Tien Hsiang Stinky Tofu ★ 4.3
Tien Hsiang Stinky Tofu is a street food stall at Linjiang Street Night Market in Da'an District, Taipei City 106, one of the stalls this guide lists there.
History
A Chinese legend says a scholar named Wang Zhihe from Anhui invented stinky tofu in the Qing dynasty, and the dish is now extremely popular in Taiwan. It is sold at night markets such as Shilin and Linjiang, where Tien Hsiang Stinky Tofu is recognized by the Michelin Guide. Shenkeng Old Street in New Taipei bills itself as the hometown of tofu and sells fried stinky tofu and stinky tofu skewers.
Common allergens: Soy
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 400g pre-fermented stinky tofu (sold at Asian stores)
- Vegetable oil, for deep frying (1 litre)
- 100g shredded white cabbage
- 30ml rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon caster sugar
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 30ml dark soy sauce
- 30g sugar
- 1 tablespoon chilli sauce or doubanjiang
- Coriander leaves, to serve
Method
- Make the pickled cabbage: combine cabbage with rice vinegar, sugar and garlic; rest 20 minutes.
- Make the sauce: combine soy sauce, sugar, chilli sauce and 60ml water; bring to a boil, simmer 2 minutes.
- Heat oil to 180C. Cut tofu into 4cm cubes.
- Deep-fry tofu cubes 4 to 5 minutes until golden brown and puffed, working in batches.
- Drain on paper towels, transfer to a plate, top with pickled cabbage and sauce.
- Garnish with coriander. Serve immediately.
Tip from the editors. Pre-fermented stinky tofu is the only viable shortcut; fermenting at home takes 2 weeks of brine prep. Buy from Chinese specialty stores.
Where to eat stinky tofu
Stinky tofu in Taipei
Shilin Night Market ★ 4.2
Shilin Night Market is open daily from 4:00 PM to midnight, serving authentic street food since 1909, including stinky tofu and pepper buns.
TryStinky tofu and pepper buns
TipThe market is busiest from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM; first-timers get easier navigation and shorter queues between 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM.
More places near Tien Hsiang Stinky Tofu and Shilin Night Market
Not on this list, but close by, nearest first. Every one is in our guide with its address, hours and what to order.
- SENS Fine dining, about 750 m away
- Addiction Aquatic Development Seafood Market and Sushi, about 900 m away
- Ya Ge Modern Chinese, about 950 m away
- Bencotto at Mandarin Oriental, Taipei Fine dining, about 950 m away
- Yang Shin Vegetarian Restaurants, about 1.0 km away
- T+T Asian Contemporary Tasting, about 1.2 km away
More cities are in research. Want stinky tofu covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.