Taiwan is well known for it’s many cheap culinary delights. Stinky tofu, oyster omelets, pig’s blood cake and three cups chicken (三杯雞) are all tasty dishes found easily in every city and are a must try for tourists.
In Latin countries, tacos are usually the best cheap foods. Taiwan doesn’t really do tacos, unless guabao (割包), soy sauce braised pork topped with peanut powder and served in a steamed bun, is included. This weekend, the first-ever Festival del Taco en Taipei at the Taiwan Artist Village (台北國際藝術村) will be introducing Taiwan to a variety of tacos
Nine stalls will be selling tacos, including Em’s Taco, Mecato, Uncle Kunkel, Nala’s Mexican Food and Las Adelitas.
Photo courtesy of Color Wolf Studios
TACO MADNESS
Todde Williams is a culinary crackerjack who considers himself an expert on tacos. He plans his birthdays in Taco Bells and is always on the lookout for Mexican food when he travels around the world as a writer. Williams will also be at the festival selling his Uncle Taco Touch tacos.
Having relocated to Taipei from South Korea two years ago, Williams says that Taiwanese pay closer attention to replicating the original than Korean’s do.
“Taipei has actually taken the time to look up recipes, and people in town travel a lot more than Koreans do, and get more out of other cultures in general. I’d say that here it’s genuinely about flavor, even if there’s a slight miss,” he said.
“Sometimes everything will be spot on, and then someone throws cabbage on the taco and makes it a mess. I’ve had a perfect taco, served cold, and a nice, hot, juicy taco served with mayonnaise instead of sour cream.”
While Williams’ favorite taco joint in Taiwan is Anita’s Cantina in Taitung County’s Dulan Village (都蘭), he said he is proud of his pork adobada, which he stews for 12 hours.
“It’s [the] Mexican guabao,” he said.
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