Traditional Taiwanese Breakfast Foods

This guide introduces many of Taiwan’s most popular breakfast foods. Keep reading to learn what to try when you’re here.

I’ve lived in Taiwan for over 6 years and have tasted many breakfast options. I’ll share some of the best ones with you.

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8 Breakfast Foods That Are Popular in Taiwan

The following sections will expand on the following breakfast foods:

• Danbing
• Oil stick
• Turnip cakes
• Sticky rice rolls
• Shao bing
• Scallion pancakes
• Xiao long bao
• Steamed buns

Taiwanese breakfast foods are often carb-heavy, texture-focused, and savory, designed to provide energy for a busy morning.

Most folks will pair these foods with soy milk, milk tea, or black tea. Coffee is available too, but I’ll talk about that later.

Let’s start with my favorite breakfast food.

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1. Danbing (Taiwanese Omelette)

• Texture: Soft, chewy, with crispy edges
• Taste: Savory, mild egg flavor, with subtle richness
• Local Name: 蛋餅 (dàn bǐng)

Taiwanese danbing is like a savory egg pancake or crepe. The dough is thin, chewy, and slightly crispy after being pan-fried. A layer of scrambled egg is cooked on top and then rolled up.

People often drizzle soy sauce or sweet soy paste on it. Some, like me, add chili sauce, but it’s quite spicy. Skip it if you’re sensitive to spicy stuff.

The basic version has just the pancake and egg, but you can add fillings.

Here are a few popular options:

• Tuna: Flaked tuna, sometimes mixed with mayonnaise.
• Corn: Sweet corn sprinkled on top.
• Cheese: A slice of melted cheese for a creamy, savory twist.

Danbing is one of my favorites, but it’s not vegan-friendly by default. You’ll need to hunt for a vegan version.

The next food’s a great option for vegans, though.

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2. Oil Stick (Fried Dough Stick)

• Texture: Crispy outside, soft and airy inside
• Taste: Lightly savory, with a hint of oiliness and chewiness
• Local Name: 油條 (yóu tiáo)

Yóu tiáo, also called “Chinese crullers” or “fried dough sticks,” are golden-brown strips of deep-fried dough that are light and fluffy inside with a crisp outside.

They’re often eaten on their own or paired with soy milk (豆漿 / dòu jiāng). This combo is common in Taiwan. Dip the yóu tiáo into sweet or savory soy milk to soften it without losing its crunch.

Or try salty soy milk (鹹豆漿 / xián dòu jiāng). It’s a mix of chopped oil sticks, green onions, and vinegar that gives the soy milk a curdled texture.

Oil sticks also pair well with shao bing, but I’ll discuss that in a second.

Yóu tiáo can even work as a late-night snack since greasy foods may slow alcohol absorption. But they’re not the best choice if you’re hungover.

The next option is lighter and may suit you better.

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3. Turnip Cakes

• Texture: Crispy and golden on the outside, soft and tender on the inside
• Taste: Mildly savory with subtle earthy notes from the daikon radish
• Local Name: 蘿蔔糕 (luó bo gāo)

Turnip cake is made from grated white radish (daikon), rice flour, and water. The mixture is steamed into a firm, smooth cake, then sliced into thick rectangles and pan-fried. This gives it a crispy, golden crust while keeping the inside soft and tender.

Some variations add dried shrimp, Chinese sausage, mushrooms, or ham for extra umami. But Taiwanese turnip cakes are simpler and focus on the radish’s flavor.

Many folks (like my wife) refer to this dish as a “carrot cake.” This is nothing like the spiced carrot cake you’ll find in the west. The name comes from a mix-up in some Chinese dialects where “daikon” can also mean “carrot.”

People often drizzle soy or chili sauce on top for extra flavor.

Let’s move onto the next item.

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4. Sticky Rice Rolls

• Texture: Chewy and sticky rice with crispy, soft, and crunchy fillings
• Taste: Savory, hearty, and rich, with layers of umami and saltiness
• Local Name: 鹹飯糰加蛋 (xián fàn tuán jiā dàn)

Sticky rice rolls are made by wrapping warm, glutinous rice tightly around savory fillings. Adding a pan-fried egg gives them extra richness and flavor.

Typical ingredients the rice will wrap around include:

• Oil stick: Adds a crispy, savory crunch.
• Pork floss: Light, fluffy, and salty for extra umami.
• Pickled mustard greens: Tangy and crunchy for contrast.
• Pan-fried egg: Soft and savory to balance the other fillings.

