AS I intently scroll down the pictures of mouthwatering Taiwanese beef noodles on my handphone, I can't help but wonder silently whether I will be able to savour this culinary delight in Taipei during my Muslim media familiarisation trip to Taiwan.
"If you don't try their beef noodles, you can't say that you've been to Taiwan!" I recalled a colleague remarking about this six-day culinary adventure hosted by the Taiwan Tourism Administration.
As a Muslim, her words did trigger concern about my halal dietary needs. Thankfully, my worries were quickly put to rest as I duly discovered that there are so many halal-certified restaurants serving all kinds off food, from Western to Oriental.
FOODIE HAVEN
A vibrant tapestry of halal dining experience begins to unfold as my host takes me through various cities, starting from Kaohsiung in the south, to central Tainan and all the way north to Taipei.
It is reassuring that Taiwan is not just visually enchanting, but is also an island that's gaining acceptance as a culinary haven for Muslim travellers.
Kaohsiung City, being the first stop, has much to charm visitors with its scenic mountains, meandering rivers, and numerous art and historical attractions.
Hours later, after a full and tiring day of sightseeing, the media team is whisked to an Indonesian restaurant called Chen Lili.
Located at Wufu 4th Road in Yancheng District, we are treated to a delightful feast. There's fragrant rice to go with crunchy fried bean sprouts with coconut flakes, savoury fried tempeh, a perfectly cooked fish, and authentic Indonesian sambal dip that's not only spicy, but fiery enough to make you sweat profusely.
The menu also features a unique crispy eggplant fried in batter, which reminds me a lot of Malaysia's beloved pisang goreng. In addition, there's also skewered chicken and beef served with mildly textured peanut sauce, boasting a flavour that sets it apart from the traditional satay sauce found in Malaysia.
BEEFY DELIGHTS
Next stop on my culinary journey is the Kaohsiung Halal Restaurant. Located next to the Kaohsiung Mosque in Lingya District, this restaurant is touted as a "must-visit", particularly for its beef noodles.
It's impossible not to be awed by the large variety of mouthwatering beef dishes in the menu, which range from piping hot beef bone soup to tender tendons, as well as flavourful dishes with vegetables.
The meat is juicy and tender, and can be easily separated from the bone. These dishes are wonderful to order, especially when the temperature outside is a cool 14°C.
I spent a leisurely two days in Kaohsiung before making my way to Tainan, where the first item on the agenda is again to sample the city's famous beef soup for breakfast at the hotel.
A vast difference from the spicy one in Kaoshiung, the Tainan beef soup is light and pleasantly sweet, with a hint of ginger that adds a refreshing touch.
Incidentally, in Taiwan, in addition to its numerous halal eateries, there are also certified halal hotels that cater to Muslim needs by providing not only halal food, but also facilities like the qibla and prayer schedules.
The fourth day of my visit takes me to Taipei on a high-speed rail. My first destination — the one I have been eagerly waiting to visit from Day 1 — is the renowned Halal Beef Noodle House in Yanji Street of Da'an District in the capital.
It's impossible to miss the aroma of the rich broth from afar. And I have to say, the wait at the Michellin Guide-listed restaurant is definitely worth it!
Opting for the soy-infused version, I can't help but to sigh in contentment at the taste of the broth — fragrant and sweet, light and exquisite, and brimming with various ingredients.
Meanwhile, the beef pieces, swimming in between the bed of chewy homemade noodles, are huge yet incredibly tender, which makes it easy for me to savour despite my rather limited mastery of the chopsticks.
For fans of dumplings, the menu also offers a delectable selection for diners to choose from.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Soon, it's tea time and wanting to try something a little different, me and my group make our way to a Turkish restaurant called Saturn Turkish Coffee. We're pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a Johorian who's been working there for many years.
With its blue façade, this establishment, also located in Da'an District, is definitely not a place you will overlook easily. The restaurant offers a delightful experience with its offerings of Turkish coffee and desserts served on exquisite Turkish crockery.
Excitedly, we peruse the menu before opting for a selection of scrumptious desserts, which include a refreshing vanilla ice cream topped with pistachio, kunafa and baklava.
The day ends with something Italian as we head to Gusto Pizza for dinner, which offers a wonderful selection of delicious handmade Italian pizza. Highly recommended are the salmon pizza, MTB and Danish Supreme, to name a few.
DIVERSE FLAVOURS
Time passes by so quickly when you're having fun. And before we know it, we've already reached the fifth and second-last day of my media trip.
On the itinerary is a visit to Kunming Islamic Restaurant at Fushing North Road, Taipei, to savour its version of sweet and sour siakap fish and shrimp tom yam.
The verdict? It's definitely worth a visit! The dishes here make me feel like home and the much-touted siakap fish and tom yam soup certainly meet their mark. They go a long way to satisfy my cravings for Thai cuisine back home.
The restaurant, which is apparently popular with visitors from Brunei and Malaysia, has an interesting interior that features many types of Islamic decor.
On our table, I note many currency notes from various countries left by visitors as a memento, adding to the charm of the place. My fellow media friends and I decide to do the same.
On our final day in Taipei, we are treated to the flavours of Indian cuisine at Masala Art, located in the Yuanshan Park area of Taipei Expo Park. The menu features flavourful tandoori chicken served with aromatic yellow-spiced rice and chickpea gravy, as well as roti prata with chicken curry.
As I take my time to enjoy my final meal of the trip, I can't help but smile contentedly at the thought of just how my journey across Taiwan has been nothing short of a delightful exploration of diverse and authentic halal offerings.
Certainly, my initial worries about halal dietary needs would be met whilst traveling across Taiwan. Now I can tell my colleague back home that I HAVE been to Taiwan!
Muslim travellers planning to visit Taiwan and explore its halal restaurants and Muslim-friendly hotels may refer to https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/. As well as halal cuisine, many of these restaurants are also equipped with prayer facilities.