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TOFU-GET ABOUT SHENKENG WHEN YOU VISIT TAIWAN. Shenkeng Old Street is a must-visit for tofu lovers. Tofu masters utilise different culinary and preparation methods to transform the bland-tasting, plain-looking tofu into a colourful, extra-ordinary experience for your taste buds. Several shops also sell mala stinky tofu (麻辣臭豆腐) for takeaway - a great supper food for sharing. Even if you're not a tofu fan, there are other street snacks on the plate for you.

How to go: Take MRT to Muzha station. Exit from the station and turn left to get to the main road. Cross the road to the bus-stop opposite the MRT. Take bus 660 / 666 / 795 / 819 and alight at Shenkeng. The bus ride takes 15 - 20 mins.
Google Map

Travel tip: Shenkeng Old Street is near Taipei Zoo and cable car (Maokong 貓空). If you wish to make a day trip to ShenKeng area, consider going to the zoo first.

I reached Shenkeng Old Street on a Monday at around 5pm and some of the shops were getting ready for close-ups. A few shops were not open, probably because Monday was a rest day.

Shenkeng Old Street

Nougat

Nougats Different flavours available: original, matcha, strawberry, sesame and pumpkin seeds, mango, purple yam, taro, chocolate, almond, etc.

Tofu ice-cream 🍦

Tofu ice-cream available in 3 flavours: charcoal yellow soybean, black soybean (popular), yellow soybean (original flavour, also popular) Ordinary ice-cream flavours: caramel, taro, black sesame, strawberry, mango, chocholate

Close-up of tofu ice-cream

Black soybean ice-cream

creamy goodness

Yellow soybean ice-cream

BLACK VS YELLOW SOYBEAN - WHICH TASTES BETTER?
BOTH ARE GOOD! The black soybean ice-cream is firmer, more dense, and nuttier; the yellow is creamier, sweeter, and has a smoother consistency.

The shopkeeper told me that black and yellow soybean (original flavour) are the popular flavours. If you're a solo traveller, go for the one that suits your taste buds. For me, I was lucky to have a friend with me that day, so we got two flavours to try.

Fermented tofu

Fermented tofu

Fermented tofu is the food epitome of saltiness. I don't know what, traditionally, people eat this with but in my family, we just take a teeny tiny bit and eat it with rice.

Hot Plate Stinky Tofu
Grilled tofu is not something commonly found in Taiwan. Stationed outside the temple, this tofu vendor attracts people like moth to a flame. The "stinkiness" of the tofu is not so much pungent as  fragrant. The grill also adds a smokey barbeque flavour to it. Simply delectable! Although there are two large pieces on the skewer, sharing is not required. 😜

*MUST TRY*

Getting the grill on

Served with two vegetables of your choice // pickled cabbage + cucumber.

Best-selling Melts-in-your-mouth Mung Bean Cake, 299 NTD for 15 pcs. Best consumed chilled.

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Dessert @ 阿珠店 ❆
I started my food adventure with tofu ice-cream, and what better way to end my tofu obsession with another tofu sweet treat?! This store sells traditional Taiwanese shaved ice, but what is outstanding about this place (as compared to other shaved ice places I've been to) is its handmade taro balls and sweet potato balls. The recipe produces not just an ah-mazing chewy texture, but calls for the use of real bits of taro and sweet potato. The shop owner actually offered one ball to my friend and I to try, and we were sold immediately. The shaved ice is topped generously with mixed taro and sweet potato balls, and 2 toppings of your choice. If tofu ice-cream is not your thing, definitely give this a go!

How to go?
Take the red line MRT to Tamsui (淡水). Exit the station, turn left, then walk along the waterfront.

