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Street food!!! Fruit!!! And nio ro mien - the spicy beef noodle soup. Sigh. I want to be in Taiwan. When I was traveling in Asia and would run across someone who'd spent time in Taiwan, we'd reminisce over how good the food is.

I've had several friends that lived in Taiwan for extended periods of time. They all ate very well for little. When I've traveled there, food is my least expense. From what my friends who lived there said, eating out is cheaper than buying the food and preparing at home.

Love the stalls at Shilin Night Market... I'm particularly fond of the steamed pork and veggie buns, the shaved ice with mango, strawberry and kiwi with the jelly bits on top, and the stinky tofu (you'll smell it!).
My absolute favorite Taiwanese food is the green onion pancakes at the Shilin MRT station. They come from the stand that is close to the 7-11. You'll know it is the right one because they put basil and egg on the pancake. I've stopped there nearly every time I passed that station, even though it cost more to leave the station. Make sure to get a green onion pancaked, they are all over the place!
I love to eat shabu shabu while in Taipei. Typically we went to a place near Academic Sinica (mainly because that is where we were staying).
Wax apples are delicious and should be in season later this spring.
Ohhh and the bubble tea!!! Home of the original bubble tea so it taste the best!

Seconding fresh fruit (guava, wax apple, lychee, dragonfruit, mango), beef noodle soup, night markets, Taiwanese breakfast (soy milk with freshly fried you tiao aka oil stick aka fried cruller), fresh seafood and sushi.

I would also add on soup dumplings, shaved ice, hot pot, fresh mochi, pearl milk tea, zhua bing, and gua bao (pork bun with mustardy greens, crushed peanuts, etc). Avoid any faux Italian or American--bleh. And don't be afraid of buffets and malls. For whatever reason, they are cheap, fresh, and tasty, unlike the buffets and malls in the United States.

Do try the McDonald's locations and mass marketed chips/candy there. I found the novelty amusing. I went about 4 years ago and Nacho Cheese Doritos were being marketed a new and exciting!

Here's some food photographs from my trip:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathryn/sets/373038/detail/

Taiwan is an island! Why be wary about the seafood? They get it fresh! If there's anything to try in Taiwan, its the crazy biology textbook of seafood they get there. There will be things you can NEVER find in the U.S, all beautiful alive and on your plate.

Try gam la if you can find it, it might be more popular farther south. Its a dish made from tiny fingernail-sized clams marinated raw (I've also heard of them being made in the freezer) in soy sauce, chilis, garlic and other spices. Pungent and addictive!

Cold, sauced noodles at sidewalk stands, spiced sticky rice stuffed in natural casings with a spicy sweet sauce, oyster omelettes, er ah mi sua (eep, romanizing the Taiwanese dialect is kinda awkward) a starch-thickened soup of thin rice noodles, shredded veggies and oysters. Taiwanese beef noodle soup

A while ago, Portuguese-style egg tarts were very popular, but that fad might be on the way out, and that's not really Taiwanese, anyway.

Fresh fruit fresh fruit fresh fruit. Taiwan's tropical climate makes it a haven for fruit. You'll never be satisfied with supermarket fruit ever again.

I'm a vegetarian. So, yes.

I love vegetables...like, to the point where I crave them. The other day I woke up with an urge to have roasted brussels sprouts. I thought about them from the moment I woke up until six at night when I finally had them. I love steamed vegetables with hot sauce on them. Broccoli, brussels sprouts, asparagus and mushrooms...my four favorites :)

love my veggies--especially a new found favorite--dandelion greens!! All kinds of greens-try to get at least 7 types in a day -love escarole, broccoli rabe, spinach, kale, chickory and swiss chard--all good sauteed in EVOO and galic...also love mushrooms-all different types -and almost all other veggies--the list is endless
just roasted root veggies-brussel sprouts, beets, sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips -drizzled olive oil with fresh herbs-rosemary, basil, thyme, s&p..
also made fresh minestrone last night--with swiss chard, squash (gray squash and yellow), escarole, carrots, celery , leeks, onions garlic in a tomato veggie broth....(with chick peas and kidney beans) YUM!

Turkey Gumbo, Brown Rice,and a hadful of grape tomatos.

Bought a very nasty chicken baguette - ended up throwing half of it away and am now hoping that I won't be seeing it again later.....

I had a 1 cup of vegetable soup, a few ounces of cantaloupes and grapes, and my daily can of San Pellegrino Aranciata.

Half a bahn mi sandwich. I think I eat bahn mi too much. Last time there was a "What did you eat for ____?" thread, I think I said "bahn mi" as well.

@love2cook~What's a dutch baby?
@iz~HOW do you still have a honeycrisp? and HI.

I had my sweet Dash home sick so I made 2 little chicken pot pies in ramekins for lunch. Crust, mmmmmmmm...
Had to squeeze it in while on facebook and taking care of the baby (14).

Sandwich made of egg,canadian bacon and a slice of cheddar on a whole grain english muffin. Lightly broiled to melt cheese.