I’ve heard that before, but I don’t believe it’s enough. People who have lived in other Asian countries and enjoyed the Eastern food there can still hate Taiwanese food.
It’s not for everybody, but I also know Asians who love Taiwanese food especially ethnic Chinese.
I mean it’s not like you needed to choose. 
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I would like to know what made recent immigrants move to Taiwan . Not many of them use this forum though. Vast vast majority are South East Asians.
But for any recent newbs what made you move ? Anybody move here with family recently ?
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Funny enough, my wife and I generally enjoy the buffets. There isn’t much variety, but a few times a week it is not too bad. I don’t need Michelin star food every night, just something that tastes pretty good and doesn’t do a number on my digestion. Due to that we generally avoid spicy and overly oily foods for dinner.
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For me, the question is what keeps drawing us back to Taiwan? We just can’t stay away!
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Are you back again already?
Well I guess you gotta try outdo it now
I will honestly say the food in Taiwan was a big draw for me.
How often are you eating out at gourmet restaurants? I’m not particularly discerning. It’s tasty, cheap, abundant and diverse. For a young lad living off tins of tuna and mi goreng back home being able to gorge yourself on dumplings and not feel broke afterwards - every day - is paradise.
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My U.S. company sent me here in 1998 to open a design and sourcing office. I stayed because Taiwan is an inventor’s paradise.
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If you’re not discerning, and your only point of reference is canned tuna, I guess I can see the attraction. The dumplings are way better in mainland China, though.
Yeaj but the oil was dug up from the sewer
I think reusing oil is a Chinese thing, both republics do this
How much oil is in steamed dumplings?
Not from the sewer though. Chinese food quality is pretty appalling.
The secret to a good Xiao Long Bao is to put a little dollop of fat/oil in each one.
The fastest growing premium restaurant chain and the most profitable chain per restaurant in the whole world is Din Tai Fung, a Taiwanese dumpling restaurant.
Din Tai Fung is exceptionally profitable, boasting the highest Average Unit Volume (AUV) among restaurant chains in the U.S. in 2024, with each location generating approximately $27.4 million annually. This is nearly double the revenue of the next highest-grossing chain, driven by high-volume, premium casual dining and viral, often influencer-driven, popularity
I know quite a few excellent dumpling places all over Taiwan, although mostly concentrated in Taipei area, I do know a few decent ones in Kaohsiung too.
Ok, but the dumplings are still better
I went once in Kaohsiung, mediocre. It might be growing, but McDonalds is a bigger chain and I wouldn’t say it is the best burger in the world.
I don’t think bubble tea or K-pop are objectively awesome, either
If people want to say Taipei food is good, ok. Taipei is not Taiwan…
I wouldn’t expect the best cuisine in America in Florida or Arkansas either.
How often is food listed as a reason for bringing people to the US?
That goes back to my point though on the Yanks that were overjoyed with mediocre harbour view apartments in Tamshui. For folks that were living on macaroni and cheese or canned tuna, or ghetto flats, it may be a step up. For those of us born with Whiggish stakes in society or well travelled, it’s average, very average. Frankly I understand, back in the day, the draw of dating much more than food. 
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