Food Adventures in Taiwan's Culture Capital [Taichung 2023]

We were really excited to visit one of Taiwan's largest cities, known for its arts and culture scene! Once we got there, we realized we were so very hungry from all the walking we'd been doing. We embarked on a food journey taking us across some of Taichung's best eating areas, but also including a very unique specialty dessert that we thought was only available in Japan.
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In case you like skipping around:
00:00 Taichung!
00:45 Cultural Heritage Park
00:57 Go where everyone is
03:33 Taichung Martial Arts Hall
04:46 Animation Alley
06:32 Original Bubble Milk Tea
08:12 Taichung 2nd Market
08:54 Liuchuan Riverside Walk
10:13 Yizhong Night Market
14:25 Sky Son Souffle
#travel #Taichung #taiwanvlog
#taichungfood #taiwan #taiwanfood
#travelvlog #台中 #台灣 #台灣vtuber
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[@ctshea9542]

What you ate with the rice dough, meatball and sauce is “bahwan” which literally means meatball. It’s a Taiwanese specialty and every region has their own version of this. The sauce and meat filling varies from region to region. Some places steam them, others heat them in oil before dousing the bahwan in their proprietary sauce. You need to try them in different regions!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Ohhhhh! Thanks!! We've never had anything like that before! It was delicious. 😁😁

[@johnjalee2009]

@@TalesFromOurPocket The dough is made of sweet potato starch, making the skin of a ba-wan translucent. Changhua, the city south of Taichung, is well known for ba-wan in Taiwan.

[@hersheys75kisses66]

yeah its bahwan originally from changhua i liked that food when i lived for 3 yrs in changhua

[@Lindalinda-bl2hx]

Mawuan

[@sinkirhong4466]

這個東西就是宮崎駿的漫畫, 神隱少女, 千尋的父母吃了變成豬的東西!

[@user-dl6jp8sf1m]

在台灣如果有不知道的，不用害怕打擾別人…就問台灣人就對了，台灣人都很樂意幫助的。

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

🙏😊

[@honyiwang323]

I’m a Taiwanese living in US in the last 33 years. My wife and I just visited Taiwan 6 weeks ago and we did a one-day trip in Taichung. BTW, I studies in Taichung for 5 years and my wife love Taichung better than Taipei where I grew up. Hope you had a great time as we did.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Taichung was a lot of fun! We liked Taipei too, though. 😉

[@theteabunny]

Thank you for your beautiful videos of Taiwan! They are so much fun to watch!!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Oh gosh, thank you so very much!! 😊😊😊

[@user-tq9dp9pj2v]

他叫肉圓，中間用赤猪肉加五香粉，跟竹筍粒，肉圓外皮用澄麵粉加地瓜粉，一定的比例，醬汁用醬油加甜米漿（用米煮到糊狀加糖）加蒜頭蓉，就是肉圓

[@HardQoo]

10:05 so cute 😆😆😆 After your cheerful smiles, today's itinerary becomes more interesting. 第一家去的店於1941年開業至今。是一家傳統老味道的肉圓店。

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

😂😂 thank you! 😁

[@cheng-enwang1299]

The first dish you enjoyed is called Taiwanese Meatball(肉圓),pronounced Ròu yuán in Mandarin. It is deep friend with soy sauce, sweet sauce and garlic sauce. It is very popular in central Taiwan.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you for naming and describing it so perfectly! It was very good. 😋 😊

[@e10164x]

in south of taiwan the meatball cooked by steam not fry.

[@chensunny6426]

Taiwaneses meatball is one of the popular snacks throughout Taiwan! It’s my favorite 😊 Welcome to Taiwan! Hope you have a great time here! 😊

[@cappaman73]

I'm travelling to Taiwan from Australia next year. I can't wait to try the food ! My girlfriend is from Kaohsiung, so looking forward to your videos from their as it's her home town and where we will be spending most our time.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Oh, very cool!! Will it be your first time visiting there with her? It will be nice for you to have someone show you around!

