01/02/2024
Jiufen Old Street, located in the mountainous town of Jiufen in New Taipei City, Taiwan, is famous for its charming narrow streets, traditional architecture, and a wide array of local street food. Here are some local specialties and must-try foods on Jiufen Old Street:
1. A-Zhu Peanut Ice Cream Roll (花生冰淇淋捲): A popular dessert in Jiufen, this treat consists of peanut shavings wrapped in a spring roll wrapper, topped with ice cream. It's both sweet and crunchy.
2. Bozai Fish Ball Soup (魚丸湯): Fish ball soup is a common street food in Jiufen. The fish balls are made from a mixture of fish paste and starch, and they are often served in a clear broth.
3. Misty Cake (米詩堤甜點王國): Stroll around Jiufen's old town; the buttery, flaky aroma of Misty Cake puff pastries fills the antique, narrow streets. These exquisite pastries are a veritable kingdom of sweetness, unfolding with layers of flaky perfection to surround your senses in a cloud of dessert dreams.
4. Jin Zhi Red Yeast Meatball (金枝紅槽肉圓): Jin Zhi's traditional meat dumplings are well-known for their peculiar color and flavor—chewy glutinous rice casings loaded with soft pork flesh soaked in red yeast (vinasse), which some consider an acquired taste but is absolutely worth tasting. If you want an alternative, there is a vegetarian branch a few booths down that provides the imitation meat version of these dumplings. Another recommended meal at Jin Zhi is the Combination Meatball Soup (五味綜合丸湯). The dish includes five types of meatballs to try: codfish, squid, pork, kimchi, and bamboo charcoal. The meatballs have a bouncy quality and taste excellent.
5. Ah Lan Hakka Glutinous Rice Cakes (阿蘭草仔粿): A journey to Jiufen isn't complete without trying these appetizing rice cakes. Every day, Ah Lan makes traditional glutinous rice cakes with fragrant ingredients ranging from sweet red beans to salted veggies.
6. Ah Gan Taro Balls (阿柑姨芋圓): The soft taro balls were served with an assortment of beans, including azuki red beans, mung beans, and kidney beans, making it a delicious dessert that you couldn't help enjoying even in chilly weather.
If you are interested in a different experience, try street food in Jiufen with local flavors and stunning views. Currently, Youzi Taiwan is opening trips to New Taipei City with Jiufen as one of the itineraries. If you have any further questions and would like to join this trip, you can contact us via Messenger or LINE .