It’s only the first week of 2024 but it’s never too early to plan for an easy trip. For Thais, it’s a visa-free, four hour flight to the nearby capital of Taiwan—or a really bad day of commuting in Bangkok. 

BK ate and drank our way through the Songshan-Xindian Taipei Metro line (Green Line) which covers major sightseeing spots around the metropolitan area to find some cool, easy, and fun way to explore the city.

Breakfast: Yong He Soy Milk

Photo credit: Supasit Chantranon / Unsplash

Only a seven-minute walk from the Ximen metro station, the legendary Yong He Soy Milk features a Taiwanese breakfast classic worth getting up early for. Mild in taste and filling in portion, the signature eggs and ham (B59) stuffed in a flattened pancake is fresh off the grill and topped with some sesame seeds. A familiar staple is the deep fried dough sticks, AKA pa thong ko (B62), served hot and crispy and triple the size of what you usually come across in Thailand. For your choice of beverage, opt for some stomach warming sweet soy milk (B27) or the savory rice milk (B27) with a nutty and heavier consistency. 

No. 30, Section 2, Hankou St, Wanhua District, Open daily 12 am-2:30 pm, 9:30 pm-12 am.

Lunch: Mei Guan Yuan

Still in the Ximen area, if you’re looking for a place to rest your legs from all the souvenir shopping, head to Mei Guan Yuan for a Taiwanese take on Japanese cuisine. Opened since 1946, this restaurant is a hot venue for celebrations and post cram school crowds. The platter of roll sushi and sushi in fried tofu set (B100) uses common ingredients found in a typical sushi: sweet egg, cucumber, and the meat floss (moo yong) adds a little something special. Ranging from B240-B660, you can also have an assortment of fresh sashimi, with a cut that is distinctively bigger than Japanese servings.

108, Taiwan, Taipei City, Wanhua District, Open daily 11am-9pm.

Dinner: Raohe Street Night Market

Photo credit: Vernon Raineil Cenzon / unsplash

Sure, Taipei has 37 Michelin star restaurants for the epicureans among us, but a trip to Taiwan wouldn’t be complete without a stroll in a night market. Situated just stations away from Ximen, Raohe Street Night Market boasts of local cuisines and Michelin recommended fare. Don’t miss the bao at Fuzhou Black Pepper Bun (B66); these crispy on the outside and soft on the inside bites are stuffed with peppery pork filling before being baked in a charcoal brick oven, giving the finished product a smoky aroma—for this, just follow your nose. Further inside the market sits Ming Pen Xia Gang, a stall with limited seatings that specializes in crispy stinky tofu (B66) and oyster omelet (B77).

Raohe St, Songshan District, Open daily 5-11pm
 

Drinks: Mod Bar

Ready for a night cap? This hidden rendez-vous is tucked away in a cozy alley. Mod Bar is a nightlife mainstay, established in 1995 and known for being a launchpad for the city’s up-and-coming bar tenders, specializing in its Japanese bartending style. Their specialty lies in the generous selection of Japanese whiskeys, classic wines, and highball concoctions. If you’re starting the drinking sesh a bit light, Xmas in the Summer (B388) is a green-tinted, sake-based cocktail served in a flute glass resembling a Christmas tree. The sweet and sour sips of this apple and cherry drink go down like magic. If you’re feeling experimental, order the Ric and Miami (B388). The mix of red wine and sake gives the drink a slight tannin vibe that’s balanced with peach-flavored liquor.

No. 40, Alley 4, Lane 345, Section 4, Ren'ai Rd, Da’an District, Open Tue-Sat 3pm-2:30am, and Sun-Mon 7pm-4am.