Taiwanese Food Guide: 500 Bowls 2024 Winners
Despite its small size, Taiwan makes itself known. The subtropical island is known for its humid air and blazing sun — especially in the south, with its tropical climate. There are also mountains and valleys and the ocean touching all the counties except for the land-locked Nantou. But if we’re talking about Taiwan, we also have to talk about the food around the island nation.
Food is culture; food is community; food is love — all of this is crystal clear in Taiwan. From cultural exports like bubble tea, Taiwan is often synonymous with food. Step onto the main streets of bustling metropolises like Taipei in the north or Tainan in the south, and you will find plenty of traditional food stalls.
Enter Taiwan’s newest food awards, dubbed 500碗 (wǎn) or 500 Bowls. Created in 2023 by United Daily News, one of the biggest online news sites in Taiwan, 500 Bowls celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of Taiwanese snacks. This year’s awards — the second edition — was announced on August 17. Here, EnVi rounds up key highlights from the list in English.
How 500 Bowls Works
500 Bowls is a branch of United Daily News’ 500 Series, which includes 500 Books, 500 Young, and 500 Plates, among other award listicles on their site. For the 2024 500 Bowls awards, all parts of the nation were accounted for, from the outlying islands like Penghu to the north, south, east, and west of Taiwan itself. In the end, 469 shops made the cut.
In this award system, the highest honor is 3 Bowls. Taiwanese 小吃 (xiӑo chī, or literally, “small eats”) shops were also awarded 2 Bowls or 1 Bowl. The logo represents the theme of these awards well: a vertically stacked 500 is crafted out of two bowls instead of zeroes. For those who are familiar with local Taiwanese cuisine, you might realize these bowls are the same as the ones you would find in traditional eateries along the street. Meanwhile, the character 碗 (wӑn) — which translates to “bowl” — forms the foundation under the 500.
Similar to last year, 500 Bowls brought on 50 celebrity chefs and famous food critics for this year’s awards. In 2023, the judges highlighted “famous and well-known snacks” of Taiwan. This year, however, the 50 focused the spotlight on food from their daily lives, adding a more personal touch to these recommendations.
As Clarissa Wei, food journalist and award-winning cookbook author of Made In Taiwan, told EnVi, “I’m thrilled to see a listicle created by Taiwanese locals highlighting small food businesses in Taiwan.” The headline of the full list of winners further emphasizes this significance, writing that the 2024 awards is “A new guide to Taiwan’s snacks from local perspectives.”
3 Bowls
Five shops across Taiwan received a 3 Bowls distinction, the highest award. From danzai noodles in Taipei to braised pork rice in the south (specifically from Kaohsiung) and even stinky tofu from Hualien in the east, this small but mighty selection covers a range of classic Taiwanese fare.
Wei added, “While all lists are subjective, this one shines for its focus on traditional bites that are often overlooked internationally, like clam noodles and runbing.”
Fortuna Tainan Danzai Noodles (Taipei)
Located in the Songshan District of Taipei, this shop specializing in Tainan danzai noodles is the first on the list. Fortuna Tainan Danzai is nestled on the corner of a more residential area, although the famed Sunny Hills store in Taipei (home to pineapple cakes) is just a five minute walk away. The 500 Bowls judges recommend taking a taste of their lǔ ròu fàn (滷肉飯), danzai noodles, and clear soup with rice noodles.
Shanghai Kung Fu Noodles (Taichung)
Moving further down the west coast of Taiwan is a pick from Taichung. Situated in the West District, Shanghai Kung Fu Noodles is relatively centrally-located in Taichung Like Fortuna Tainan Danzai, this shop is also a neighborhood store, featuring a handwritten menu and located on a quiet(er) corner. With prices ranging from about $1 USD to $7 USD, Shanghai Kung Fu Noodles bears the characteristics of a beloved neighborhood haunt. The judges recommend trying the Shanghai scallion noodles and the white braised dried tofu.
A Tian Clam Noodles (Changhua)
Above this Changhua small eats store hangs a faded sign with a photo of the owners and a popular Turkish YouTuber named Rifat who has lived in Taiwan since 2006. The most important detail sits right below the image: A Tian Clam Noodles has been a Changhua staple for 50 years. Proudly facing a main road in Changhua City — the capital of the county — this shop is a classic Taiwanese stall with some space in the building behind it for customers to eat in. According to some Changhua locals, the line at A Tian Clam Noodles has gotten much longer ever since the 500 Bowls list was released. The judges of the competition recommend the clam noodles, in particular, as well as the shop’s pork bone soup.
Cianjin Braised Pork Rice (Kaohsiung)
This Kaohsiung shop makes itself at home with the comforting flavors of pork rice. A four-minute walk away from the Cianjin stop on the Orange MRT line, Cianjin Braised Pork Rice is quite accessible for visitors of the southern county. Red stools and tables are situated in front of the cooking area, with the menu (read vertically) on the wall inside. Divided into rice, soup, side dishes, and bento boxes (biàndang in Mandarin), this shop has something for occasion. 500 Bowls’ judges highlight the pork rice and the fish floss and pork rice.
Qiaotou Stinky Tofu (Hualien and Yilan)
A Taiwanese snack list would not be complete without stinky tofu. Qiaotou Stinky Tofu — with stores located in both Hualien and Yilan on the east coast — made the 3 Bowls cut this year. Unlike the rest of the 3 Bowls awardees, this store has a big space with big windows for customers to munch on their stinky tofu and take in the green fields and mountains around them (at least at the Yilan store). Make sure to stop by this popular spot if you are ever traveling to Yilan or Hualien!
