There are many kinds of breakfasts in Taiwan and China, and I will briefly introduce them here into ten categories
1. Congee (粥 zhōu)
Congee, also known as rice porridge, is a common breakfast in Taiwan and China. It is made by cooking rice with a large amount of water until it turns into a soft, soupy texture. Congee can be enjoyed plain or with various toppings such as meat, seafood, vegetables, and preserved eggs.
- Century egg pork lean congee: 皮蛋瘦肉粥 Pídàn shòuròu zhōu
- Sweet potato congee: 地瓜粥 dìguā zhōu
- Seafood congee: 海鮮粥/海鲜粥 hǎixiān zhōu
- Beef congee: 牛肉粥 niúròu zhōu
- Millet congee: 小米粥 xiǎomǐ zhōu
- Plain rice congee: 稀飯/稀饭 xīfàn
- Pork floss: 肉鬆/肉松 ròusōng
- Wheat gluten: 麵筋/面筋 miànjīn
- Fermented tofu: 豆腐乳 dòufǔrǔ
- (Chinese) Hua Gua Pickles: 醬瓜/酱瓜 jiàngguā
2. Soy Milk and Fried Dough Sticks
(豆漿油條/豆浆油条 dòujiāng yóutiáo)
Soy milk and fried dough sticks are a classic breakfast combination in Taiwan and China. The soy milk can be served hot or cold and is made by grinding soaked soybeans and filtering out the liquid. The fried dough sticks are long, deep-fried dough that is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
- Rice peanut milk: 米漿/米浆 mǐjiāng
- Sweet soy milk: 甜豆漿/甜豆浆 tián dòujiāng
- Savory soy milk: 鹹豆漿/咸豆浆 xián dòujiāng
- Baked wheat cake: 燒餅/烧饼 shāobǐng
Common combination: Baked wheat cake with Youtiao and egg.
- Pan-fried leek dumpling: 韭菜盒子 jiǔcài hézi
- Red-bean pancake: 豆沙餅/豆沙饼 dòushā bǐng
3. Scallion Pancakes (蔥油餅/葱油饼 cōngyóu bǐng)
Scallion pancakes, also known as green onion pancakes, are a popular breakfast food in Taiwan and China. They are made by mixing flour, water, and chopped scallions, then rolled out and pan-fried until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
- Flaky scallion pancake: 蔥抓餅/葱抓饼 cōngzhuābǐng
- Add vegetable: 加青菜 jiā qīngcài
- Add cheese: 加起司 jiā qǐsī
- Add spicy sauce: 加辣 jiā là
- Add pepper: 加胡椒 jiā hújiāo
- Add egg: 加蛋 jiā dàn
- Add corn: 加玉米 jiā yùmǐ
4. Steamed Buns (包子 bāozi)
Steamed buns, or baozi, are a staple breakfast food in China and Taiwan. They are made by wrapping a filling of meat, vegetables, or sweet bean paste in a round piece of dough, then steamed until the dough is soft and fluffy.
- Spicy pork buns: 辣豬肉包子/辣猪肉包子 là zhūròu bāozi
- Vegetable buns: 菜包 càibāo
- Pan-fried buns: 水煎包 shuǐjiānbāo
- Xiao long bao: 小籠包/小笼包 xiǎolóngbāo
- Plain steamed buns without stuffing: 饅頭/馒头 mántou
- Brown sugar steamed buns without stuffing: 黑糖饅頭/黑糖馒头 hēitáng mántou
- Soup dumplings: 湯包/汤包 tāngbāo
- Ginger: 薑/姜 jiāng
- Vinegar: 醋 cù
- Soy sauce: 醬油/酱油 jiàngyóu
5. Dan Bing (蛋餅/蛋饼 dànbǐng)
Dan bing is a Taiwanese breakfast food that consists of a thin, crepe-like pancake filled with eggs and various toppings such as cheese, ham, and vegetables. It is often served with a sweet or savory sauce.
- Vegetable: 蔬菜 shūcài
- Cheese: 起司 qǐsī / 奶酪 nǎilào
Common combination: Vegetable cheese Dan Bing
- Pepper: 胡椒 hújiāo
- Corn: 玉米 yùmǐ
Common combination: Corn cheese Dan Bing
- Bacon: 培根 péigēn
- Ham: 火腿/火腿 huǒtuǐ
- Tuna: 鮪魚 wěiyú / 金枪鱼 jīnjiāngyú
- Pork floss: 肉鬆/肉松 ròusōng
6. Jian Bing (煎餅/煎饼 jiānbǐng)
Jian bing, also known as Chinese crepes, are a popular breakfast street food in China. They are made by spreading a thin layer of batter on a hot griddle, adding a variety of fillings such as eggs, scallions, cilantro, and crispy wonton skins, then folding the crepe into a roll.
