Supermarkets and fruit and veg markets in Tianmu

FOOD SHOPPING in Tianmu 

If you want to find food that reminds you of home, it can be a bit frustrating eating out, at the other side of the planet. The chocolate just isn't so chocolatey. Bacon, eggs, beans and toast? You'll be lucky! You might do better to buy the ingredients, and just learn to fix your fix at home. 

1. SUPERMARKETS
1. If you are missing muesli, chocolate spread and other western comfort foods:

Expat-friendly Mia C'bon. No. 3號, Tianmu W Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111. Despite the ridiculous name (previously Jasons), nice food. Sogo and Takashimaya department stores both have supermarkets in the basement, which include many foreign imports.

Carrefour, has many imports, expat friendly, two locations in Tianmu, see Googlemaps.

Hummus: Hagar's Kitchen Mediterranean Food is the only shop I found selling hummus. Tiny shop very close to Shidong market. No. 59號, Shidong Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111

PX Mart (photo) is the most popular supermarket chain, and has a branch near you. Very good quality fresh fruit and veg. Jars, tins, packets of produce are written in Mandarin only, usually.

Excellent fresh fruit/veg at PX Mart

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. MARKETS At the famous Shidong market, in Tianmu, fresh food quality control is generally great, the price may be eye-watering. For a cheaper experience of buying fresh fruit and veg in the street markets, perhaps it needs a small amount of cunning. As a foreigner who doesn't speak good Mandarin, there is a small risk of being overcharged. I had good results at the market around Lane 8 Tianmu E Road. 

If you want to support the smaller sellers, and to enjoy possibly fresher produce, free from wasteful packaging, this  strategy worked for me.

My strategy for market shoppping

 

1. Try any stall that catches your eye, do a modest 'test' order (say 4 oranges, 4 tomatoes), see if the price/quality/friendliness seems reasonable. If not, try another. 

 

2. Meanwhile also visit a supermarket like PX Mart supermarket, so you can check / compare price and quality. If you still prefer the market... 

 

3. Once you have established a connection at the market (they remember your face), increase the size of your order. Go at the same time of day, because some stalls have different staff on shifts. 

 

4. Advanced: find two different market stalls you like. One day one will be closed, or sold out of the thing you want.