Taipei: Formosa Flavours Food Tour with 12+ Tastings｜Taiwan

Between the seasoned kitchens of Ximending and morning pulse of Yongkang Street, lies the unedited flavours of Taiwan, the 'Beautiful Island'. We're here to show you why the spirit of 'Formosa' is found at the bottom of a noodle bowl.

Begin at vibrant Yongkang Street - recently dubbed one of the coolest streets in Asia - ground zero for deliriously good food. Kick off at a Michelin-rated institution to witness the art of the fold, tackling the holy trinity of dim sum: xiǎo lóng bāo pork soup dumplings that burst with savory broth, juicy xiā shāomài prawn siew mai, and the golden crunch of a fried mantou bun. Witness the mesmerising street-side masters slapping and swirling the dough of Taiwanese flaky scallion pancakes.

At a storied Tainan outpost, we pay homage to the island’s ancient food capital. We're here for glutinous meatballs, a translucent, chewy treasure. Next, hop onto the subway—tickets included—and move from the city's refined east to the wilder west.

Emerging into the energetic Ximending district, grab a bag of Taiwanese popcorn chicken - basil-scented, addictive, and unapologetically fried. Past the 300-year-old Taipei Tianhou temple, we'll soon be working chopsticks over niú ròu miàn beef noodle soup, at a Michelin-rated joint where the noodles are hand-pulled in the back kitchen. The broth is a decades-old secret, closely guarded by the family owners. There are 15+ tastings in all, and plenty of surprises to feast upon. Come hungry.

Taste the two faces of Taipei in the daytime - a sensory collision of steaming broths, ancestral recipes, and lunchtime hustle. This is the real Taipei 101: a tower of flavour over the city’s most legendary kitchens.