- Vegetable: 蔬菜 shūcài
- Cheese: 起司 qǐsī / 奶酪 nǎilào
- Pepper: 胡椒 hújiāo
- Egg: 蛋 dàn
- Corn: 玉米 yùmǐ
- Bacon: 培根 péigēn
- Ham sausage: 火腿腸/火腿肠 huǒtuǐcháng
- Tuna: 鮪魚 wěiyú / 金枪鱼 jīnjiāngyú
- Chicken: 雞肉/鸡肉 jīròu
- Pork: 豬肉/猪肉 zhūròu
- Add spicy sauce: 加辣 jiā là
7. Chinese Hamburger (肉夾饃/肉夹馍 ròujiāmó)
Roujiamo is a popular breakfast in the northern region of China and can be found in many different variations depending on the region and the cook. It consists of a round, flatbread-like dough that is stuffed with savory minced meat filling, typically made with pork, scallions, and various spices. The dough is then folded and pinched closed, creating a crescent-shaped pocket that is pan-fried until golden brown and crispy on the outside, and soft and chewy on the inside.
- Plain hamburger: 白吉馍 báijímó
- Vegetable hamburger: 菜夹馍 càijiāmó
- Sesame sweet hamburger: 芝麻糖膜 zhīmá tángmó
- Shredded potato: 馬鈴薯絲 mǎlíngshǔsī / 土豆丝 tǔdòusī
- Soybean sprout: 黃豆芽/黄豆芽 huángdòuyá
- Cumin: 孜然 zīrán
- Acid beans: 酸豆角 suāndòujiǎo
- Onion: 洋葱 yángcōng
- Cabbage: 高丽菜 gāolìcài
- Green pepper: 青椒 qīngjiāo
- Beef: 牛肉 niúròu
- Lamb: 羊肉 yángròu
- Pork: 豬肉/猪肉 zhūròu
- Add spicy sauce: 加辣 jiā là
8. Turnip Cake (蘿蔔糕/萝卜糕 luóbogāo)
Ruobogao is a popular breakfast food or a dim sum dish in both Taiwan and China and can be served plain or with various toppings such as soy sauce, chili sauce, or sesame seeds. It is made from grated turnips and rice flour. The grated daikon is mixed with water and rice flour and then steamed until it forms a dense, cake-like consistency. The resulting cake is then sliced into small squares or rectangles, and pan-fried until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
- Soy sauce: 醬油/酱油 jiàngyóu
- Add spicy sauce: 加辣 jiā là
9. Teppanyaki Noodles (鐵板麵/铁板面 tiěbǎnmiàn)
Teppanyaki noodles are a popular fast food item in Taiwan, often served during breakfast hours. It is a hot and tasty dish that can quickly fill you up. It is a stir-fried noodle dish typically made with noodles, vegetables, meat, and seasonings cooked on a hot iron plate. The dish can be prepared with chopped chicken, pork, cabbage, and cilantro, and then seasoned with soy sauce and other seasonings for added flavor.
- Mushroom sauce: 蘑菇醬/蘑菇酱 mógū jiàng
- Black pepper sauce: 黑胡椒醬/黑胡椒酱 hēihújiāo jiàng
- Egg: 蛋 dàn
- Chicken: 雞肉/鸡肉 jīròu
- Pork: 豬肉/猪肉 zhūròu
- Add spicy sauce: 加辣 jiā là
- Cilantro: 香菜 xiāngcài
10. Teppanyaki Noodles (飯糰/饭团 fàntuán)
Fantuan is a popular Taiwanese breakfast dish consisting of a fried dough stick (yóutiáo) wrapped in steamed sticky rice and sometimes accompanied by pickled vegetables or other savory ingredients. The combination of the soft and chewy rice bun and the crispy, savory dough stick creates a satisfying texture and flavor contrast that is beloved by many. It is a tasty and filling breakfast option that is often enjoyed with soy milk or milk tea in Taiwan.
- Fried Dough Sticks: 油條/油条 yóutiáo
- Dried turnip: 蘿蔔乾/萝卜干 luóbogān
- Pork floss: 肉鬆/肉松 ròusōng
- Egg: 蛋 dàn