This food item has the most protein out of most Taiwanese breakfast options. Hence, I’d recommend it to most folks.

The next option is pretty unique.

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5. Shao Bing (Clay Oven Rolls)

• Texture: Flaky and crispy outside, soft and slightly chewy inside
• Taste: Savory with a hint of nuttiness, sometimes mildly sweet
• Local Name: 燒餅 (shāo bǐng)

Shao bing are baked flatbreads made from wheat flour dough. They’re cooked in a high-temperature clay oven (sometimes), giving them a golden-brown, flaky crust. Sesame seeds on top add nuttiness and extra crunch.

There are savory and sweet versions, but savory ones are more popular for breakfast.

The “classic” way to enjoy shao bing is with yóu tiáo (fried dough stick) inside.

The shaobing acts like a sandwich, enveloping the crispy, airy yóu tiáo inside. This combination is popular because it offers contrasting yet complementary textures — the flaky layers of shaobing balance perfectly with the crunch and softness of the fried dough stick.

If you don’t want to look like a messy eater in front of whoever you’re with, you may want to skip this item. As the “flaky” part of Shao Bing will create a huge mess.

This next food isn’t as messy, though.

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6. Scallion Pancakes

• Texture: Crispy and golden outside, soft, chewy, and flaky inside
• Taste: Savory and aromatic, with mild sweetness from scallions
• Local Name: 蔥油餅 (cōng yóu bǐng)

Scallion pancakes are savory flatbreads made with wheat flour, water, and oil. Chopped scallions (green onions) are layered into the dough. Giving it flavor and aroma.

I didn’t get a picture of this particular food, but I have something better for you. A video plus a spot recommendation:

I highly recommend watching this dude’s videos on Taiwanese food. He’s my favorite food channel. A local and him went to Cool Grandma Pancakes (秦家餅店) in Taipei City. This is strictly a take-out restaurant and doesn’t use as much oil for their cakes.

You might recognize this next pick.

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7. Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings)

• Texture: Delicate, thin dough with juicy filling and savory broth inside
• Taste: Savory and rich, with umami from the meat and broth
• Local Name: 小籠包 (xiǎo lóng bāo)

Xiao long bao are dumplings that have a thin, delicate wrapper that holds a juicy pork filling and a burst of savory broth.

Traditionally steamed in bamboo baskets, they’re served piping hot. Enjoy them with a side of soy sauce, vinegar, and shredded ginger for dipping.

Most breakfast versions contain pork, so they may not suit those avoiding red meat or pork altogether.

While soup dumplings are often seen as a lunch or dinner food, they’re also a popular breakfast choice at markets and shops.

If you want some of the world’s best soup dumplings, check out Din Tai Fung. If you’re familiar with this chain, it’s from Taiwan. But the lines can be a pain to deal with. Book ahead of time and worry less about the lines.

Here’s a more breakfast(y) food.

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8. Steamed Bun With Egg

• Texture: Soft, fluffy bun with a light, tender interior
• Taste: Mildly sweet or neutral, paired with savory egg richness
• Local Name: 饅頭夾蛋 (mántóu jiā dàn)

This breakfast dish features a steamed mantou (soft, fluffy bun) sliced open and filled with a pan-fried egg. Mantou’s cloud-like texture and subtle flavor pair perfectly with the savory, slightly crispy egg.

While white mantou is most common, you’ll also find flavored versions like:

• Taro-flavored: Light purple, with a mildly sweet, earthy taste.
• Brown sugar: Sweet and aromatic, with a richer flavor.

This carb-heavy breakfast pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee. Let’s talk about your coffee options in Taiwan.

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How’s Coffee in Taiwan?

All breakfast shops I’ve been to offer coffee, but the majority of the time it’s instant coffee that they’ll charge an arm and a leg for. All breakfast stores I’ve seen don’t offer drip coffee.

You’re better off going to one of Taiwan’s many cafes or convenience stores. They have 3.4 coffee shops per square kilometer, which is a lot.

Convenience stores, like 7-Eleven and Family Mart, offer some of the best deals on fresh coffee. A medium cup costs around NT$60, and it tastes pretty good. Bring a reusable cup to save NT$5. If you’re a member, you might get free or discounted coffee.

