Taiwanese street food in Paris: gua bao, fan tuan, tea eggs at MAISON LE TE

Taipei night markets: the grammar imported

Night markets (yeshi) are one of Taiwan's big culinary signatures: Shilin in Taipei, Liouhe in Kaohsiung, Fengjia in Taichung. You find dozens of stalls offering specialties: gua bao, tea eggs, you tiao, oyster fritters, chicken skewers, bubble tea. The format is informal: you snack while strolling, share with friends, accumulate small portions rather than one big plate. This informal grammar is what Paris lacks for properly discovering Taiwanese cuisine.

MAISON LE TE and the street food format

MAISON LE TE does not imitate the street (you are in a real restaurant with table service), but offers several dishes in the Taiwanese street food spirit. Braised pork gua bao (the night market signature) is available all day. Marbled tea eggs orderable as amuse-bouche. Fan tuan onigiri as substantial bites. Artisanal Taiwanese bubble tea completes the picture. For context, see tapioca and night market history on Wikipedia.

The 3-4 plate tasting format

To truly live the street food spirit, the team can build a tasting path: a gua bao, a tea egg, a fan tuan, a bubble tea. An informal format matching the Taiwanese way of eating on the go, with variety rather than one dish. Count 20-25 EUR per person for this tasting format.

For Taiwanese expats and the curious

MAISON LE TE regularly sees Taiwanese expats coming to find the flavors of Taipei streets. But also curious Parisians wanting to taste Taiwan without flying. For both audiences, the street food format is ideal: it lets you sample several things without committing to one plate.

See also

Taiwanese cuisine, Paris onigiri, Taiwanese bento, Taiwanese specialties guide.

Booking

Street food format available all day. Booking recommended on weekends via the contact page.