Taiwanese food overlaps with Chinese (China Mainland) and Cantonese (Hong Kong) food but Taiwan has its distinct specialities. Since I plan to be back in Taiwan in July and was drooling over my own Pinterest collection of asian food pictures and overwhelmed by what I have to try when I'm back I thought I would help everyone make a portable checklist of foods to eat in Taiwan (with the names of the food in English and Chinese)! Here goes:

Oyster Omelette 蚵仔煎
Squid Balls 花枝丸 - made by pummeling squid and then forming the meat into a meatball that looks white after cooking; often served fried or in soup and of course delicious!
Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Meat Filling 肉圓
Stinky Tofu 0.o (You know you have to try it at least once in your life!!!!!) 臭豆腐

Grilled Squid Balls

Delicious with just some salt and pepper

Rice Dumpling with Meat Filling

Eaten with a pink/red sweet sauce

Tornado Chips

Called tornado for its shape but basically potato chips made fresh

Stinky Tofu

The infamous stinky tofu is often eaten with pickled vegetables

Fried Chicken Steak 炸雞排
Salt and Pepper Fried Chicken 鹽酥雞／炸甜不辣
Sticky Rice 筒仔米糕
Moon cakes 月餅
Shaved Ice 剎冰／刨冰
Bubble Tea 珍珠奶茶
Sweet tofu 豆花

Corn Dog

Eat it with wasabi o.0

Sweet Tofu

Tofu with some sweet syrup, eaten with your choice of sweet beans, tapioca, peanuts, pearl barley and etc.

Fresh Seafood

Fish

We mean it when we say fresh seafood - the benefits of living on an island

Taro Ice 芋頭冰
Ding Tai Fung Steamed Dumplings 鼎泰豐小籠包 - Ding Tai Fung is not the only place with delicious steamed dumplings but it has gotten to be very popular in the last few years; I definitely will write a separate posts are what are things to look for in a top level steamed dumpling!
Shabu Shabu / Spicy Hot Pot 小火鍋／麻辣火鍋
Soy sauce braised 滷味
Beef Noodle Soup 牛肉麵
Braised Pork Over Rice 滷肉飯
Yilan Leek Pancake宜蘭蔥油餅
XO Fish Head Hot Pot 砂鍋魚頭／魚湯
Pineapple Shortbread 鳳梨酥 - often translated into "cake" but the cookie crust on the outside is much more of a shortbread than any kind of cake

Bell Apples

In season from late spring to early summer

BBQ Pork Bun

Often seen at dimsum places and local markets

Green Onion/Leek Pancakes

The ones stuffed with green onion/leek is especially good

Shanghai Soup Dumplings

Be careful - the insides are hot!

Beef Noodle Soup

Get the half-tendon, half-meat combo when you can

Taiwan Breakfast Pastries

Made fresh, grilled flaky pastry to stuff with egg and to have with some soybean milk

Fresh Serve Ice Cream

Oyster Soup Noodle 蚵仔麵線
Bell Apples 蓮霧－a crispy and juicy fruit, kind of like a honey crisp but bell-shaped and easier to eat
Wheel-shaped Pancake 車輪餅
Sun Shortbread 太陽餅 - another popular pastry, especially in Taichung, with a filling made of a soft malt toffee (麥芽糖）
Milk Fish 虱目魚 - this is a special type of fish famous in the Tainan region of Taiwan; the meat is juicy and the bones literally falls apart after cooking and is eaten for its mineral nutrients

Seattle loves its food, love its grunge, and its subculture of Magic players and breakdancers thrive in a culture of good quality living. The plaid shirts, vests, and beanies everywhere are the tell-tale signs of the large biker and rock-climber community. There are plenty of guides out there to tell you about all the high-end restaurants, so I am focused on the best local favorites and comfort foods. Because quality is so highly valued in the Northwest, you get A LOT of options. Enjoy!