2 ways to get to Bali or Fisherman's Wharf from Tamsui:
1. Purchase a ferry ticket at the ticket counter by the harbour. A one-way boat ride costs 60 NTD. Alternatively, if you have Easycard, just queue and tap at the gantry - no need to buy a ticket at the counter.
2. Rent a bike and go on your merry ride around the waterfront.
Stepping into Tamsui Old Street (淡水老街) is like walking into a 1970s film set, complete with all the wonderful sights, smells and sounds of a society encroaching modernism. The only thing that's missing? Rickshaws. A mix of old estates and food stalls, the picturesque Tamsui is bustling with people on weekends. Families come here for some bonding time, lovers for a semi-romantic stroll, friends for a food adventure, the introspective ones for people observing (not in the creepy way) and reminiscing a forgotten past. Weekdays would be ideal if you prefer a quieter walk through the street.

On this particular trip, I actually have friends joining me - who would've thought?! So come join me on this day trip to Tamsui Old Street and watch out for mini food reviews along the way. 👇👇👇

First things first - gotta capture a photo of the main street

Mandatory photo of the Tamsui Old Street

The nougat cracker here is worth buying. Wide variety and not-so-sweet.

Bubble Lee (李圆圆)

A popular boba chain outlet

Milk + brown sugar boba! No milk tea involved.

This stall was extremely busy on a warm weekend afternoon, as both locals and tourists were eager to quench their thirst. The bobas were so chewy and warm, a great contrast to the coolness of the milk.

Bolo buns @ Bolo King

Famous Bolo Bun hailed from Hong Kong

Ah Gei Fishball Soup

A Taiwanese delicacy, Ah Gei (阿給) is basically fried tofu skin filled with starchy, chewy green bean noodles. The tofu is drenched in spicy gravy, which, though looks thin, packs more flavour than you'd expect.

tau pok stuffed with green bean noodles + spicy gravy

Though the dish itself does not contain meat, I'm not sure if it's fully vegetarian. But fret not - there's an Ah Gei vegetarian store at Tamsui Old Street, so kudos to that!

Soft Serve Ice-cream

matcha / blueberry soft-serve ice cream

There are plenty of soft serve ice-cream shops around. The only problem is that they look good, but don't taste good. The one I was holding in my hand was a mix of matcha and blueberry. Both tasted diluted, but it was a great way to cool myself down.

Fisherman's Wharf
Travelled to Fisherman's Wharf via boat in hopes of catching the sunset. Legend has it that if you and your lover stop half-way at the bridge, the both of you will stay together for the rest of your lives. If the two of you walk to the other end of the bridge, a break-up is inevitable.

no sunset. skies looking as bleak as my love life.

Mail to Future (寄给未来)
After the boat deposited us back at Tamsui, we made our way to this blue shop located opposite the harbour. The concept of this shop is quite interesting: you write a postcard to yourself (or whoever), and receive it in a few years' time, depending on when you wish it received.

A cutesy shop selling postcards

wax seal stamps

a huge variety of postcards

insta-worthy spot on the second floor

Macaroon Imitation (QQ 酥饼)
is not the actual name, but is what it is.

shaped like a macaroon, looks like a macaroon, but is not a macaroon. 7 flavours: red bean, taro, curry, Taiwan green tea, brown sugar mochi, Chinese yam

This tastes nothing like macaroon, for it lacks the chewy texture, and is instead slightly moreish and crumbly, like a waffle biscuit (in fact I think that's what it's trying to be! 😂). But if your imagination is wild enough, you can pretend that you're holding a fancy French macaroon.

Egg Waffle @ Bear Stone Egg

Bear Stone Egg. A famous Hong Kong franchise

Peanut Egg Waffle

For some reason I thought peanut egg waffle comes drizzled with peanut butter. Can anyone tell me why this is not the case?! I thought I was cheated with a plain egg waffle instead. I would say you're better off buying plain egg waffle, since the nutty flavour in peanut egg waffle was non-existent. Disappointment aside, the egg waffle itself was crispy. Eat it fast, or you'll lose the crunch.

Vegetarian Cong You Bing (葱油饼)

Vegetarian Cong You Bing (葱油饼) at 40 NTD.

Stuffed with egg, leek, and glass noodles

It was so-so. Nothing to shout at.

Wheel Pancake (车轮饼) @ Red Bean Cake (晴光红豆饼)