Taiwan

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This iconic landmark in Taipei is a beautiful place for a walk. The area holds sentimental value for the daughter, who used to visit with her mother after elementary school to paint by the water. It's a well-maintained and peaceful location.

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Located in the Regent Taipei, AZIE Grand Cafe offers an award-winning beef noodle soup, which is a must-try. They have two versions: a clear soup and a braised beef noodle soup. The menu also features a variety of other dishes, including shrimp and pork wontons with peanut sauce and sesame oil, and a selection of desserts like the strawberry parfait. The breakfast buffet is highly praised for its extensive options, including Taiwanese traditional breakfast items, fresh fruits, pastries, and detox drinks. The menu changes seasonally, offering a diverse culinary experience. The overall rating for the beef noodle soup is 9.5/10, and the breakfast buffet is considered the best hotel breakfast buffet.

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Located in the Regent Taipei, Silks House is a Michelin-starred restaurant specializing in Cantonese cuisine. The restaurant offers an elegant and refined dining experience with warm and comfortable ambiance. Dishes like the Fish Maw Soup with Chinese Cabbage and Matsutake, Deep-Fried Radish Pastry, and Braised Mangrove Crab Roe with Mapo Tofu are highly praised. The service is exceptional, with attention to detail like de-shelling crab for guests. The desserts, including the Deep Fried Sesame Ball with Bird's Nest and Almond Juice, and the Almond Tong Sui, are also a highlight. The restaurant offers a special 'Dreams Come Fruit' dessert experience with a playful sequence of tea sweets. Overall, it's a memorable dining experience with a 10/10 rating.

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This pagoda offers a scenic view of Taipei 101 and is a pleasant place for a stroll. The area features a pond where the daughter and her mother used to spend time during her childhood.

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This quirky restaurant in Taipei serves spicy noodles, garlic chicken soup, herbal teas, and homemade dumplings. The chicken soup is highly recommended, and the overall rating for the food is 8/10. It's a simple yet flavorful spot that's perfect for a casual meal.

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This world-renowned restaurant is famous for its xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and other Taiwanese dishes. While there are many dumpling spots in Taiwan, Din Tai Fung is known for its consistent quality and excellent service. It's a must-try for visitors, with an overall rating of 8.5/10.

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This shop specializes in handmade nougat crackers, which are highly recommended as a gift for friends and family. The crackers are a popular local treat.

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This famous stall in Da'an District serves crispy yet chewy green onion pancakes. The recommended combination includes egg and Thai basil. Despite potentially long lines, the service is quick, and the pancake is described as fluffy, crispy, and soft. It's a classic spot with an overall rating of 9/10.

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This dessert shop offers traditional Taiwanese tofu pudding (douhua) with various toppings. The peanut tofu pudding is a must-try, described as silky smooth and rich yet delicate, paired with sweet syrup, crunchy peanut brittle, and chewy tapioca. It's considered the perfect summer dessert and receives an overall rating of 8.5/10.

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This shop in Da'an District is highly praised for having the best tofu pudding in Taiwan. The maltose peanut tofu pudding with mini tapioca pearls is a must-try, described as super silky, light, and smooth. It's worth the wait in line and receives a perfect 10/10 rating.

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This hotel is a significant location for the family, as the daughter and her husband got married here, and her parents also celebrated their wedding and her grandmother's 80th birthday at this hotel. It offers spacious rooms with separate bath and rainfall showers, ample storage, a desk, and a seating area with city views, including Taipei 101. The hotel also provides complimentary sparkling tea and snacks upon arrival.

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This breakfast spot is highly recommended for its freshly made soy milk, which is described as life-changing. They also offer fantuan (sticky rice ball with savory filling), shaobing youtiao (flaky, sesame-covered flatbread with fried Chinese donut and egg), and pork & cabbage buns. The overall rating is 9.5/10, and it's considered a must-visit for breakfast in Taiwan.

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This is the airport where the mother and daughter duo began their trip to Taipei. It's a major international airport serving the Seattle metropolitan area and is a hub for various airlines.

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This creative park is a vibrant hub filled with art exhibits, cute shops, cafes, and rotating pop-ups. It's a great place to explore, shop, and enjoy the artistic atmosphere.

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This is one of the top three night markets in Taipei, offering a wide variety of street food. It's a bustling place to experience local food culture and try different Taiwanese snacks.

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Yuan is a shop specializing in natural skincare products. They offer handmade soaps and lotions made with ingredients like camellia and mugwort, emphasizing traditional Taiwanese craftsmanship. The store has a natural and serene ambiance with green plant decorations.

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Dancing Finger is a foot massage parlor known for its professional and relaxing foot massages. The interior features a pleasant ambiance with cherry blossom decorations, creating a serene experience. It's a great place to unwind after a long day of exploring.

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Hung Rui Chen is a sandwich shop located in a train station, known for its Taiwanese-style sandwiches. They offer a variety of flavors including strawberry custard mochi and taro pork floss sandwiches. It's a convenient spot for a quick and tasty snack while traveling.

