Learn the top 10 Traditional Taiwanese dishes in Taiwanese Hokkien
Taiwanese cuisine is a fusion of flavors, textures, and aromas that reflect the island's rich cultural heritage. The Hokkien or Hoklo people who came from Fujian to Taiwan and all over the world brought with them a number of delicious recipes. Some of them having their origins from Fujian in China, and others being a unique Taiwanese creation, these dishes are now a big part of Taiwanese culture.
Braised Pork Rice (滷肉飯 - lóo-bah-pn̄g)
The classic Taiwanese dish, braised pork rice features tender, succulent pork belly stewed in a savory blend of soy sauce, garlic, and spices, served over a bed of steaming hot rice. In Hokkien, it's affectionately known as "lóo-bah-pn̄g," with "lóo-bah" meaning braised pork and "pn̄g" meaning rice.
Oyster Omelette (蚵仔煎 - ô-á-tsian)
A popular street food, Taiwan's plump oysters nestled within a crispy egg pancake, drizzled with a tangy sauce. In Hokkien, it goes by the name "ô-á-tsian" with "ô-á" being oyster and "tsian" signifying frying. You'll want to learn this one in particular, even Taiwanese who don't speak Hokkien call this dish by it's Hokkien name.
Beef Noodle Soup (牛肉麵 - gû-bah mī)
A hearty and aromatic dish, beef noodle soup features tender beef, chewy noodles, and a flavorful broth infused with spices and herbs. In Hokkien, it's referred to as "Gû-bah mī," with "gû-bah" representing beef and "mī" being noodles.
Taiwanese Fried Chicken (鹹酥雞 - kiâm-soo-ke)
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, Taiwanese fried chicken is seasoned with a blend of spices and herbs, then deep-fried to perfection. In Hokkien, it's known as "kiâm-soo-ke," with "kiâm" meaning salty, "soo" meaning crisp, and "ke" referring to chicken.
Stinky Tofu (臭豆腐 - tshàu-tāu-hū)
A polarizing yet iconic dish, stinky tofu is fermented tofu with a pungent aroma, deep-fried until golden brown and served with chili sauce. In Hokkien, it's called "tshàu-tāu-hū," with "tshàu" meaning smelly, "tāu" meaning tofu, and "hū" referring to fermenting.
Taiwanese Beef Rolls (牛肉捲餅 - gû-bah kuán-piánn)
A flavorful street food favorite, Taiwanese beef rolls feature tender slices of beef, pickled vegetables, and hoisin sauce wrapped in a chewy, pan-fried pancake. In Hokkien, they're known as "gû-bah kuán-piánn" with "gû-bah" signifying beef and "kuán-piánn" being rolled pancake.
Bawan (肉圓 - bah-uân)
A traditional snack, bawan consists of a glutinous rice ball filled with savory pork and served with sweet chili sauce. In Hokkien, it's called "bah-uân" with "bah" meaning meat and "uân" referring to round. Like ô-á-tsian, you'll usually hear this dish pronounced with it's Hokkien name rather than the Mandarin pronunciation of "rou yuan".
Oyster Vermicelli (蚵仔麵線 - ô-á mī-suànn)
A popular noodle dish, oyster vermicelli features tender vermicelli noodles in a flavorful broth with fresh oysters, garlic, and cilantro. In Hokkien, it's known as "ô-á mī-suànnⁿ," with "ô-á" denoting oyster and "mī-suànn" being vermicelli noodles.
Pig's Blood Cake (豬血糕 - ti-hueh-kué)
A traditional street food, pig's blood cake is made from sticky rice and pig's blood, steamed, coated with peanut powder, and served on a stick. In Hokkien, it's called "ti-hueh-kué," with "ti" meaning pig, "hueh" meaning blood, and "ke" being cake.
Bubble Tea (粉圓奶茶 - hún-înn ling-tê)
Now a globally famous beverage, bubble tea features sweetened tea or milk with chewy tapioca pearls. In Hokkien, it's usually called "hún-înn ling-tê" with "hún-înn" being the tapioca balls and "ling-tê" or "gû-ling-tê" meaning milk tea.
Ordering food in Taiwanese Hokkien
Next time you head to Taiwan, embrace the island's culinary heritage and try ordering some of your favorites using the Taiwanese Hokkien name.
Learn more popular Taiwanese food dishes in Hokkien with this list along with the audio pronunciation.
And learn other food related vocab such as with this vocabulary list for fruit and vegetables.