Eating Out in Taiwan

Taiwan’s well equipped with eating establishments - in smaller towns and villages, you’ll probably only find very basic local food, but enough to keep body and soul together; in larger cities, especially Taipei, there’s much more choice. All the large hotels have very good restaurants particularly those serving Chinese food and there are a number of stand-alone restaurants and cafes too. Roadside stalls and snack counters at department stores can be very economical. Taipei also has plenty of places serving American, European and different Asian cuisines. Tea houses abound in tea growing areas and these are popular with families. Taiwan has a good deal to offer anybody who’s hungry for entertainment, and you have lots of choices- everything from nightclubs to Chinese opera. There are a number of venues in the larger cities and popular tourist destinations, where cultural shows- performances of opera, dance and music- are held. Cinemas are extremely popular with the locals, but go prepared for lots of blood and gore in most local productions, though! Nightlife, especially in Taipei, can be quite vibrant indeed- there’s actually no end to the bars, clubs, discos, and karaoke lounges you can go to. Outside the larger cities, you may not find too much in the way of entertainment, except during festivals like the Lantern Festival and the Chinese New Year.