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Cha Tzu Tang is a skincare brand known for its traditional handmade products using natural ingredients like camellia and mugwort. They offer soaps, lotions, and other skincare items, all beautifully packaged. Ralph considers this one of his favorite places for quality skincare.

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Sounds Good Cafe is a unique cafe that doubles as a well-stocked vinyl and CD shop. The atmosphere is relaxed and perfect for music lovers, offering a selection of coffees with different flavor profiles. It's an ideal spot to unwind, enjoy music, and discover new tunes.

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Yongkang Fruit Garden is a fruit shop offering a wide selection of fresh cut fruits and juices. They have dragon fruit, papaya, pineapple, guava, and more. Their fresh fruit juices are a perfect midday boost, and you can also find interesting options like purple yam and banana dragon fruit juice.

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Liu Ji Tea Co. is a local tea shop that offers a variety of teas and related products. They provide tea samples and also offer deals like NT$100 off purchases over NT$1000. It's a great spot to explore Taiwanese teas and grab souvenirs.

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The SunnyHills pop-up is a unique location for the famous Taiwanese pineapple cake brand. It features a bright, plant-filled interior with interactive displays about fruit. Here, you can try special mille-feuille pastries with local flavors, and find SunnyHills' classic pineapple cakes, often in collaboration with characters like Doraemon.

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SOFT POWER is a Taiwanese breakfast spot highlighted in the Michelin Guide. They offer unique takes on traditional breakfast items, including a Taiwanese omelette with sweet soymilk chicken and a breakfast sandwich featuring a soft bun, American cheese, fried dough (you tiao), pork steak, and a Chinese-style omelette. The cafe has a cozy atmosphere, and you place your order by scanning a QR code.

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Weekend Chicken Club is a casual eatery specializing in Taiwanese fried chicken. Their signature dish is the 'weekend bomb chicken' served with a delicious 3-cup sauce, peanuts, and basil. They also offer garlic clam chow mee, which is a surprising highlight, and golden kimchi. The restaurant has a lively, bright interior with red accents and interesting decor like a 'Don't Eat Chicken Here' neon sign.

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This park is a creative exhibition space converted from a tobacco factory built in the 1930s. It features independent shops selling local goods, from handmade kitchenware and jewelry to vintage cameras. The park also hosts events like the SongYan Summer Festival and has a beautiful Baroque garden with fountains.

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Chen Ji Oyster Vermicelli is a popular local spot known for its delicious Oyster Vermicelli with Pork Intestine (zònghé miàn xiàn). This humble eatery, with limited seating along an alley, serves silken vermicelli noodles in a flavorful broth, topped with fresh oysters, tender pork intestines, basil, and cilantro. Adding black vinegar and chili paste enhances the taste, making it a highly recommended authentic Taiwanese street food experience.

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Ah Lan Glutinous Rice Cake (cài pú mǐ yù guǒ) is a popular snack in Jiufen, known for its chewy texture and various fillings. The pickled radish rice cake is a savory option, featuring a generous amount of shredded pickled vegetables encased in a soft, green glutinous rice dough. This traditional treat offers a satisfying and authentic taste of Taiwanese street food.

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A-MU Buns in Jiufen is a popular spot offering freshly handmade xiao long bao (soup dumplings) and rou bao (pork buns). The xiao long bao are known for being larger than average, filled with juicy pork and savory soup. The rou bao are incredibly soft, fluffy, and contain a well-seasoned, tender minced pork filling that's slightly peppery. They also serve homemade-tasting fresh soy milk, making it a satisfying stop for a quick meal or snack.

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A-Zhu Peanut Ice Cream Roll (huāshēng juǎn bīngqílín) is a unique and popular dessert in Jiufen, offering a delightful blend of sweet and savory flavors. It consists of taro ice cream, shaved peanut candy, and fresh cilantro, all wrapped in a thin, soft crêpe-like skin. The crunchy peanut, refreshing ice cream, and surprising herbal notes of cilantro create a fascinating and delicious experience.

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A-Gan-Yi Taro Ball (yù yuán bīng) is a renowned dessert shop in Jiufen, famous for its refreshing taro ball shaved ice. The dessert features chewy taro balls and sweet potato balls, served with a variety of mixed beans, all topped with shaved ice and a sweet, subtly ginger-flavored water. It's a perfect treat to cool down and enjoy the scenic views of Jiufen.

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Yuan Fang Gua Bao is a Michelin-recognized stall specializing in gua bao, a Taiwanese braised pork belly bun. Located just steps away from Wang's Broth Taipei, this spot offers soft, fluffy buns filled with fragrant braised pork belly, pickled vegetables, and ground peanuts for a sweet and savory balance. It's a convenient and delicious stop for a classic Taiwanese street food experience.

