Kaohsiung is a fun city to visit in Taiwan for a few days. Here are some of the activities we did while visiting.
Hello from Kaohsiung, Taiwan! I’m currently visiting Mr. JOC’s family and my whole family is here to attend his brother’s wedding this weekend. I want to share some pictures of my trip so far since we’ve been here for the past several days. Some of these pictures were shared on my Instagram.
Breakfast in Taiwan
Taiwan street vendor breakfast is amazing. There are so many breakfast shops and vendors on the streets open in the morning. Typically, you see a line of office workers arriving on their motorcycle to pick up their breakfast on the way to their work.
The foods are inexpensive compared to the US standard (about US $5 to feed the entire family!), and there are many kinds of breakfast to choose from. Some include fried potstickers, scallion pancakes, steamed buns (my favorite is one with stir fried vegetable filling (菜包)), baked sesame seed coated cakes, egg pancakes, and my favorite Taiwanese-style club sandwich! Don’t forget to pick up milk tea or soy milk made fresh. Every day I look forward to waking up in the morning to go get breakfast while I’m in Taiwan.
Food in Taiwan
If you come to Taiwan, you must visit Din Tai Fung. Kaohsiung, the 2nd largest city in Taiwan where we are staying, finally opened a branch last year. My all-time favorite item on the menu is Crab Xiao Long Bao. I think this is one of the best food in the world, soft tender crab and meat filling soaked in a savory broth and wrapped in very thin skin. The broth is super hot so don’t try to swallow in 1 bite. Break the dumpling skin first to drink the soup and enjoy it with some vinegar and ginger. I am getting hungry just thinking about it.
There are several dishes that Mr. JOC likes to eat when we’re in Taiwan. These salty rice cake served with warm thick soy gravy on top (picture on the bottom left) is one of them (not my favorite though. shhh!). I like the noodle soup called Dan Zai Mien which is a popular noodle originated in Tainan (台南), the city north of Kaohsiung. And when you’re in a tropical country, shaved ice (with mango and mango ice cream) is a must-have!
Sightseeing in Kaohsiung
There are a few places we like to visit when we’re in Kaohsiung. Dragon Tiger Pagodas (龍虎塔) is a fun place to visit with children. They are twin pagoda towers with a dragon and tiger at the bottom, and you enter the tower from the mouth of the dragon or tiger. The 7-storytowers have a double spiral staircase, one each for ascending and descending visitors, and have a 360 degree view at the deck from each level. From the deck, you can see many temples, Spring and Autumn Pavilions (春秋閣), the Confucian Temple (孔廟), and the Lotus Lake.
Kaohsiung Lantern Festival
This was my 2nd time seeing Kaohsiung Lantern Festival and the opening fireworks were quite spectacular. We parked the car under the Ambassador Hotel and saw the fireworks right outside the hotel. The kids were so excited as this was probably the closest they have been to fireworks. However, I was quite disappointmented as there weren’t too many lantern displays compared to the Lantern Festival I saw 9 years ago.
What We’ve Been Doing in Kaohsiung
My personal highlight of the past few days was to get to meet my Aussie food blogger friend, Daisy of Never Too Sweet. Who would imagine that two people – one living in Melbourne, the other in San Francisco – see each other in Kaohsiung, Taiwan?! We didn’t even realize that we could be in the same place until Daisy saw my Instagram. She is exactly how I imagined, super sweet and nice! We had a lovely chat over afternoon tea in Grand Hi Lai Hotel.
My daughter will be a flower girl at my brother in law’s wedding and she’s so excited! Kids also loved spending time with their grandpa in his hospital. The kids (and I) are having fun seeing interesting things on the street such as ducks being dried before being baked. Mr. JOC and I like to go to foot/whole body massage at night after kids go to sleep. When you’re in Taiwan, try the famous foot massage! It’s quite painful but you feel really good after. There are motorcycles everywhere and once in a while you see a family of 4 riding on one motorcycle!
I hope you enjoy these photos. If you want to read a little bit more about our Taiwan Trip 2012, click here.
