Wait… You Eat That?! Taiwan

Clara
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  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Semiweekly

Come for the food. Stay for the cultural confusion. Coming to Taiwan and wondering what on earth everyone is eating? Join Clara as we explore Taiwanese food, culture, and all the delicious confusion that comes with eating your way around Taiwan — from breakfast shops and night markets to stinky tofu, hot pot, convenience stores, and foods you might be too scared to try. No perfect Chinese required. No food expertise required. Let’s figure out Taiwan, one confusing bite at a time.

Episodes

  1. 17h ago

    EP12 — Xiaolongbao in Taiwan: Wait… There’s Soup INSIDE the Dumpling?

    You pick up a xiaolongbao. You bite into it. Hot soup attacks your mouth. Nobody warned you. Today, Clara explains how to eat soup dumplings without burning yourself — and why one tiny dumpling seems to come with instructions. Music 🎵 Background Music Credits "Airport Lounge" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music has been edited and adjusted for use as background music in this podcast. Hashtags #Xiaolongbao #SoupDumplings #TaiwanFood #TaiwanTravel #TaiwanTips #TaiwanPodcast

  2. 2d ago

    EP11 — Braised Pork Rice (Lu Rou Fan): Why Is This Tiny Bowl Such a Big Deal in Taiwan?

    A small bowl of rice topped with braised pork. That's it? Not quite. Braised Pork Rice ( AKA Lu Rou Fan) is one of Taiwan's most familiar everyday foods — simple, comforting, and surprisingly capable of starting arguments about what the “real” version should be. Music 🎵 Background Music Credits "Airport Lounge" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music has been edited and adjusted for use as background music in this podcast. Hashtags #LuRouFan #BraisedPorkRice #TaiwanFood #TaiwanTravel #TaiwaneseFood #TaiwanPodcast

  3. 4d ago

    EP10 — Beef Noodles in Taiwan: Why Does Everyone Have a Favorite Shop?

    Beef noodle soup sounds simple. Beef. Noodles. Soup. Then you come to Taiwan and discover that everyone seems to have an opinion about where the “best” bowl is. Braised or clear broth? Thick noodles or thin? Tendon or no tendon? Welcome to one of Taiwan’s favorite comfort foods. Music 🎵 Background Music Credits "Airport Lounge" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music has been edited and adjusted for use as background music in this podcast. Hashtags #TaiwanBeefNoodles #BeefNoodles #TaiwanFood #TaiwanTravel #TaiwanCulture #TaiwanPodcast

  4. Oct 10

    EP9 — Taiwanese Food Culture: Why Won’t My Friend Stop Feeding Me?

    “Eat more.”“Try this.”“Take some home.”“Have some fruit.” You’ve already said you’re full three times. So why is everyone still feeding you? In this episode of Wait… You Eat That?! Taiwan, Clara looks at how food can be a way of showing care in Taiwanese culture — from offering extra dishes to cutting fruit and sending guests home with food. If you're traveling in Taiwan or spending time with Taiwanese friends and families, this episode helps explain why “Have you eaten?” can sometimes mean much more than just a question about food. Music "Gymnopédie No. 1" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License Hashtags #TaiwaneseCulture #TaiwanFoodCulture #TaiwanFood #TaiwanTravel #FoodIsLove #TaiwanPodcast

  5. Oct 8

    EP8 — Hot Pot in Taiwan: Why Are We Eating This When It’s 35°C Outside?!

    It’s summer in Taiwan. You’re sweating just standing outside. Your Taiwanese friend has a brilliant idea: Hot pot. In this episode of Wait… You Eat That?! Taiwan, Clara explores Taiwan’s year-round love of hot pot — from individual pots and spicy broth to sauce stations and the strange joy of eating boiling soup in tropical weather. If you're traveling in Taiwan and wondering why people are eating hot pot in the middle of summer, this episode is for you. Music "Gymnopédie No. 1" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License Hashtags #TaiwanHotPot #HotPot #TaiwanFood #TaiwanTravel #TaiwanCulture #TaiwanPodcast

  6. Oct 6

    EP7 — Convenience Stores in Taiwan: Why Is Everyone Eating at 7-Eleven?

    You flew all the way to Taiwan… and now Clara is telling you to eat at a convenience store? Yes. In this episode of Wait… You Eat That?! Taiwan, Clara takes you inside Taiwan’s convenience-store culture — from tea eggs and rice balls to hot meals, coffee, and the everyday services locals use all the time. If you're traveling in Taiwan and wondering why 7-Eleven and FamilyMart seem to be everywhere, this episode explains why convenience stores are such a big part of daily life. Music "Gymnopédie No. 1" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License Hashtags #TaiwanConvenienceStore #TaiwanFood #TaiwanTravel #TaiwanCulture #7ElevenTaiwan #TaiwanPodcast

  7. Oct 3

    EP6 — Whole Fish in Taiwan: Why Is My Dinner Looking at Me?!