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Din Tai Fung is a globally renowned Michelin-starred restaurant famous for its exceptional xiao long bao (pork soup dumplings). The Xinsheng Branch in Taipei upholds the brand's reputation with skilled chefs meticulously folding each dumpling with exactly 18 pleats, ensuring perfect consistency and juiciness. Beyond xiao long bao, the restaurant offers delicious house-special spicy shrimp and pork wontons, spicy noodles, and refreshing desserts like snow mushroom sweet soup.

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Fuhang Soy Milk is a Michelin-recognized breakfast spot known for its long queues and assembly-line ordering system, making it a quick stop despite the crowds. Must-try items include the cold sweet soy milk, the savory salty soy milk with fried breadsticks, egg pancakes (dàn bǐng) with scallions, and flaky scallion rolls (cōnghuā xiān bǐng). This spot is perfect for a quick and authentic Taiwanese breakfast experience. This Michelin-recognized breakfast spot is famous for its freshly made soy milk, flaky flatbread with egg, and rice balls. It's a popular spot with locals, and the sweet sesame flatbread is highly recommended. The overall rating is 10/10, and it's worth waking up early to avoid long lines.

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Wang's Broth Taipei is a Michelin-recognized establishment famous for its traditional Taiwanese braised pork rice (lǔ ròu fàn), which is a beloved local favorite. The braised pork is incredibly tender, rich, savory, and slightly sweet, melting in your mouth with every bite. Pairing it with a braised duck egg (lǔ yādàn) and steamed minced pork with pickles in broth (qīngtāng guā zǐ ròu) completes this authentic and highly satisfying meal.

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This popular restaurant is known for its Braised Sesame Oil Chicken, a dish that blends the rich flavors of Kung Pao Chicken with the aromatic qualities of Ma You Ji. The chicken is incredibly tender and succulent, served with a flavorful sauce that is ideal for pouring over rice. The establishment also offers various hotpot ingredients for a customized dining experience.

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This highly recommended hotpot restaurant in the East District is famous for its Mala duck blood hotpot, known for its fragrant and drinkable broth. The menu features premium cuts of beef short ribs and Iberian pork, as well as a luxurious abalone seafood platter and a signature prawn paste platter. The restaurant's Mala broth is praised for its rich flavor without being overly numbing, and the tofu and yu tiao (Chinese doughnuts) are excellent additions to soak up the delicious broth.

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This spot is highly acclaimed for its oyster and intestine noodles, a comforting and iconic Taiwanese dish. The noodles are served hot, featuring a very garlicky and savory broth with generous portions of fresh oysters and tender braised intestines. It's a must-try for those looking to experience a classic Taiwanese street food staple, often enjoyed directly from a cup.

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This eatery specializes in a clear noodle soup with tender meat, offering a refreshing yet flavorful broth. The specialty is rice vermicelli soup, and popular side dishes include pig's heart and 'Zui Bian Rou' (meat from around the pig's mouth), known for their chewy textures and minimal fishy smell. The food here is a perfect choice for those seeking a lighter, protein-rich Taiwanese breakfast or lunch.

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This traditional Taiwanese breakfast spot offers a variety of classic dishes, including egg pancakes with cheese and hash browns, and karage chicken burgers. Its bread is noted for being fluffy and slightly sweet, making the burgers a comforting and filling option. The shop also serves classic hot-plate noodles, offering a blend of traditional and modern breakfast choices.

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This breakfast shop is renowned for its signature fried egg pancakes, which feature dried radish inside for a distinct flavor and texture. The pancakes are described as crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, with a savory, peppery taste that can be enhanced with chili sauce. They also serve a unique Mi Jiang (Taiwanese Peanut Rice Milk), a thick and sweet traditional drink made from ground peanuts and rice, offering a quintessential Taiwanese breakfast experience.

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This popular breakfast spot in Dadaocheng is famous for its glutinous oil rice, which is celebrated for its simple yet aromatic flavor. It's often paired with a mixed soup featuring duck blood and pork intestines, offering a hearty and traditional Taiwanese breakfast experience. Locals often order the oil rice and mixed soup as a set, and it's recommended to try the braised sauce on the rice for a unique sweet and salty taste.

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This legendary restaurant is celebrated for serving what is considered by some to be the best beef noodles in all of Taiwan, having been in business for over 40 years. They offer two distinct versions: a lighter, original beef noodle soup, and a richer, braised version, both featuring incredibly tender beef. The noodles are known for their chewy and stretchy texture, and the owner recommends adding pickled vegetables and fermented beans to enhance the flavor. Liu Shandong Beef Noodles is a Michelin-recognized humble eatery known for its flavorful beef noodle soups. They offer both a pure braised beef noodle soup (qīngdùn niúròu miàn) with tender beef slices and a rich, clear broth, and a stewed beef noodle soup (hóngshāo niúròu miàn) with a soy-based broth and large pieces of succulent beef. The noodles are thick, soft, chewy, and silky, perfectly complementing the rich broths and various condiments like pickled mustard greens and chili paste.