The Flavor of Home: A Scarsdale Student’s Experience in Taiwan

It was 16 hours of movies, napping, and pretzels before we arrived in Taipei, Taiwan from JFK. My brother, mother, and I stumbled out of the plane, picked up our bags, and were greeted by grandparents and cousins.

Like many others when they were younger, I used to take traveling for granted. I’d whine about the humidity and heat, beg my mom to let me play video games, and insist on staying indoors whenever possible. It wasn’t until I grew older that I began to appreciate the richness of these moments – the joy of reconnecting with family, the vibrant culture, and the unique beauty of a place so different from home.

One thing I especially missed was the food.

That was the first thing on the list – and the main objective in general. Hours before our flight, my brother Andre and I watched Mike Chen's YouTube video “Eating BRUNCH at Taiwan 7-ELEVEN”, eager to try out the various types of teas, tea eggs, pork buns, and most importantly, instant ramen. Upon arriving at our apartment, the two of us strolled to the nearby 7/11, coming back with “beef-flavored instant noodles” – a bowl of deliciousness that isn’t just beef-flavored but has large chunks of tender beef and tendon in it, a gamechanger compared to that of Cup Noodles or Top Ramen in the US.

Obviously, instant ramen isn’t all that Taiwan has to offer.

Every morning, we walked just around 10 minutes or so to a local breakfast joint to delight in its soup dumplings. Nestled in a bustling side street, the eatery was easy to miss if you didn’t know where to look. It had an unassuming facade, with faded signage and a cluster of plastic stools accompanying the plastic tables within. Yet, it’s where you find great food – and for great prices. Meals for three people may only cost you around $10.

However, the finest soup dumplings are found at no other than Din Tai Fung. Din Tai Fung started its humble business in Taipei and recently opened its long-waited branch in NYC. We visited the Din Tai Fung inside the grand Taipei 101 tower. Contrary to the small local eatery we frequented in the mornings, this restaurant was sleek and modern. The minimalist decor created an air of sophistication, yet it retained the warm, inviting energy that Din Tai Fung is known for.

Besides soup dumplings, Taiwan offers deliciously made beef noodle soup, pork buns, the best boba tea, and traditional desserts such as Aiyu jelly and boba with shaved ice, sweet rice balls with sesame paste, and Tanghulu.

The highlight of the trip for me, though, was Jiufen.

As if it was the real-life rendition of the film Spirited Away (even though Hayao Miyazaki denies taking any inspiration, which I personally don’t believe), Jiufen felt like stepping into a world where time moved differently. Perched on the mountainside, this former gold mining town was a maze of narrow, winding streets lined with red lanterns, teahouses, and shops selling all manner of trinkets and snacks. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed tea and the savory scent of fried stinky tofu, mingling with the earthy smell of rain-soaked stone.

Every corner seemed to reveal something new – a cozy café next to a store selling Studio Ghibli souvenirs, a clothes shop selling traditional garments, or a panoramic view of the misty ocean far below. I also learned that, at the top of Jiufen, there lay an elementary school. How nice it would be to leave class and run down a few steps to enjoy some taro balls while watching the clouds roll over the hills.

As our time in Taiwan drew to a close, I found myself savoring every moment, every bite, every sight. It was a reconnection – with family, with my heritage, and with a part of myself that I hadn’t fully appreciated before.

I'm already looking forward to my next visit. Whether it's slurping soup dumplings, exploring the busy streets in flip-flops and a tank top, or just hanging out at a 7/11, I can’t wait to dive back into those familiar yet ever-exciting moments.