By Trista Yo-Ting Hung Do you know that Taiwanese people spend so much money eating out every year that they could build ten Taipei 101s? Unlike in many countries, where eating out is only for special occasions and might cost an arm and a leg, eating out is more like a daily necessity for Taiwanese people. Taiwan has a very high percentage of people who eat out regularly. You may wonder why. Basically, it is because a so much local food is tasty, inexpensive, and accessible. As a result, more and more people choose to eat in cafeterias, small restaurants, or from street vendors. This eating-out culture has led to three traits: #1. From chitchat to formal conversation—all about food Instead of awkwardly discussing the weather, the best way to bring Taiwanese people closer is to talk about food. Once as an intern, I met the general manager by chance and was terrified. I had butterflies in my stomach and was thinking I had to discuss some serious issues with her. But upon seeing the lunch box in my hand, she focused instead on the fact that I had chosen the wrong restaurant!“Young lady, next time you should try the other cafeteria across the street!” Taiwanese people are passionate about sharing their dining experiences with one another. Next time, if you don’t know how to break the ice, try bringing up something about food. You’ll be surprised at people’s keen response and your success is guaranteed. #2. Coupons—a restaurant’s best promotional weapon People like going to group-buying websites such as Groupon, Gomaji, or iHergo, hoping to dig out some surprising treasure for their next eating-out quest. Therefore, when new restaurants open, they usually provide appealing coupons for customers to try their signature dishes at reasonable prices. “Buy one get one free” coupons are also commonly seen. For customers it is a bargain, but for restaurant owners it is more than a sale. It is a smart and effective way to advertise. Now you can see the power of coupons over the eating-out market. #3. Lining-up—the longer, the better You have probably heard about the Krispy Kreme craze in Taiwan, and how incredible it is, especially from a non-Taiwanese perspective, to find out that Taiwanese people are willing to wait in line for 4 hours just to get some donuts. But Taiwanese people are actually willing to line up for almost any kind of food, from a cute and colorful macaroon to a spicy hot pot. In other words, people assume something must be delicious and popular if there is a long line in front. And in the end you can always proudly announce to your friends that you were successful. “Yeah I’ve tried their food. It really was worth the wait!” After all, delicious food doesn’t come easily. …Or will cooking at home become the next big thing?
Recently, because of many food scandals in Taiwan like tainted starch and gutter oil, people start to think about making their own meals. Homemade products are thus becoming much more popular. A case is point is homemade bread machines and soymilk makers, which have become best-sellers on online shopping websites. Furthermore, this trend is likely to change people’s attitude toward eating out and the way they live their lives. An increasing number of people bring their own lunch to the office, and if they give you a jar of homemade jam they can say, “Rest assured, I made it myself!” So is there actually a decline of eating out? To see it from a long-term perspective, my answer is probably no. After all, eating out has been the norm for Taiwanese people for a long time. They are in love with eating-out culture, and sooner or later they will return to their more adventurous attitude (even though it is sometimes like playing Russian roulette). Perhaps the attraction of eating out is just fatally irresistible. a
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The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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