In the end, Luｗei is the best.

Hi everyone, I’m Takky!

My life in Taiwan has flown by, and I’m already in my ninth month here. It wasn’t until I stopped to think about it that I realized “luwei” is what I eat most often. It’s not just a daily meal—it’s also the perfect accompaniment to beer. No other dish is as convenient, delicious, affordable, and filling as this one, and it even lets you get plenty of vegetables.

What is “luwei”?

When it comes to delicious late-night snacks and local delicacies that embody Taiwan’s unique local flavor, nothing beats the braised dish known as “luwei.” This dish is made by slowly simmering ingredients such as meat, vegetables, fish cakes, and even instant noodles in a special broth infused with the aromas of soy sauce and various spices (such as star anise). It is often compared to Japan’s oden.

Its most distinctive feature is that customers can freely select their favorite ingredients from the abundant assortment displayed at the counter using a basket and tongs. In addition to vegetables and mushrooms, adding Taiwan’s classic “Prince Noodles” (instant noodles) or offal is a particularly popular way to enjoy it among locals. The ingredients fully absorb the sweet-and-salty broth, and just one bite will leave you wanting more.

This dish is deeply loved by the public; you’ll often see long lines at night markets and on street corners, and it makes an excellent accompaniment to beer. Although ordering may seem a bit daunting at first, you can actually just pick your ingredients based on intuition. For anyone looking to experience a unique slice of local Taiwanese culture, this is definitely a must-try culinary gem!

Let’s go eat some braised snacks!

Although many braised food shops don’t have menus, and it might seem difficult to order, it’s actually super simple. At most places, you can just pick out whatever you like, put it in a basket or on a plate, and hand it to the staff—that’s all there is to it.
As shown in the picture below, the ingredients are displayed openly, so just pick the ones you like. Go with your gut. The only tricky part is that the prices aren’t very clear. Some shops have menus, while others don’t. Generally, each serving costs between 10 and 30 yuan. Meat prices may be higher depending on the cut, but even the most expensive items are only around 50 yuan. If you choose 3 to 4 items, the total will be around 100 yuan.

By the way, the toppings I usually add are eggs, yuba, and kelp. I choose these three almost every time. Next on my list are mushrooms, such as enoki mushrooms, and fish cakes, such as chikuwa.

When you visit a noodle shop, you can usually find “luwei” just about anywhere, but there are also shops that specialize exclusively in luwei. Specialized shops naturally offer a wider variety of ingredients. Vegetables are generally only available at these specialty shops. In addition, these shops offer noodles such as instant noodles or udon, which they’ll cook for you so you can enjoy noodles with a luwei flavor.

Conclusion

In this post, I’d like to introduce you to “luwei.” Some of you might be a little hesitant because of its unique storefront style, or feel that it’s not very well-known, so it seems a bit intimidating—but ordering and enjoying it is actually very simple. Be sure to give it a try on your next trip to Taiwan. I’m not sure when that will be, but I hope that one day I’ll be able to share my recommendations for luwei in Tainan with you all!

Well then, everyone, stay safe today!