    You ordered fish. You expected a fillet. Taiwan brought you the whole fish. Head. Tail. Eyes. Everything. In this episode of Wait… You Eat That?! Taiwan, Clara talks about why whole fish is commonly served at Taiwanese tables, why it can surprise visitors, and how food presentation shapes what feels “normal” or unfamiliar. If you're traveling in Taiwan and wondering why the fish on your table still looks very much like a fish, this episode is for you. Music "Gymnopédie No. 1" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License Hashtags #WholeFish #TaiwanFood #TaiwanTravel #TaiwanCulture #FoodCulture #CultureShock

  8. Sep 30

    EP5 — Chicken Feet in Taiwan: Please Tell Me That’s Not a Chicken Foot

    Chicken breast? Fine.Chicken wings? Sure.But chicken feet? In this episode of Wait… You Eat That?! Taiwan, Clara talks about chicken feet in Taiwan — why some people love them, why some visitors find them intimidating, and how culture shapes what we consider “normal” food. If you're traveling in Taiwan and curious about unfamiliar local foods, this episode looks at more than just the dish itself — it looks at why some foods feel strange in the first place. Music "Gymnopédie No. 1" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License Hashtags #ChickenFeet #TaiwanFood #TaiwanTravel #TaiwanCulture #FoodCulture #CultureShock

  9. Sep 28

    EP4 — Pig’s Blood Cake in Taiwan: Wait… Is That BLOOD?!

    Pig’s blood cake. Duck blood. For some visitors, just hearing those words is enough to put down the chopsticks. In this episode of Wait… You Eat That?! Taiwan, Clara explores why blood is used in Taiwanese food, where you might see pig’s blood cake or duck blood, and why these ingredients feel completely normal in one culture — and shocking in another. If you're traveling in Taiwan and curious about unusual local foods, this is a good place to start. Music "Gymnopédie No. 1" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License Hashtags #PigsBloodCake #TaiwanStreetFood #TaiwanFood #TaiwanTravel #TaiwanCulture #CultureShock

  10. Sep 24

    EP3 — Bubble Tea in Taiwan: Why Are There 50 Choices?!

    Ordering bubble tea in Taiwan sounds easy. Until someone asks about the tea, size, sugar level, ice level, and toppings — all before you've had time to panic. In this episode of Wait… You Eat That?! Taiwan, Clara walks you through how bubble tea orders work in Taiwan and why drink customization is taken so seriously here. If you're traveling in Taiwan and want to order bubble tea without freezing at the counter, start here. Music "Gymnopédie No. 1" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License Hashtags #BubbleTea #Boba #TaiwanDrinks #TaiwanFood #TaiwanTravel #TaiwanCulture

  11. Sep 21

    EP2 — Stinky Tofu: Why Is My Tofu Trying to Kill Me?

    You're walking through a Taiwanese night market when suddenly... What. Is. That. Smell? Congratulations. You've probably found stinky tofu, one of Taiwan's most famous street foods. In this episode of Wait… You Eat That?! Taiwan, Clara explains what stinky tofu is, why it smells so strong, and why so many people in Taiwan love it. If you're traveling in Taiwan and wondering whether you should try stinky tofu at a night market, this episode is for you. Music "Gymnopédie No. 1" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License Hashtags #StinkyTofu #TaiwanFood #TaiwanNightMarket #TaiwanTravel #TaiwanStreetFood #TaiwanCulture

  12. Sep 15

    EP1 — Taiwanese Breakfast: People Eat WHAT in Taiwan?!

    Your first morning in Taiwan, you walk into a local Taiwanese breakfast shop — and suddenly you have no idea what anyone is ordering. Dan bing? Fan tuan? Turnip cake? Rice for breakfast?! In this episode of Wait… You Eat That?! Taiwan, Clara introduces some of the most common Taiwanese breakfast foods and shows you what to order on your first visit. If you're traveling in Taiwan and want to understand local breakfast culture, start here. Music "Gymnopédie No. 1" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License Hashtags #TaiwanFood #TaiwanBreakfast #TaiwanTravel #TaiwanCulture #TaiwanPodcast

  • 12 Episodes

About

Come for the food. Stay for the cultural confusion. Coming to Taiwan and wondering what on earth everyone is eating? Join Clara as we explore Taiwanese food, culture, and all the delicious confusion that comes with eating your way around Taiwan — from breakfast shops and night markets to stinky tofu, hot pot, convenience stores, and foods you might be too scared to try. No perfect Chinese required. No food expertise required. Let’s figure out Taiwan, one confusing bite at a time.

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