DOWNTOWN / PIKE'S PLACE

Japonessa - Offers wonderfully fresh and interesting fish and seafood appetizers; what I also love is that you can get hard cocktails and not just sake at this chic sushi spot
Cafe Campagne - Hidden french bistro but popular for good reason! Everything on the menu is thought out and executed perfectly (not to mention the reasonable pricing)
Piroshky Piroshky - Russian bakery right by Starbuck's original store which has freshly baked apple cinnamon bread, poppyseed rolls and piroshky with savory/sweet fillings
Maximillien - Quality French food and the happy hour is such a steal! You have to order the moules frites and different flavor options are available
Purple Wine Bar - the spiral wine column in the center of the lounge is beautiful to look at while you enjoy a drink and appetizers
Macrina Bakery - Macrina has several locations in Seattle and if you happen upon one definitely try their lavender cake and savory breads
Umi Sake House - Something I enjoy about Seattle is the amount of space that restaurants have to spread out and express their character; Umi and its sister location Momiji (in Capitol Hill) are fun locations to taste sake and share some sushi rolls
While you're in the neighborhood, check out the Starbuck Roastery, the original Starbucks store, and Beecher's Cheese flagship store (where you can see part of the cheesemaking process). The famous fish throwing part of the market is located near the famous sign and you will easily see it. There are plenty of snacks in the surrounding shops and stands.

View from Pike Place

Park at the end of the Pike Place Market

Pike's Place

Spice Shops

Check out the mini donut place, spice shops, and other retailers carrying interesting jams, oils, and fragrances

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT

Samir's Mediterranean - My favorite Mediterranean place in the world and you have to try their homemade hot sauce (be warned!) and Namoura (semolina rose water dessert)
Tofu House - Authentic Korean food in good sized portions made by a group of Korean aunties and soup is not watered down, pajeong is crispy and is filled with plenty of seafood
Noodle Nation - This is a noodle/noodle soup place like you've never been before; I wish there was one like this in every city I lived in.
Thai Tom - Very popular with locals but personally I find Thai Tom too oily and the space is cramped and not well ventilated
Solstice Cafe - Experience Seattlite's generous wifi, delicious coffee, and cardamom cake
Cedar's Indian - Need I go into how pillowy their naan and spiced their curry?
Big Time Brewing Company - This is the only pizza place I like in Seattle and it's so satisfying everytime
Kisaku

Noodle Nation

Best noodle/noodle soup place ever!!

Little Skillet

Fried Chicken with Waffles <3

Experience Music Project

Guitars galore near the Jimi Hendrix exhibit

U District (area around UW)

Seattle is very seasonal and green all year around

Gas Works Park

Add a little steam punk to your afternoon - a great view of the entire city and not too crowded

Cherry Blossoms (Univ. of Washington)

Springtime

Autumn

I have to take more beautiful golden pictures when I visit Seattle next!

CAPITOL HILL

Quinn's - Centrally located in the hot part of Capitol Hill; delicious food with a wide variety of beer bottled and on tap
Artusi/Spinasse
Sitka & Spruce
Momiji - Sister restaurant to Umi Sake House downtown!
While you're in the neighborhood, check out Elliot Bay Book Company, a local favorite. The area is great for bar hopping and venues like Neumo's also host fun concerts.
Seattle Hot Dogs - Come nightfall hot dog stands all come out for the bar hoppers in Capitol Hill. Try a Seattle Dog with cream cheese!

BALLARD (the restaurants in Ballard are all within walking distance)

Walrus & Carpenter - Surrounded by water, you know you have to try some seafood while you're here and no better place than Walrus & Carpenter in Ballard! The oyster happy hour give you not only a good price but also an assortment of juicy oysters from along the coast.
Little Skillet - Fried Chicken and Waffles with their special rosemary honey drizzle is heavenly.
Other Coast Cafe Sandwiches - Rajun Cajun!
Hot Cakes - Muahahaha.....liquor, chocolate, caramel. Boozy shakes and molten chocolate. You have to make this a stop.
Ballard Farmer's Market - This is my ALL TIME favorite Farmer's Market.
Pestle Rock Thai - Authentic thai with great cocktails and gives you a taste of what different regions of Thai brings to the table.
Cafe Mox - Board game bar!
Bastille - RSVP if you plan to come here for brunch while you visit the farmer's market as there is always a line.
Señor Moose - I would not generally boast about Mexican food in Seattle, however, Senor Moose is an exception. The corn on the cob, as "plain" as that sounds is amazing.
Red Mill Burgers - Just the right kind of fries, fried onions with your juicy burgers!
Dick's - Nothing exceedingly special but the local joint.