What to eat Taiwan? culinary specialties and gastronomy

Most restaurants are open all day, but close relatively early (around 9:30pm). Upscale establishments generally close between lunch and dinner services.

There are restaurants to suit all budgets in Taiwan, from small neighborhood canteens where you can eat for a few hundred Taiwanese dollars to luxurious establishments that can charge several thousand dollars for a meal. International credit cards are generally accepted, but you'll need to pay cash in the lower-end establishments.

In Taiwan, there are no nasty surprises when it comes to the bill, even if restaurants sometimes include a service charge that acts as a tip (between 10 and 15% of the total amount). Please note, however, that menu prices do not always include VAT (15%).

The vast majority of restaurants in Taiwan offer only chopsticks as cutlery, although in Taipei, the use of knife and fork is becoming increasingly common. Portions are quite hearty, making them ideal for sharing.

Hygiene in Taiwanese restaurants is usually quite acceptable. So there's no risk of ordering raw vegetables or drinking from ice cubes. Although tap water is theoretically drinkable, the pipes are in poor condition. So it's best to boil your water before drinking it, or switch to mineral water.

Never stick your chopsticks in your rice bowl, as this brings bad luck.

Children are welcome in all establishments in Taiwan, except perhaps some karaoke bars after dark.

Smoking is prohibited in restaurants in Taiwan. However, smoking rooms are available in a small number of establishments.

Restaurants in the most popular tourist areas face stiff competition. Sometimes very persistent touts try to lure the clientele with promotional offers. But the quality isn't always there.

Festive bars and restaurants open around 6pm and close around 1 or 2am. On weekends, the party sometimes goes on until late into the night (3 or even 4am). Happy hours are usually offered in the early evening. On weekends, Taipei's popular venues are packed, and it can be hard to find a table to sit down at.

Alcohol is relatively expensive in Taiwan, but there are some cheap bars (around the Red House in Ximen, for example). For two beers and a snack, for example, the bill is around NT$600. International credit cards are not accepted in the more modest establishments.

You must be 18 to drink alcohol in Taiwan. An identity card or passport will suffice to order a drink in case of doubt.

Taiwanese people like to have a drink and a bite to eat. While not comparable to the tapas culture in Spain, most bars offer a few inexpensive snacks. Inherited from the Japanese colonial era, Taipei is home to many izakaya: Japanese bars offering small plates to be enjoyed with a glass of alcohol.

Children are welcome in most of Taipei's bars and restaurants, although after a certain hour, the atmosphere in some establishments is not suitable for younger guests.

Smoking is banned in Taiwanese public places, and bars are no exception. However, some bars have smoking areas. A few restaurants have terraces where you can smoke, but this culture is not very widespread.

As in every country in the world, drunken people are prime victims for hustlers and swindlers of all kinds. So be careful not to follow just anyone if you've had too much to drink.