[@cappaman73]

Yes, we have been together 6 years, but will be my first time visiting. Covid ruined earlier plans....so can't wait

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Love that!!

[@1changi]

I like your sense of food adventure. You did not know what is inside the pieces that you have picked but you are willing to give a try. Well, it cannot be wrong with Taiwanese street food. They are gorgeous and affordable. Thanks for making me feeling hungry now.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

The BEST street food! So good!!

[@richardsoane6192]

I hold my breath for your next instalment and I am never disappointed, your approach is always appreciated and that"s what makes you so viewable. If you ever come to Australia please let us know.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you so much for your kind words! We haven't been to Australia yet but we look forward to visiting someday!

[@its_clean]

One of the most notable features of Taiwanese cuisine is the obsession with "QQ", which is a unique texture that is somewhere between chewy, gooey, and squishy. The boba pearls in bubble tea are a classic example- but you'll also find this in the slightly toothsome texture of dumpling and xiaolongbao wrappers, the chewy toppings on shaved ice, and that gelatinous starchy dough around the ba-wan meatball you ate at the beginning of the video. Even for things like normal-looking noodles, you'll find that some Taiwanese noodle dishes present the noodles closer to al dente, with a bounciness that is usually absent from uniformly-tender Chinese noodles. Look out for the QQ texture as you try more foods in Taiwan, you'll find it's everywhere! (And yes, it is pronounced the way it looks, it's just the letter Q repeated twice)

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Oh! Thank you for explaining the QQ texture thing to us! That is super helpful. I think we like this texture!

[@kevinlo9688]

In the end, you said that the cakes eaten in Japan are actually old-fashioned Taiwanese cakes, which became popular in Japan and Korea a few years ago.😄

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

No way - really?! Those cheesecake-like souffle things are soooo good!!

[@kevinlo9688]

​@@TalesFromOurPocket That's right, which cakes like cheese flavor are relatively new flavors, you can search on Google, and you will know that Taiwanese cakes are popular!

[@kevinlo9688]

​@@TalesFromOurPocket You can inquire about Taiwan's old-fashioned cakes

[@tastytreatsandtravel5161]

My husband and I have lived in Taichung the last 10 years and most of your video was actually filmed in our least favorite parts of the city. lol. Taichung does have some really lovely areas, so hopefully you can come again to explore more. Also, bawan, the meatball that you ate, is both of our least favorite Taiwanese food. Its definitely an acquired taste!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Hahaha, that's pretty funny. 😊😁

[@legendarymothasthomastengt6861]

It’s great you guys enjoyed the moments in Taichung ☺️

[@txr8565]

Another great video!

[@wonderinvancity5346]

awesome travelog!!!

[@user-wv8gz8pf8g]

哈哈哈，下水道聞起來像臭豆腐！ 整集最搞笑的描述……我喜歡！

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

😂😂😂

[@robinindam6983]

I also love Taiwan

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

❤️🇹🇼

[@frankyu4967]

Thanks & I will visit that Bahwan place in July. It’s a dish best deep fried with crisp skin or steamed with a shrimp on top, which I was told is the Tainan version. What separates each place is the “gravy”. Changhua has an expensive version with seafood (Abalone etc). I will try that in July too. Have a great time & thanks again 4 supporting Taiwan tourism and sharing our great eats with foodies worldwide.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Have you been to this place before? It was SO good! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. We didn't know there are different kinds! (Obviously, because we couldn't even figure out what it was called 😂.) Thanks!

[@garyblackmon2615]

I learned so much and you guys are so fun to watch Thank you for sharing

[@eggeight]

Welcome to Taiwan ,Beautiful People. Come To see you again ❤😁😁😁 Press a like first👍

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you!

[@mary003589]

武道館要去小書房點一份下午茶是很好的享受，旁邊的第五市場有很多美食。 第二市場要吃爌肉飯、檸檬愛玉冰（天然植物果凍，台灣特有）、麻薏湯...

[@mrjeffreylai]

It’s a lovely adventurous video of my home town. I’m glad that you guys made it. It brought back a lot of memory. The meat ball restaurant is a famous place. It’s popular in center of Taiwan.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you! The meat ball restaurant definitely was popular when we were there. It was a lot of fun!

