You may think that eating at a convenience store sounds weird, but I can guarantee that you will love eating at a 7-Eleven in Taiwan.
Taiwan is very similar to Japan, with a big culture of eating at convenience stores. But Taiwan 7-11 convenience stores have some unique food items you will not find anywhere else.
There is so much good food all over Taiwan that you may never get around to eating at a 7-11. But I’m telling you, you are missing out! Taiwan 7-11 food is top-notch, and you can find a convenience store anywhere in the country even in off the beaten path places.
In this post, I’ll show you my top 10 favourite food items on the 7-Eleven menu in Taiwan.
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Before you check out the 7-Eleven Menu in Taiwan
Before eating at one of the 7-11’s in Taiwan, take a look at my post on all my best tips for travelling to Taiwan. I included information like how to get a Taiwan prepaid SIM card, transportation around the country and more.
Here are some additional tips for making the most out of eating at a Taiwanese 7-Eleven:
- There are 7-11’s everywhere! Even if you are in a small town or somewhere off the beaten path, you will find one (I found one hiking at Bitoujiao, a small village in Northeastern Taiwan and had lunch there).
- It is possible to have all three meals at 7-11. They have excellent choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Pay with cash, credit card or your EasyCard or iPass. Super easy and convenient.
Why I love 7 Eleven in Taiwan
There are so many reasons to love 7-11 in Taiwan!
1. Sitting area for food consumption
Almost every 7-11 in Taiwan has a sitting area to enjoy your food. Just look at the fantastic sitting area in a 7-Eleven in Chiayi. Initially, I wasn’t sure if I could eat at the convenience store, but I followed the staircase leading me to a beautiful dining room. There is even outdoor seating! I am not sure if it is the biggest 711 in Taiwan, but it has to be one of the nicest!
2. Muji products are available at some 7-11 stores
It is possible to buy other things other than 7 11 food. Some 7-11 in Taiwan have toiletries, umbrellas, alcohol, make-up, and Muji products. Muji is a Japanese brand that manufactures furniture, clothing, toiletries and food and is super popular in Taiwan.
Some of the bigger 7-Eleven’s have Muji products on the shelf. It really does come in handy if you forget your toiletries at home or didn’t bring enough underwear! Or if you need a stapler in the middle of the night. Ha!
3. Themed 7-11 stores are found only in Taiwan
Before you think all Taiwanese 7-Eleven stores are decorated with Hello Kitty – they are not! I only found two Sanrio-themed stores in the Ximending area in Taipei.
After researching a bit, I discovered other themes like Coca-Cola, Pokemon, Heineken, Lay’s (potato chip), and so much more.
Each theme shop is decorated with a specific theme from floor to ceiling and includes furniture as well. It also sells merchandise featuring the theme.
My guess is maybe 95% of 7-Elevens in Taiwan are “normal,” but it certainly is fun when you find a themed 7-11 convenience store in Taiwan.
My top 10 favourite food on the 7-11 menu in Taiwan
Okay, I have to stop bragging about all the cool stuff Taiwan 7 11 convenience store has.
Now, onto why you are on this blog post – FOOD!!! The 7-Eleven menu differs from store to store, but generally, you can get similar products.
Here is my list of the top 10 Taiwan convenience stores must buy food.
- Xiao long bao and pork dumplings
- Onigiri
- Hot rice ball
- Taiwanese tea eggs
- Giant steamed buns
- Tianbula
- Cup noodles in traditional beef noodle flavour
- Potato chips in Taiwanese flavours
- Warm and ice tea
- Taiwanese ice cream and popsicles
1. Xiao long bao and pork dumplings
In Taiwan, a must-try food has to be xiao long bao (soup dumplings). Besides finding this Taiwanese specialty in local restaurants and night markets, you can also find them in 7-11 stores.
While hiking in Alishan, I bought soup dumplings at 7-11 (because I didn’t want to eat anywhere else). A package of xiao long bao has six soup dumplings, a pack of soy sauce and a tiny fork. And it has microwave instructions on the package, so you know exactly how long it takes to warm up the soup dumplings.
The cashier microwaved them for me. And he even had a piece of cardboard paper cut to the exact size of the package and used it as a tray for the steaming hot dumplings. How thoughtful, right?
Another time I found another type of pork dumpling at the Taiwanese 7-11. Can recommend it as well!
2. Onigiri
Onigiri (Japanese rice ball) is a favourite item on the shelves of 7-11 in Taiwan and Japan. Each onigiri has the perfect amount of rice, a sheet of crispy seaweed and different ingredients.
The onigiri in Taiwan has unique ingredients like pork floss, braised pork, grilled pork with green onion, chicken rice, and various types of fish. Each one costs NT$30+.
The most ingenious part about the onigiri is the packaging. A thin sheet of film separates the seaweed and rice to keep the seaweed crispy and not soggy.
When you look at the package, all three corners are numbered 1 through 3. First, pull off the thin plastic strip at #1. Then pull off the packaging at #2, then continue to pull off the rest at #3. And voila! (see picture below).
