
Popular foods: Popular Taiwanese food
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Key Phrases
小籠包
xiǎo lóng bāo
Soup Dumplings
珍珠奶茶
zhēn zhū nǎi chá
Bubble Tea
牛肉麵
niú ròu miàn
Beef Noodle Soup
Skills You'll Learn
Identifying popular Taiwanese dishes
辨識台灣熱門美食
biàn shí tái wān rè mén měi shí
Ordering food in a local restaurant
在當地餐廳點餐
zài dāng dì cān tīng diǎn cān
Understanding traditional Taiwanese cuisine
了解傳統台灣料理
liǎo jiě chuán tǒng tái wān liào lǐ
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
小籠包
xiǎo lóng bāo
Soup Dumplings
💬 Pronounced like (shao-long-bao). The character [小] means 'small', [籠] means 'basket', and [包] means 'dumpling'.
🇹🇼 These are famously associated with Taiwanese cuisine and are filled with juicy broth.
See breakdown →珍珠奶茶
zhēn zhū nǎi chá
Bubble Tea
💬 The characters [珍珠] mean 'pearl', referring to the tapioca balls, and [奶茶] means 'milk tea'.
🇹🇼 Originating from Taiwan, it's a symbol of Taiwanese beverage culture, enjoyed worldwide.
See breakdown →蚵仔煎
hé zǎi jiān
Oyster Omelette
💬 Pronounced like (uh-ah-jian). [蚵仔] refers to 'oyster', and [煎] means 'fried'.
🇹🇼 A popular street food, particularly favored in night markets across Taiwan.
See breakdown →肉圓
ròu yuán
Ba-wan (Meat Balls)
💬 Pronounced as (bah-wahn). [肉] means 'meat' and [圓] means 'round' or 'ball'.
🇹🇼 Often filled with pork, bamboo shoots, and mushrooms, covered in a chewy translucent dough.
See breakdown →滷肉飯
lǔ ròu fàn
Braised Pork Rice
💬 [滷] means 'braised', [肉] means 'meat', and [飯] means 'rice'.
🇹🇼 A staple in Taiwan, known for its aroma and hearty flavor.
See breakdown →鹽酥雞
yán sū jī
Salt and Pepper Chicken
💬 [鹽] means 'salt', [酥] means 'crispy', and [雞] means 'chicken'.
🇹🇼 A beloved snack, especially crispy on the outside and juicy inside.
See breakdown →臭豆腐
chòu dòu fǔ
Stinky Tofu
💬 [臭] means 'stinky' and [豆腐] means 'tofu'.
🇹🇼 Despite its strong smell, it's a popular street food delicacy with a crisp outside and soft inside.
See breakdown →牛肉麵
niú ròu miàn
Beef Noodle Soup
💬 [牛肉] means 'beef', and [麵] means 'noodles'.
🇹🇼 Recognized as Taiwan's national dish, it's comforting and savory, cherished throughout the region.
See breakdown →刈包
yì bāo
Gua Bao (Pork Belly Bun)
💬 Pronounced as (gwah-bao). [刈] might not be familiar but means 'cut' or 'slice', and [包] means 'bun'.
🇹🇼 Often referred to as 'Taiwanese hamburger', with savory pork belly and pickled vegetables.
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