Bring in a reusable cup and you’ll save NT$5. If you have a 7-Eleven or Family Mart membership, you can sometimes get free or discounted coffees. Or you can bulk buy fresh coffee at 7-Eleven and get it for much cheaper.

Prefer bottled drinks? Convenience stores sell affordable, tasty options. But if you’re near PX Mart or Carrefour, buy bottled coffee there — it’s cheaper.

With cafes, expect to pay a lot extra because you’re technically paying for the seats.

For high-quality coffee, visit Simple Kaffa. This third-wave coffee chain, run by a world barista champion, serves exceptional (but pricey) coffee. It’s far better than the sweet drinks at Starbucks.

Where would you find the above foods?

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Where to Find the Best Taiwanese Breakfast

Fuhang Soy Milk (阜杭豆漿) is one of Taiwan’s most famous breakfast chains. It’s even a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, offering great food at a good price. You can order combo meals online, though they’re pricier than ordering in person.

It makes ordering much easier since you can order combo meals online. Though, ordering online is A LOT pricier than ordering in person. But it’s great if you don’t care and want to avoid possibly awkward scenarios due to a lack of Mandarin.

Another popular chain is Yong He Soy Milk King (永和豆漿大王). It’s a safe option for foreigners and often has English menus, though I wasn’t a big fan of the food.

For amazing scallion pancakes, check out Cool Grandma Pancakes (秦家餅店) in Taipei. It’s a take-out-only spot, but worth it.

Otherwise, I’d recommend visiting any breakfast store nearby your accommodation. I’ll give you some information about ordering in a bit.

If things get too awkward, you could move away from Taiwanese breakfast stores and eat at a 7-Eleven or Family Mart. They offer frozen versions of above foods (e.g., danbing). They’ll typically ask 加熱 (jiārè) when you hand them a frozen or refrigerated food.

Just shake your head yes or say (好 / Hǎo).

How much will all this food cost?

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How Much Does Taiwanese Breakfast Usually Cost?

“Traditional” breakfast shops will charge NT$10 – 70 per item. These shops never charge service fees and you shouldn’t tip in Taiwan. A traditional shop typically aren’t easy on the eyes and have no decorations.

“Modern” shops will charge NT$25 – 120 per food item. They’ll also typically offer combos that include a single food item and a drink that can range from NT$80 – 120. These shops have better aesthetics, atmosphere, and are more comfortable (temperature-wise).

However.

They’re much pricier and the food seldom matches the taste of what you’d get at a traditional shop.

Those prices aren’t too bad. Here’s what you should know when ordering.

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Ordering, Tips, & Other Information

First off, tell the staff one of the following phrases:

• 內用 / nei yong: You want to eat in the restaurant.
• 外帶 / wai dai: Takeout

From there, you’ll grab a menu and possibly pay. Some restaurants charge you before getting your food. Others, after. There’s usually no signage stating when you pay…

Use Google Translate to type something like “Do I pay now?”

Restaurants will also work differently with menus. If the menu has checkboxes, you’ll grab a marker that’s by the menu and check off what you want.

If not, point at what you want on the menu.

The majority of breakfast stores throughout Taiwan won’t offer English menus. Some more touristy places in Taipei, for instance, will. Moreover. It’s a nightmare trying to use Google Lens’ translate feature with menu items. As a lot of the time, they won’t properly translate.

Here’s a neat trick I found.

Research what store you want to go to ahead of time. Attempt to use Google Lens to translate the menu. If the translations are strange, try a large language model like ChatGPT. It does a much better job with translating cultural nuances.

Then you’ll know what to order ahead of time. Unless the menu changes.

Many Taiwanese breakfast shops are open 24 hours. They’re a perfect snack to grab in the middle of the night. If you’re a drinker, they might be good drinking food for you.

You should read this last section if you’re staying in a hotel.

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Hotel Breakfasts (You Should Read This)

Every hotel I’ve stayed in Taiwan offers free breakfast. However, none of what they serve are “traditional” Taiwanese food. It’s mostly Western breakfast items, fruits, vegetables, and bread served in a buffet.

If you go this route, head to the buffet immediately when it opens. In my experience, food from these buffets runs out quickly.

If you’re after an authentic Taiwanese breakfast, I’d avoid the buffet, or use it as a means to get some fruits and veggies. As you won’t get many from breakfast stores.