DO
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall – This is worth seeing regardless, but if you show up on the hour during the day, you can see a changing of the guard ceremony.
Houtong Cat Village – The Houtong Cat Village is a small village just outside of Taiwan that’s famous for having hundreds of cats.
EAT
Breakfast near the Elephant Mountain – If you’re looking for a hearty and delicious breakfast before you start your hike up the Elephant Mountain, this place will easily fit the bill.
Cold Noodle Restaurant – If you don’t mind an intense raw garlic kick first thing in the morning, the cold noodles at this restaurant are an amazing way to start the day.
Emperor Foods – The fried pork chop at Emperor Foods blew my mind with its deliciousness.
Fuhang Soy Milk – You’ll have to stand in an impressive line to get in, but the Michelin-starred breakfast at Fuhang Soy Milk is worth the wait.
I’Milky – There’s a drink in Taiwan called brown sugar bubble milk — it’s basically bubble tea without the tea. It’s delicious.
Jia Yuan Pork Ribs Noodles – This place serves an absolutely outstanding bowl of noodles that comes with a fried pork chop on the side.
Jin Feng Braised Pork Rice – Braised pork rice is a Taiwanese specialty that features ultra-tender fatty pork on top of rice. It’s so good.
Jin San Xia – This bakery in the Taipei Main Station serves some tasty pastries.
Lin Dong Fang Beef Noodle – Beef noodle soup might be Taiwan’s most famous dish, and the version at Lin Dong Fang is absolutely outstanding.
Mee Sua (flour rice noodles) vendor – There’s a street vendor near Songshan station that serves a very tasty noodle soup for breakfast.
Raohe Night Market – If you go to the Raohe Night Market, you’ve gotta get the famous pepper buns.
Song Shan Gua Bao – If you’re in Taiwan and you don’t have a pork belly bun, you’re doing it wrong.
Tian Jin Flaky Scallion Pancake – The line here is probably going to be long, and it’s definitely going to move slowly. It’s totally worth it.
Xiangshan Trail (Elephant Mountain) – This is a really nice hiking trail that’s right in the city, and that leads to an amazing view of the Taipei skyline.
Zheng Pork Knuckle – If you like fatty, tender pork, you have to check out Zheng Pork Knuckle. You must.