Hua Hsin Street (Myanmar Street) Introduction
Near the Nanshijiao MRT Station in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, there is a food street known for its diverse Southeast Asian cuisine – Huaxin Street, commonly referred to as Myanmar Street. This area is home to many descendants of soldiers who retreated from Yunnan to Myanmar and Thailand, as well as Chinese migrants from Myanmar who came to Taiwan for economic reasons. Consequently, the culinary practices here reflect the cooking techniques of both Yunnan and Myanmar, resulting in particularly authentic flavors. Huaxin Street, the largest residential area for Chinese from Myanmar in Taiwan, has developed over several decades into the largest Southeast Asian cultural community in Taiwan. It not only offers a variety of Southeast Asian culinary delights but also celebrates the annual Water Festival. The storefront signs along the streets are written in both Chinese and Burmese, and it is also home to Taiwan’s first Southeast Asian-themed bookstore, “Brilliant Time.” Dining at Huaxin Street allows you to taste the most authentic home-style dishes, with restaurants offering snacks featuring flavors from Myanmar, Yunnan, Thailand, and India. These modestly decorated eateries serve traditional Southeast Asian snacks that are hard to find elsewhere in Taiwan, such as Babbas (vermicelli), coconut chicken, fish soup noodles, curry chicken, spicy rice noodles, shredded chicken noodles, and pea fritters. These dishes are a treat for expatriated Chinese who live all over Taiwan and come here to indulge in hometown snacks, comforting their feelings of nostalgia.