2 Bowls
Nearly four times the amount of 3 Bowl winners, the 2 Bowl honorees cut into unique night market finds to comforting noodle dishes to a selection of Taiwanese meatballs. While this list skews more towards Taipei-based shops, the flavors of the southern counties — Chiayi, Tainan, and Kaohsiung — still make their presence known.
Taipei
San Yuan Hao Braised Pork Rice
- Location: Datong District, Taipei City
- Recommendations: Shark fin soup
Rong’s Pork Liver
- Location: Datong District, Taipei City
- Recommendations: Pork liver soup
Nangang Lao Zhang Clay Oven Cake
- Location: Nangang District, Taipei City (original shop at Shilin Night Market)
- Recommendations: small shortbread, sugar paste shortbread, pepper bun
Unnamed Noodle Stall
- Location: Longquan Market Stall, Da’an District, Taipei City
- Recommendations: Chicken intestines, white cut chicken
Mai Mean Yen Tsai
- Location: Datong District, Taipei City
- Recommendations: Rice and pork brain soup, sliced noodles
New Taipei
Xinzhuang Temple Street Night Market Taiwanese Burrito
- Location: Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City
- Recommendations: rùn bǐng (Taiwanese burrito)
Hsinchu
Duck Hsu (許二姐)
- Location: North District, Hsinchu City
- Recommendations: Fried duck blood and duck meat soup noodles
Yuan NIght Market Duck Noodles
- Location: East District, Hsinchu City
- Recommendations: Duck noodles, boiled duck rice noodles
Ying Wang Bawan
- Location: Xiangshan District, Hsinchu City
- Recommendations: Taiwanese meatballs
Taichung
Shanghai Wei Ming Plum Syrup Noodles
- Location: Central District, Taichung City
- Recommendations: Pickled cabbage noodles, pork chop noodles
Hunan Wei Beef Noodles
- Location: West District, Taichung City
- Recommendations: Yángchūn noodles
Tsang A Pang Bakery
- Location: Nantun District, Taichung City
- Recommendations: Scallion bread
Changhua
A Sam Bawan
- Location: Changhua City, Changhua County
- Recommendations: Taiwanese meatball, scallops Taiwanese meatball
Quan Braised Pork Rice
- Location: Changhua City, Changhua County
- Recommendations: Braised pork rice
Chiayi
Wang Family Recipe, Ben Chan Beef Offal Soup
- Location: East District, Chiayi City
- Recommendations: Beef offal soup
Lin Tsung Ming Smart Fish Soup
- Location: East District, Chiayi City
- Recommendations: Turkey rice, fish head casserole
Minxiong Goose Restaurant
- Location: Minxiong Townships, Chiayi City
- Recommendations: Goose
Tainan
Hu Xu Zhong Beef Soup
- Location: West Central District, Tainan City
- Recommendations: Patterned beef soup, garlic beef
A Ming Pork Heart Glass Noodles
- Location: West Central District, Tainan City
- Recommendations: Pig heart soup, sesame oil pork liver
Kaohsiung
Xin Dagang Sausage with Sticky Rice
- Location: Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City
- Recommendations: Sausage wrapped with sticky rice, charcoal grilled sausage
Hualien
Linji Mingli Road Scallion Pancake
- Location: Hualien City, Hualien County
- Recommendations: Scallion pancake with egg, scallion pancake
1 Bowl
The largest section of 500 Bowls, 448 shops make up the 1 Bowl honorees. The original list posted online divided these winners into the northern counties (including Keelung), central counties, southern counties, eastern counties, and three of the outlying islands (Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu).
Wei concluded her thoughts, probably echoing those of the people who have encountered the 500 Bowls list: “Most of all, I’m happy I have a long list of new places to try!”
A few of the shops are highlighted below by area. To see the full list, check out the 500 Bowls 2024 breakdown here and find all the shops on Google Maps here. Get ready to eat your way through Taiwan!
North
- Keelung: 旗魚湯 (Swordfish Soup)
- Taipei: 欲罷不能鹹水雞東區商圈店 (Can’t Stop Salty Water Chicken, East District Shopping District Store)
- New Taipei: 賴岡山羊肉 (Laigangshan Goat Meat)
- Taoyuan: 大香酥香雞排 (Big Crispy Chicken Steak)
- Hsinchu: ㄤ咕麵 (Ang Gu Noodles)
- Miaoli: 邀悅膳館 (Yaoyue Restaurant)
Central
- Taichung: 乾麵酸菜湯老店 (Dry Noodles and Pickled Cabbage Old Shop)
- Nantou: 茴香館餃子宴 (Fennel House Dumpling Banquet)
- Changhua: 東華素食麵茶 (Tung Hua Vegetarian Mian Cha)
- Yunlin: 螺黃家九層粿 (Luohuangjia Nine-Layer Cake)
South
- Chiayi: 阿樓師火雞肉飯 (A Lou Shi Turkey Rice)
- Tainan: 虎頭風味小吃 (Tiger Head Snacks)
- Kaohsiung: 武廟市場古早味臭豆腐 (Wumiao Market Ancient Stinky Tofu)
- Pingtung: 隆賓汕頭火鍋 (Longbin Shantou Hot Pot)
East
- Yilan: 一香飲食店 麻醬麵 (Yixiang Restaurant Sesame Noodles)
- Hualien: 源寶屋咖哩麵包 (Yuanbaowu Curry Bread)
- Taitung: 花式蔥餅 (Huashi Green Onion Pancake)
Islands
- Penghu: 紫玉仙草 (Purple Jade Grass Jelly)
- Kinmen: 永春廣東粥 (Yongchun Cantonese Porridge)
- Matsu: 天美軒 (Tian Mei Xuan)
Want to read more stories from the island nation? Check out EnVi’s interview with Taiwanese indie band Huan Huan here!