Hope you stay in touch with me on Instagram for all the latest updates from Taiwan!
Oh my gosh – I’m so envious – that food looks AMAZING!!
Hi, Nami-san!
I have never been to Taiwan, but I would love the food in Taiwan! I love Chinese food, so I know that I should enjoy the Taiwanese food as well, especially those breakfast vender food!! Wow! I could eat there all day… 🙂
Din Tai Fung restaurant is in Seattle area also, but again, I have never visited there. I’ve heard that their food are wonderful, especially the dumplings just like those on your pics.
Your pictures are beautiful, and I hope you have a fun time in Taiwan!
Hi Ayako! I’ve been to Din Tai Fung in LA but I have to say DTF in Taiwan is MUCH better… just a whole different level. I should check out one in Seattle one day. Really wish we have it in SF. Thank you very much for your well wishes. 🙂
I miss Taiwan! I have family there, but it’s been a while since I’ve visited. Beautiful photos, I’m glad you’re enjoying the food + scenery 🙂
Hi Kath! It’s always nice to visit Taiwan. People are so friendly and welcoming and food is wonderful! Thank you so much!
Great trip so far!
I always adore your trip posts. Gorgeous pics, happy family shots, great attractions and wow on the food.
Wonderful! It looks like you had a great time in Taiwan.
Cheers,
Rosa
Congratulations to your brother in law on his wedding.
The scenery, the food … it all looks so amazing. I love the soup dumpling.
Thank you so much for the kind words, Maria! xo 🙂
I visited my parents in kaohsiung last December. Besides with family, food was the second best part of my trip. My family liked 天天火煱( near 七賢路).not a fancy place, but the broth, beef, fish ball,..are all so good. Enjoy your trip there!!
Hi Lily! Hot pot is so good here. I should check out that place. I love fish balls and squid balls here… 🙂 Thank you so much for your well wishes. 🙂
Hello! I’m going to visit Kaohsiung soon and am very excited to try all the delicious food! Was there any memorable restaurants that you ate at? Where should I get the scallion pancakes?
Hi Madelyn,
Kaohsiung has lots of different food so it really depends on what you’re looking for.
1. Gang Yuan Beef Noodle Restaurant 港園牛肉麵 has a couple locations around the city and their dry noodle is really good.
2. Xing Long Ju興隆居 is legendary with their breakfast, just be aware the line moves fast
3. 冠霖手工包子 is good for pork buns, breakfast, and they have a few locations around the city
4. We almost always have a meal at Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 高雄店 when we go back.
5. There are many seafood restaurants and 蟳之屋and 頂鮮擔仔麵高雄店 are classics (pricey)
6. 老新台菜 九如店 is great for Taiwanese food
7. Avoid Liuhe nightmarket and go to Rueifong Night Market instead
When in doubt we cruise for food and drinks at Hanshin Arena. Just avoid weekends. Have fun on you trip!
Mr. JOC
Thank you for sharing your adventures in Taiwan. In April, we are visiting Shanghai and Keelung City and look forward to sampling some similar baos that you described. Getting our Visas at the Los Angeles Chinese Consulate was the first step to our once in a lifetime cruise. Your pictures take us one step further..
Thank you for reading Sandy! Have a great trip to China, and enjoy all the great food there! 🙂
What a fun trip! And what terrific pictures! I feel like I’m there with you (and wish I was!). Fun post — thanks.
Thanks so much for sharing these photos! I feel like I was there!
It looks like you are having a wonderful time Nami! I love all the pictures – but especially those of your smiling kids. They look like they are making some great memories. The lantern festival is just beautiful as are the twin pagodas. The architecture is just amazing. Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Thanks for sharing the picture. They are beautiful. Have fun !!
Nami, these pictures are incredible! Taiwan looks incredible…that food is making me so hungry! : ) I’ve eaten at Din Tai Fung in Canada – love their mini dumplings (and everything else). What an amazing trip – thanks for sharing your awesome pics.
What a cool trip! I never been there but my husband just returned from Taipei, I am curious now!
Ciao
Alessandra