10 Tasty Taiwanese Recipes to Make at Home

Taiwanese Spicy Beef Noodle Soup in a white bowl
Photo: thehowesx3

Taiwan's complicated past bleeds over into the country's cuisine as well, with some of the island's most popular dishes created by influences ranging from indigenous Taiwanese to Chinese and Japanese flavors. With major cities like Tapei offering street food and restaurants galore, you'll find a world of different options on every corner. With these recipes, you can recreate that culinary travel excitement at home! Whip up a bowl of spicy beef noodle soup, enjoy a plate of three cup chicken, or slurp on a glass of bubble tea.

01 of 10

Taiwanese-Style Three Cup Chicken

Taiwanese-Style Three Cup Chicken
Eiko

San bei ji, also called three cup chicken, is a beloved recipe for chicken that's braised in equal parts soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice wine. The sauce has a sweet kick from a little white sugar and plenty of texture from the crispy Thai basil leaves.

02 of 10

Taiwanese Dumplings

Taiwanese Dumplings on a white plate
Soup Loving Nicole

Delicious dumplings, especially of the soup variety, are popular in Taiwan. This version uses a filling of ground pork, napa cabbage, peppers, ginger, and cilantro to create bold flavor in each bite.

03 of 10

Taiwanese Sesame Oil Chicken Stew

Taiwanese Sesame Oil Chicken Stew in a white bowl
lizardk

If you're under the weather, or just wanting to warm up, this Taiwanese version of chicken noodle is the perfect choice. Bone-in chicken is boiled with two types of sesame oil (light and dark) along with fresh ginger to make a comforting broth that's then paired with incredibly thin somen noodles for maximum slurping.

04 of 10

Taiwanese Pork Chops

Taiwanese Pork Chops on a blue plate
Tish Lovisone

Fried pork chops are a beloved lunchbox treat in Taiwan, often paired with rice, pickled mustard greens, and a tea egg. While sweet potato starch is traditionally used for the crispy coating, easier-to-find cornstarch is substituted in this recipe.

05 of 10

Stir-Fried Taiwanese Cabbage

Stir-Fried Taiwanese Cabbage in a blue bowl

Slightly flat and oblong, Taiwanese cabbage stands out from regular green cabbage by both its shape and light green color. It has a sweeter taste and tender texture, making it perfect for a simple stir-fry.

06 of 10

Homemade Brown Sugar Bubble Tea

Homemade Brown Sugar Bubble Tea in a glass
LauraF

Boba tea, also known as bubble tea, originated in Taiwan and is a delightful treat of (often milky) tea with chewy tapioca pearls at the bottom. Recreate your own at home by whipping up a brown sugar syrup for the boba and mixing it with a creamy black tea.

07 of 10

Taiwanese Spicy Beef Noodle Soup

Taiwanese Spicy Beef Noodle Soup in a white bowl
thehowesx3

Taiwan's national dish, beef noodle soup, is packed to the brim with flavor thanks to plenty of garlic, chiles, green onions, and Chinese five-spice powder. This slow cooker version makes things even easier, simply requiring you to mix the ingredients and walk away for a few hours.

08 of 10

Taiwanese Ground Pork and Pickled Cucumbers

Taiwanese Ground Pork and Pickled Cucumbers on a dark plate
Linda T

A perfect balance of umami and tangy, this Taiwanese-style recipe cooks ground pork in a soy and rice wine sauce before pairing it with sour pickled cucumbers. Serve over rice to sop up the extra sauce.

09 of 10

Tsao Mi Fun (Taiwanese Fried Rice Noodles)

Tsao Mi Fun in a dark bowl
AllrecipesPhoto

Seasoned with Chinese five-spice powder and black mushrooms, this recipe features rice noodles that are pan fried until soft. Paired up with pork loin, eggs, and veggies, it makes a filling one-dish meal.

10 of 10

Popcorn Chicken (Taiwanese)

Popcorn Chicken (Taiwanese)
AllrecipesPhoto

A common snack served at boba/bubble tea shops, Taiwanese popcorn chicken is also sometimes referred to as salt and pepper chicken. These savory bite-size pieces are coated in a spiced tempura batter before being fried to golden brown perfection.

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