Shenkeng Old Street (深坑老街) - DON'T EAT MY TOFU!!

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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.

A tour of Shenkeng Old Street

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.

Shou Xin Fang 手信坊 - Confectionery shop

Shou Xin Fang is lauded for its longstanding high quality products. From the traditional items such as pineapple tarts and sun cake, to chilled products like cream puffs, this is a one-stop shop that gives you the liberty to shop for food gifts for your Taiwanese host / friends and family back home. The sales assistants are super generous with the samples, so don't be shy to try before you buy.

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!

*MUST TRY*

Mix of sweet potato and taro balls + pudding + beancurd (because we're at the tofu capital!)

Shenkeng Old Street is one of my favourites because a) I'm a tofu lover and b) it's one of the few touristy attractions not over-crowded with tourists. It's a relatively short street and you'll probably be done walking the street and eating the delightful food under 90 mins. My only food regret was not trying out mala stinky tofu. If you've been there before, what was your favourite food there?