This meal cost me NT$180, which is roughly $6 CDN.
I find it abundantly amazing that a place with the population density of Taipei, currently approaching 3 million people, not including Taipei County, with the relatively expensive standards of living that the food and beverage costs can be so low.
Approximately a total of 23 million people populate the island of Taiwan, which is about the size of Vancouver Island.
It would not be difficult to live life here simply and spending less than $10 CDN per day.
Cheap eats are available in a variety of roadside vendors and small, alleyway shops.
Part of the fun of Taipei is visiting the various shops and eateries which reside in the old alleyways that criss-cross this large metropolis. The Japanese occupied Taiwan from 1895 to 1945 and the Japanese influence is still readily apparent in the design and layout of the old city and particularly in the narrow alleys.
The above pictured sugar cane is roasted to caramelize the sugars, then pressed through a giant juicer. Fresh ginger extract is an optional addition for additional goodness. A healthy juice snack and the smell is amazing.
Hot pots are popular here in Taipei. We visited one that gave you a choice of your own hot pot, a bowl of rice and unlimited soft drinks and ice cream for only NT$100 per person, that works out to about $3 CDN.
Let’s not forget desserts. A Taiwanese favorite is shaved iced with various toppings. A delicious treat especially during Taiwan’s very hot, tropical climate. A genuine coffee from Mr. Brown is also a must, forget about Starbucks.
If you ever get the chance to visit Taipei, follow your nose, you may be pleased with what you find.
Posted on February 5th, 2009 by Leo
Filed under: Lucid Thoughts, Shooting Gallery
Glad to see some updates on the blog, all that food makes me hungry!!
Bob Buskirks last blog post..January 2009 Thoughts
Wow, that hot pot place sounds like an incredible deal. We had hot pot at some place on Nanjing Rd. (Sec 4 or 5, I think) when we were there last June. It was the same thing with free pop and dessert. So awesome.
Michael Kwans last blog post..Weekend Movie Reviews: Oscar Nominees
I have a plan for my vacation. Asian trip including hong kong, Taipei, and Tokyo. I’ll have to try that food. Looks delicious!
I’ve never seen roasted sugar cane, even on pictures. Looks tasty.
Paul I have to agree with you about the sugar canes, but I also enjoy the fish dish, it looks so good!
I am a fan of Starbucks, but now I wonder how good Mr Brown’s is, hehe.
Is NT exchange to CDN really that low??
Currently it’s 27NT$ to 1CDN$. I made it easy by rounding up to 30 when i was trying to figure out prices in Taiwan.
I heart Mr. Brown coffee. We made a tower of cans with it in our Hotel Room, but the cleaning lady tossed them out on us
Stephens last blog post..Blasting Away with a Nintendo Wii Zapper Shootout
Next time, we need to go to an actual Mr. Brown’s location and have their real coffee. It’s like someone coming here and buying one of those glass bottles of Starbucks frapp and saying that they’ve had Starbucks.
That’s what I did. I went to a really large location in Taipei that served food as well.
DUDE!!!! Mr. Brown coffee is the greatest coffee ever…except the small size
-Mike
yes, cheap food but really delicious are everwhere in taipei or other asian counties, i think the couture of food in asia counties is better than other western countries. no matter rich or poor, asia people always put “eat and good food” in there first place.
WOW what a nice food.i want to eating this.my mouth is watering….yumyum..
hmmm yummy.. its look very delicious (^_^)
yeah… you need to know that almost all chinnese food are good… and cheap also
as all looks deliciously!Joey Logano
Just so you know Leo This wasn’t my comment
@Leo… when can we expect a new post from you?
Joey Logano Fans last blog post..Rookie Profile at Dover
Thanks Joey. I’ve removed the spam poster’s link.
It’s been really dead in the film industry lately. I hope it picks up soon so I have something to write about, I’ve just been busy doing other work to pay the bills
Leos last blog post..Cheap Eats in Taipei
Hard to control hungriness after seen such delicious dish and recipe , i would say cheap even delicious food.
great food . i wonder when i will go and spend my holiday in taiwan
Wow! Six bucks for all that, that’s an awesome deal! Things where I live are a lot more expensive, too bad
Nice pieces of food. I’m getting hungry just looking at those.