Taoyuan and HK Food

The High-Speed Rail in Taiwan is both comfortable and convenient. While the experience differs from trains in Europe—offering a distinct local vibe—it stands out for being exceptionally clean and efficient.

I made an impromptu trip to Taoyuan, primarily to check out the outlet mall adjacent to the HSR station. I’m not sure if this is unique to Taiwan or more common across Asia, but the outlet felt quite different from those in the U.S. While American outlets typically focus on affordability, many stores here seem to lean toward the luxury segment, with noticeably higher prices. Some even offer personalized services aimed at enhancing the customer experience.

The most interesting part of the visit, though, was stumbling upon a small food cart labeled “Hong Kong Food.” Many may associate Hong Kong cuisine with dim sum, and while “yum cha” is indeed popular, it’s the street food and Cha Chaan Teng-style dishes that many of us grew up loving. This cart served exactly that—HK-style French toast, pineapple buns (which, as always, contain no pineapple), and more.

I went for the Hong Kong-style milk tea—my personal favorite over coffee—and added a couple of egg tarts. As expected, they were decent but not exceptional. The milk tea leaned a bit too sweet, and the egg tarts were on the softer side—likely adjusted to local tastes.

Still, it was a pleasant surprise to enjoy a familiar flavor from home, and I have a lot of respect for the vendor, working tirelessly in the summer heat without air conditioning—temperatures were hovering around 32–33°C.

After a visit to Taoyuan, I got home and cooked up some vegetables for dinner—just in time to settle in for tonight’s men’s final at the French Open.