Food Hunting on the Outlying Islands of Xiaoliuqiu | Taiwan-Style Travel

01 | Premium Sea Catfish Sashimi Platter

Liuqiufan is a unique sushi shop on the island, where the owner, Aji, specializes in turning local seafood into Japanese cuisine. Xiaoliuqiu is located in a tributary of the Kuroshio Current near the North Equator, rich in fish. The tuna from this area is world-renowned; 1.5-meter-long bluefin tuna can weigh up to 20 kilograms, large and plump. August and September are the peak season for mahi-mahi, and the United States, Japan, and other places often import mahi-mahi from Xiaoliuqiu and Donggang to make fish fillets.

The ingredients used by the Ryukyu aborigines come from the catch of their own fishing boats. Aji also goes to the market every morning at 6 a.m. to select other ingredients to ensure freshness. Aji is also very particular about seasoning, using his own homemade salt and pepper powder and teriyaki sauce to cook his dishes.

Ryukyu Bansushi
Address: No. 30-3, Guanguanggang Road, Xiaoliuqiu Township

02 | HKD 1TP 4T 10 Affordable Taiwanese Noodle Shop

A humble noodle shop in Xiaoliuqiu that costs less than HKD 1 TP 4 T10 is a popular spot with long queues, frequented even by locals. Located in Xiangsipu in the center of Xiaoliuqiu Island, "Xiangsi Noodles" is known for its affordable prices. Its signature dish, cooked over a wood fire, is named after the shop and features chewy egg noodles topped with a rich minced pork sauce, along with sliced pork, bean sprouts, and baby cabbage. It's so delicious that you'll want to keep eating it, and it will make you crave it.

A friendly reminder: the shop closes at 2 pm, so if you want to try the "love noodles," it's recommended to go before noon.

Love Noodles
Address: No. 7, Lane 31, Shangshan Road, Xiaoliuqiu

03 | Generous Mango Shaved Ice

With summer temperatures averaging in the thirties, ice is the perfect way to cool down. "Rooftop Corner Ice Shop" is a hidden gem. Its storefront is inconspicuous on the roundabout near Wuguidong, but it's a hidden gem with great value. Each bowl of shaved ice resembles an iceberg, covered with seasonal fruits.

Behind the rooftop ice cream shop is the owner's family home and fruit orchard. The shop uses fruits grown on their own farm, such as Irwin mangoes and mulberries, which are harvested in the summer. The recently harvested mulberries are made into jam with sugar, which is sweet and sour and rich in vitamins. They are also combined with red dragon fruit, which is not only colorful but also has special benefits for women's blood replenishment. It is a must-try ice cream in the summer.

Tiantai Corner Ice Shop
Address: Xiaoliuqiu Island Ring Road (near Wugui Cave)

04 | Limited Edition Craft Beer from Xiaoliuqiu

If you don't have much to do at night, no night markets, no shopping, what should you do if you love going out at night and prefer to stay up late? At the corner of Sanmin Road, the busiest road in Xiaoliuqiu, there is a bar called "WHATS．冰郎" that plays light music. It is the only craft beer bar on the island.

The owner, Ah-Hua, studied design and has had a passion for uniquely designed beers since childhood. The shop sells more than 20 kinds of limited-edition craft beers, one-third of which come from Taiwan, and the rest from Denmark, Germany, Sweden, the United States and other countries.

"Taiwanese tea-flavored beer, paired with fried chicken and twisted dough sticks, listening to the waves and feeling the sea breeze, is the best way to relax on the island at night." Owner Ahua especially recommends the Taiwanese tea-flavored beer, brewed with tea leaves produced in Taiwan. For those who don't drink alcohol, you can try the owner's wife's secret-made smoothie, made with four kinds of fruit. To be honest, Ahua only revealed that she used wild berries; the owner insists on keeping the other ingredients a secret.

WHATS. Ice Prince
Address: No. 308, Sanmin Road, Zhongfu Village, Xiaoliuqiu Township