3. Hot rice ball
I’m not sure exactly what the name of this is, but it is similar to an onigiri where it has rice and a variety of ingredients, and then you heat it in the microwave.
And there are many interesting flavours like sesame oil chicken rice ball, barbecue pork grilled rice ball, and so much more.
If you know of Coco Curry House (a Japanese restaurant chain), try their chicken cheese curry rice ball. Moreover, 7-11 has a classic rice roll made by Fuhang Soy Milk, a breakfast place in Taipei recognized by Michelin.
I definitely have never had hot rice balls anywhere except in a 7-11 in Taiwan. It sounds weird but they taste so good!
4. Taiwanese tea eggs
Taiwanese tea eggs are hard-boiled eggs steeped in a broth with tea, soy sauce and spices. The eggshells are cracked so the broth can infuse the flavour into the eggs.
It makes a great breakfast and it is one of my favourite 7-11 snacks. The eggs at Taiwan 711 stores are a bit saltier than the local places that sell tea eggs, but if you like the soy sauce flavour, you have to try the tea eggs at the 7-11 convenience store.
It costs NT$18 an egg. It is one of the most inexpensive foods on the 7-Eleven menu.
All you need to do is to use the kitchen tongs to pick up the eggs and place them in a plastic bag. Almost all the 7-11’s I’ve been to have tea eggs, no matter how small the convenience store is or how remote the location is.
5. Giant steamed buns
You will find a vertical steaming oven full of giant steamed buns on the cooked food counter at some Taiwan 7-11 stores. And they usually have a Hong Kong-style barbecue pork bun, pork and bamboo shoot bun, pork bun, spicy pork bun, and a sweet bun.
They are a delicious and very filling snack — not a bad price at only NT$25 for each.
Unfortunately, there is no English on the label, but hopefully, the photo of the cross-section bun is sufficient.
6. Tianbula
Oden is a Japanese one-pot dish containing all ingredients in a light soy-flavoured broth. It is a popular food in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.
In Taiwan, it is referred to as tianbula. Even though the term in Chinese literally means “sweet not spicy,” there is nothing spicy about the Taiwanese oden. Phonetically, the Taiwanese word sounds like “tempura”; therefore, tianbula is called Taiwanese tempura.
At 7-11 in Taiwan, the one-pot dish has many ingredients, including pork meatballs, tofu, daikon radish, and processed fishcakes in many different forms.
There is a menu right above the boiling pot. It tells you exactly how much each item costs. Grab a paper bowl, pick up as many items as you like, put a plastic lid on it and pay at the cashier. The cashier will charge you exactly what you took.
The staff at 7-11 continues to cook different items throughout the day because it is a popular food at 7-11. So don’t worry, the cooked food doesn’t sit around long.
7. Cup noodles in traditional beef noodle flavour
One of Taiwan’s signature dishes is niu rou mian, the classic beef noodles in soup. You can get a savoury bowl of deliciousness almost anywhere in Taiwan.
And you can get it in a cup of noodles! 711 in Taiwan has many different beef noodles brands, costing between NT$35 to NT$55.
The convenience store also provides piping hot water to cook your noodles. And they will even give you a pair of wooden chopsticks. The sitting area is handy when eating a hot bowl of beef noodles.
8. Potato chips in Taiwanese flavours
In Taiwan, 7-11 stores have many varieties of potato chips, like pork sausage with garlic, grilled beef, and braised soy sauce. One of my favourites is the scallion pancake, a popular Taiwanese snack.
Even if you cannot read the Chinese words on the chip bag, there is always a drawing or a photo of the actual flavour of the chips, like the one pictured below.
9. Warm and ice tea
Taiwanese people really love tea. And in 7-11, you can find many tea varieties, like oolong tea, milk tea, black tea, and so much more.
Throughout the year, you can buy ice tea packaged in a carton or plastic bottle.
In winter, you can buy a warm can of tea (like the one below). It is not super hot but warm enough to keep your hands warm for a while before you drink it.
Moreover, 7-11 in Taiwan has bubble tea (a milk tea with chewy tapioca “bubbles”)! I actually cannot believe they have bubble tea in a carton-boxed drink. And most of all, I was surprised that the bubbles are not soggy or mushy; it is actually quite good.
10. Taiwanese ice cream and popsicles
Many ice cream and popsicle varieties exist at 7 11 convenience stores in Taiwan. Some of the unique flavours include pudding and matcha, and some of them have red beans in them.
One of my favourites is the ice cream waffle with tapioca pearls. It is like frozen bubble tea plus a waffle. What can be better?
I also found popsicles made by Chun Shui Tang. They created THE original bubble tea in Taichung. Their pearl milk tea crispy ice cream bar is so good! They also have a flavour called Pu-Erh tea pink salt cheese crema ice cream bar, which I will try next.
Which 7-11 food are you most excited to try?
Does my list of top 10 food in 7-11’s in Taiwan pique your interest? They are, by far, some of the best convenience food I’ve ever had.
And if you find other unique food items at a Taiwan seven eleven store, let me know in the comments below.
Thank you for reading my Taiwan 7-11 food post
You might also like these other posts on solo travel in Taiwan:
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