Halal flavours of Taiwan

By TAN SIN CHOW

sctan@thestar.com.my

TAIWAN despite being a Chinese-populated island is actually a Muslim-friendly destination.

There are six mosques in its three major cities with a multitude of Muslim eateries with halal certification.

Together with a group of travel writers, I was whisked off to the island for seven days where we had a culinary adventure in almost all the restaurants and food outlets that sold the best halal food in Taiwan.

We were lucky to be able to check out a halal eatery which was once picked as Taipei’s top 10 beef noodle soup shops.

Skilled: Yusuf scooping up noodles from the boiling water at his Qingzhen Beef Noodle Restaurant in Taipei.

At 80, Yusuf Ai, or popularly known as Ai-Jia among the locals, is still running the Qingzhen Beef Noodle Restaurant with the help of his family members.

“I just feel I have this obligation to continue serving the Muslim community here. Not many shops sell halal food,” he said.

Just as each restaurant has its own secret recipe, the trick to a good beef noodle broth lies in the combination of ingredients — al dente noodles and tender beef.

For all to see: Ma showing the word ‘halal’ etched on the glass panel at his Yunus Halal Thai Restaurant in Taipei.

There are also many Thai food restaurants in Taiwan, but the Yunus Halal Thai Restaurant in Taipei is one of the few Thai outlets that has halal certification.

It is owned by ethnic Chinese Yunus Ma, 48, who hired several Thai chefs to cook Thai and Yunnan-style cuisines with imported spices.

According to Yunus, who hails from Chiangmai, Thailand, the spicy and sour flavours have been toned down to suit the tastebud of local Muslims.

“As for Malaysian diners, many give their thumbs-up for the steamed lemon fish,” he said. There is also an in-house surau for Muslims to offer prayers.

Must-try: Masala Papadam is a spiced lentil wafer served with chopped onions and tomatoes served at the Ali Baba Indian Kitchen.

Have you tried eating flowers? If not or if you had eaten and craved for more, then head for Tai-Yi Leisure Farm Water Flower Garden Restaurant that serves delicious countryside floral meals.

For the best Indian-Pakistani halal food, the Ali Baba Indian Kitchen and Aaleja are definitely the best places.

Muhammad Ali, the operator of Ali Baba, can easily whip up more than 90 authentic mutton and chicken dishes, as well as soft and flaky breads from his traditional oven.

Unique: The floral meal served at the Tai-Yi Leisure Farm Water Flower Garden Restaurant.

For more Indian-Pakistani fare, opt for Aaleja Restaurant which is tucked away in an alley near Yanji Street.

Taiwan is home to more than 50,000 Muslims, said Tourism Bureau director-general Janice She-Jen Lai in her foreword in a booklet released by the bureau.

Among the six mosques in Taiwan, the Taipei Grand Mosque is a major tourist attraction and heritage site established in the 1950s. It has been an important stop for visiting Muslim leaders to Taiwan.

The writer was on a recent Taiwan Muslim media familiarisation trip, courtesy of Cathay Pacific, Taiwan Tourism Bureau and Malaysia Harmony Tour and Travel Sdn Bhd.

The travel agency specialises in arranging Muslim tours to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and China. For details, call Norah Jelani at 03-2142 9266 or email to muslim@mysharmony.com or