[@yarrahernandez507]

Yes, Ba Wan. Delicious. And the culture center is a old beautiful preserved Japanese style from colony. I am so happy for you guys.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you!!

[@user-qm2gt6lk8p]

Food is so yummy😋😋👍👍

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Soooo good!!

[@tsaitsai88go]

I am very happy to see the videos of your trip to Taiwan. Thank you for explaining each scenic spot in detail. I really like the videos you took in Hiroshima, Japan. I am very moved!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you so much! 😊❤️

[@robinindam6983]

Thank you for your share you video

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you for watching! 😊😊

[@ericyung520]

這對夫妻很可愛

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you! 😁

[@pagontori1376]

台湾はアジアで最高の国の一つです。治安も衛生、マナ－全てが日本と類似しています。日本人から観ても日本と台湾を旅行するのは最高だと思います。日本と同様に台湾を知って欲しいと思います。日本人は一度訪れると再び訪れたくなるのが台湾です。台湾人が日本を愛してくれるように日本人も台湾を愛しています。台湾に行きたくなりました(^^♪ 臭豆腐は口に入れる迄が勇気が必要ですが試す価値はありです。発酵食品は国が変われば嫌な臭いです(^^♪ 台湾の甘味が美味しいのが理解できるし、彼らは互いに切磋琢磨する精神はあれど相手を尊重するので両国の味に違いがあるのは楽しい事です。何よりおもてなしの精神がある台湾が大好きです♪

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

臭豆腐は食べるのに勇気がいりました！美しい台湾の中で、日本とのつながりを感じることができ、楽しかったです。😊😊

[@anndixon5330]

Fantastic video!! You forgot to tell us to watch this either ready to snack or on a full stomach 🙂 Yum!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Oh gosh! That should be a standing rule for all our Taiwan videos, to be honest. So much delicious food! Thank you for watching! 😁😊

[@kuso851230]

Taichung is the best❤❤❤

[@alaska9766]

TW has so many delicate Japanese influenced food/ bakery. Yummm.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

So delicious!!

[@kiyo_de]

I wish for peace in this beautiful country!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Us too!

[@kt2401]

Me too!

[@verol730]

The version of bahwan you had is also unique as it’s extra soupy. I don’t remember seeing that version commonly in the North.

[@user-cq9ri6ps2z]

Welcome you come visiting Taiwan

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you! 😁😁

[@carlhsieh3148]

12:40 Custard Bun "Nǎi huáng bāo"

[@TheFranhsu]

I couldn’t believe you got to the meatball place which is mostly known by the locals! The ball is made by ground pork and the outside is steamed starch. The store has been running by decades and is super famous in Taichung!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

I'm so glad we discovered it! Even though we had no idea what it was. 😂😂

[@stelthmunky]

Thank you for actually adding chapters. Automatic like

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Anything that makes it easier for viewers! (we're viewers, too!) 😁

[@louisliou408]

Hi friends, beautiful video, Taichung is the most beautiful city in Taiwan, thanks.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you, Louis! 😊🤗

[@g8manxdla]

這句引戰意味濃厚🤣

[@Tris-Mimi]

Fancy cheese cake

[@openax9328]

Welcome to Taiwan

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

🎉🎉🎉

[@user-pb6wu3ti9u]

In Europe and America, even before the recent inflation, eating at a restaurant is a rarity. In comparison, I think Japanese people eat out more often. Because in Japan, you don't need to tip and there are many cheap and delicious foods in restaurants. However, Taiwanese eat out more than Japanese. According to a survey, only 6% of Taiwanese between the ages of 25 and 35 don't eat out once a week, and about 30% eat out 7 to 15 times a week. It is said that in Taiwan, many people live in homes without kitchens, and it is not uncommon for people to hardly cook. Of course, just like Japan, Taiwan has a lot of cheap and delicious food, which is one of the reasons why Taiwanese often eat out.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

30% eat out that often?! You're right - very few in the US would eat out that often. If the food in the US was as affordable and as delicious as Taiwan, we would eat out often, too!! ♥️

[@chengroger6884]

It's Taiwanese Tapioca Meatballs. Taiwanese call it Ba-Wan (肉圓). it's made from tapioca starch.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

The Taiwanese are very clever in making things from tapioca!!

