A Halal Food Guide to Taipei

Jioufen, Taiwan. All images belong to author.

For those of us raised on cold sandwiches and Fish-n-Chips Fridays, the culinary world of Taiwan serves a bold new adventure of wholesome flavours and new combinations. Navigating dietary requirements in an unfamiliar place is often a challenge, so this guide aims to offer some suggestions for those following a halal (清真 qīngzhēn) diet. While the presence of a Muslim population in Taiwan is limited, some foreign Muslims who have moved to the island are helping fill the gap and offer high-quality halal food.

This is particularly important in Taiwan, as students on their Year Abroad will typically eat out daily due to the low cost of food and general convenience. Whole and filling meals can be absurdly cheap (as low as $80 NTD/£2.20), and a culture of eating out on the regular is clear from the overwhelming number of restaurants and night markets that inhabit Taiwanese cities.

Of course, this guide is by no means definitive, as it reflects the limitations of my geographical location and food preferences. Unless you possess the extraordinary ability to eat the same food on a daily basis for extended periods of time (a classmate ate Chicken Katsu Curry every day for two months at one point…), it’s also worth pointing out that vegetarianism has deep roots in Taiwan due to the prevalence of Buddhism, which advocates a meat-free diet (unless you’re in Tibet!). Veganism has also taken the capital by a storm over the last decade. For these reasons, I found myself taking on the false identity of a vegetarian via the magical phrase ‘我吃素’ (wǒ chī sù).

Unfortunately, many of the halal restaurants in Taipei tend to be expensive, (sometimes) classy establishments which cater to a local population less familiar with Indian/Turkish/Middle Eastern cuisine. So, here are my regular haunts that provided the weekly kick I needed without forfeiting a kidney.

Istanbul Turkish Food Taipei

The owner of this wonderful stall is a warm-natured Turk who serves delicious wraps with a beaming smile. Just round the corner from Gongguan station exit 4, the food is consistently good and, on occasion, there’s even rice pudding available for dessert. Oh, how my tastebuds sang! Absolutely worth a visit!

Egyptian Shawarma King 埃及沙威玛王

The gym-loving Egyptian owner, who also speaks fluent Mandarin, serves excellent chicken shawarma for a bargain price. Always open, rain or shine. I cannot explain how grateful I was to have this brilliant establishment so close to National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU). Comes with the added benefit of learning how to say Shawarma (Shāwēimǎ) in Mandarin.

Fried Chicken Master 炸鸡大师

Fried Chicken Master proudly bears the title of being Taiwan’s first halal fried chicken chain, opening back in 2014. The fast food spot has since expanded, with a total of four sites in Taiwan (three of which are in Taipei) as well as going overseas with branches in Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia. Its success is not without reason. Despite a slightly lengthier waiting time than I was used to, after my first bite of their sumptuous Thai sweet chili chicken meal box, I knew I would be back again and again. I regularly darkened the (metaphorical) door of Fried Chicken Master in great anticipation of the (not so) greasy goodness that they could provide.

Indian Curry Stall in Shida Market

This Indian stall remains a local secret; it has no presence on Google Maps. I only discovered it after a few classmates mentioned it to me, adding that the Indian owner had been aghast when they, young Brits, revealed unfamiliarity with his hometown Darjeeling – known to most of us through Darjeeling tea. The location is perfect, just steps away from NTNU, but the selection is limited to either vegetarian or lamb curry. Curiously, I found myself developing a preference for the vegetarian curry.

Abdu Arabian Cuisine （阿布都中东料理)

When I felt like splashing out, there was only one halal restaurant that I would keep throwing my (New Taiwan) Dollars at; Abdu Arabian Cuisine （阿布都中东料理）. Out of the few proper halal restaurants that I tried (about four), this was the only one that did not disappoint. Serving up delicious and authentic Middle Eastern food with the occasional East Asian twist, this cosy and well-decorated restaurant hides on the second floor of an unassuming building in Gongguan. I broke my fast here on several occasions and was delighted to find that I could even pray on site. Their business lunch option is set at a more reasonable price with the added benefit of a student discount.

A special shout-out to the now defunct Uzbek stall in Shida Market. It was alive and kicking during my first visit to Taiwan, serving the best lamb wraps I’d ever had. I was quite disappointed to see it was no longer operating when I returned in Third Year. RIP.

Finally, an unexpected benefit of a small circle of halal establishments was that I would find myself making new friends through these visits. These spaces hold special significance in my memory as they helped me find a small community of fellow Muslims in Taipei in a way that would have been nearly impossible in a city like London. Now, let us clink our non-existent glasses to make a toast (the non-edible kind, sadly) - to food and friendship.