiwan. It is a symbol of the city's rich history and its blend of Japanese colonial and modern Taiwanese culture.
Built in 1932 during the Japanese colonial period, Hayashi Department Store was one of the first modern department stores in Taiwan, and at the time, the tallest building in Tainan.
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| View of the dept store across the road |
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| Old window grill |
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| Old bicycle |
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| Japanese shrine at the top floor |
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| Roof top |
Guo shao noodles, 吉欣鍋燒轉賣.
its mainly noodle soup .
This is how we spent our 3 days 2 nights in Tainan, the place where the best food are.
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| We can choose basically any noodles |
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| Loving this |
Hope we can visit Tainan again someday soon!!
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