[@g8manxdla]

原來也是樹薯粉做的@@

[@luanzehao]

Too much delicious food you can try here in Taichung! You should really stay longer!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Agreed!!

[@user-dz4wg9lw1q]

台灣很多新文化，新食物多數從台中先流行，台中相當好的居住環境，台灣歡迎您

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

🇹🇼❤️

[@user-xn1db3fb3p]

你倆好可愛

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

❤️🤗

[@NaomisAdventures]

👍

[@jackkao2960]

台中市的第一餐是清蒸肉圓，這家在台中很有名很好吃😋，但口味對外國人來說比較不容易接受😅

[@DavidJih]

*一中 means first high school.❤*

[@JL_2046]

Haha! Yeah, stinky tofu pretty much smells like a dumpster (or sewage). That was hilarious! 😂

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

😂😂 We couldn't believe how much they smelled the same! It was so funny! 😂

[@artfquinn]

2:25 It is meatball. They use rice flour for the coating of the meatball. The gravy sauce is made of soy sauce, garlic, sugar and corn starch.

[@artfquinn]

12:49 The filling is custard. It is basically a donuts. But it is steamed not fried.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Both are absolutely delicious! I can't believe the filling is custard! And that gravy sauce was soooo good. 😍😊

[@mclovin6537]

Sorry but your expression after eating the dumpling 😂😂😂 it’s so cute, you guys gotta go try some more adventurous dishes like innards and blood and all that and record your reaction 😂😂😂

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

😂 😂 😂 Thanks, I guess? At least you know our reactions are authentic... 😂 😉

[@jethrolai]

Hate to break this to you, but the bubble tea place actually serves pretty good food too. 😊

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Dangit! 😂😂

[@christilo4988]

So true!

[@sanlin3508]

Except for bubble milk tea, none of them are Taichung food, but they are all delicious.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

😂😂 Whoops?

[@kojiho604]

a lot of places in TW use lard, makes for a better fried item.

[@jethrolai]

The meat in the soup is pork. The ride meatball is popular and authentic Taiwanese food. The one you guys went to is famous but hardly top 5 in my list. Another city, Changhua, 20 minutes outside Taichung is famous for the rice meat ball. Once you get used to the chewy texture, it will grow on you.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you for letting us know! It was really tasty. 🤗

[@patriciaa246]

Did you just walk from the Culture heritage park up to the 2nd market?

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Yes. We made a few stops along the way. 😊

[@TennSingtsuan9697]

In ancient times, meat was very rare. Many poor people could only eat it once a year. The invention of bahwan (Taiwanese) is because it is imitating fatty meat. It is the first without meat filling. It is like a fatty meat soaked in oil. The central part of Taiwan happens to be an agricultural area. The high labor force requires high calories. So it immediately spreads among people who need high labor.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Ohhhhh! That's really interesting about the high calories needed for the labor. Thanks!! 🙏🏻😊

[@user-hg4yw4xn2h]

沒有在台中第二市場吃肉燥飯，礦肉飯配個××湯，臭豆腐在過馬路的最后面裡有，可以問人臭豆腐在哪裡有

[@sunboy1020]

這間是很有名的肉圓，名字叫台中肉圓，你到彰化可以體驗彰化肉圓

[@yxchen5475]

第一項吃的是炸肉圓..有蒸的肉圓 我愛吃蒸的😂😂

[@studiohonglaizai6237]

I know that dumpling, it called BA-WAN in Taiwanese & more like silicone for me😂

[@user-ce8pu9zy8l]

有名的台中肉圓，，，好吃但很多人

[@user-lq7mb4bc8o]

最後麵包裡面應該是 綠豆沙

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

👍👍

[@xuejuansu8502]

第242号按赞！🇹🇼🇹🇼！🇹🇼🇹🇼！🇹🇼🇹🇼！🇹🇼🇹🇼！🇹🇼🇹🇼！🇹🇼🇹🇼！

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

😊

[@Lance58]

It's really a pity not to taste stinky tofu, you should try it.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Haha, we did! It's in our Taipei video. 😉

[@Lance58]

@@TalesFromOurPocket Well, I've just seen it! I hope you can enjoy everything in Taiwan.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you! 😁 😁

[@hgkuo6784]

妳好，妳們開頭吃的食物在台灣稱為肉圓，肉圓的烹煮方式又分炸的跟蒸的，妳們吃的是蒸的肉圓，然後還有乾的跟湯的，通常肉圓內的餡是豬肉跟筍子，醬汁以醬油膏跟番茄醬，最有名的是彰化肉圓，以上資訊給妳們參考。

[@Walts-Travel]

Let's Go! What are we up to today.?

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

The episode where we stand in lines for things without knowing what they are! 😂

[@user-nh9gj1wo2r]

那是肉丸😂湯是肝連肉是豬肉

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

😂😂

[@rz19740113]

You eat like pro local residents

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

That might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to us! 😁😊

[@user-ip2jq6ih7y]

Pearl milk tea has 400 calories

[@chih-chungyang2617]

Is the next video also in Taiwan?

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Oh yes -we have LOTS more coming on Taiwan!

[@bayafrica5909]

The free world would love that Taiwan remain democratic & independent...

[@user-er2yw6lv2c]

叫做肉圓

[@user-er2yw6lv2c]

歡迎來Taiwan旅遊！

[@cheng-enwang1299]

Are you still in Taiwan?

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

We aren't. 😁 We filmed SO much for 5 weeks, came home, and now we're busy editing all of our videos so we can share them!

[@cheng-enwang1299]

@@TalesFromOurPocket I am looking forward to your Taiwan series. Did you have a good time in Taiwan? Do you like Taiwan?Will you come back again in the future?

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

To be honest, we really fell in love with Taiwan. Wait until you see our adventures! And it's my favorite country (as of today) to eat in. We ate SO much fantastic food!

[@cheng-enwang1299]

@@TalesFromOurPocket Do you miss Taiwanese food?

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Yes! So delicious!

[@user-eu2ll5bf6t]

台中首圓

[@rs-dp6pr]

Crazy.. last time I was in Taiwan.. the Tainan people claim to be the food capital of Taiwan.. matter of fact they laugh at people from other cities for making bad food.

[@Klnn520]

你們資訊應該有誤，台中是美食天堂，但是在台灣人心中是文化沙漠。😅

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

😂😂😂

[@Lindalinda-bl2hx]

文化沙漠是高雄吧！

[@chaoweichien]

台中是慶記之都，駕駛人都很乖。😅

[@Lindalinda-bl2hx]

最近還有一個五億高中生！太可怕

[@tzuchianghsieh8509]

台灣中南部的食物來的比北部好吃多了....

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

我們也會在那裡吃很多東西！😁😁

[@chi-hsianghsu8723]

Taichung is the cultural capital of Taiwan? Really?

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

The internet doesn't lie? 😂 😂

[@user-il5xi1sl6x]

I doubt that 😁😁. However, i do believe that Taichung is the capital of Bubble Tea.

[@user-il5xi1sl6x]

@@TalesFromOurPocket We believe that Tainan is the capital of Taiwan 👍👍👍

[@sdarkao9297]

台中是食物流行文化發源地，比如珍珠奶茶..一些夜市美食都從台中發揚的而流傳到其他各地

[@newclhe]

​@@user-il5xi1sl6x Well, Tainan is the "cultural" capital of Taiwan.

[@user-nr2pn7wb8n]

Taichung is definitely NOT the culture capital of Taiwan 😂😂😂

[@peaboluther4642]

千萬不要坐捷運 會沒命

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

😳😔

[@user-dl6jp8sf1m]

你他媽在講什麼東西

[@z0910365622]

肉圓

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

🤗🤗