If you asked me before doing this project what the speciality of “x” place was, apart from Taipei I probably couldn’t tell you, but if you now ask me what the local street food speciality of that area is I can now tell you in an instant.
This map illustration was inspired by the fact Taiwan is a country that is full of all kinds of delicious and cheap street foods. Taiwan is famous for it’s food and especially it’s street food which people from all over the world travel to try and I’ve always thought eating out in Taiwan is like a national activity. Almost every Taiwanese person will spend their free time of holidays looking for delicious food or restaurant. Taiwan is a true foodies country!
But drawing food is such a tough job for an illustrator because I have basically chained myself in front of my desk for many days drawing this map and drawing this map has made me super hungry and as a result I’m snacking all the time. I can sense I’ve put some weight on after finishing this illustration so now I’m minutely quieter I’m trying to go the gym as often as I can to try to erase both my weight and guilt.
Even though putting weight on was a bit annoying, drawing food is so much fun. I love drawing food and anything that brings happiness to people. Another thing I found challenging during the process of creating this illustration was finding the English name for some of the foods. Some dishes are easy to translate into English while some aren’t. Some examples of difficult dishes to translate are “seaweed shaved ice” and “blood tofu soup”. Hopefully one day the Taiwanese government will setup some kind of website or webpage with all the street foods translated into English.
Below are some of the food illustrations I did for this map. I was drooling in front of my desk all the time when I illustrated this map and especially when I had to draw some of my very favourite dishes like pork buns, zingzi and stinky tofu.
Next two images are the detail images of the map:
Individual elements:
If you would like to buy a print of the Taiwan Street Food Map Illustration you can buy it here from my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/289481597/taiwan-street-food-map-illustration-uk?ref=shop_home_listings
LOVE THIS!
We spent 3 months in Taiwan and loved it!! Such a great diagram, brings back amazing memories 🙂 thanks for the post!!
Hi Carolann & Macrae,
Thanks for your kind comment, really glad that you like my Taiwan map illustration. 😀
Awesome cute illustrations. I miss living over there.
Thank you Onni! I miss my life there too. 🙁
Where may I purchase a poster of this illustration? I love it!
Hi Anna,
Thanks for your comment. I emailed you the details about purchase this print. 😉
Where can I buy this poster.
Hi Gloudine,
Thank you for your comment. You can check my shop for this poster: https://www.etsy.com/listing/289481597/taiwan-street-food-map-illustration-uk?ref=shop_home_listings
Many thanks,
Liv
Wonderful. I have the same question about purchase. Please let me know.
Hi Patricia,
Thank you for your comment. You can check my online shop for this poster: https://www.etsy.com/listing/289481597/taiwan-street-food-map-illustration-uk?ref=shop_home_listings
Many thanks,
Liv
Excellent map outlining food from each areas. Whilst you can get most food from other major cities in the capital, it is much nicer to go to the places were they were’invented’ and made so popular using the local ingredients. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Ash. 😀
Nice print. Very colourful and detailed. I just don’t agree on the fact that the food in Taiwan is delicious ( in particular it’s really unsafe) but the map is nice.
Hi Astrid,
Really sorry to know that you had terrible experience with Taiwanese food especially you are based in Taiwan. It must be awful for you to live in Taiwan and feel that way. I think you should really try your best to move out of there for your own sanity.
I also created map illustration of USA, Japan, Mexico and Scotland before and each countries got their own problems. For example, USA got really terrible gun crime, rape…etc The same as Mexico. But I choose to embrace the positive part of each countries’s culture rather than focus on their negative part. I hope you can understand that. I don’t illustrate map or anything to offend any people’s culture as I always treat people from different background and culture with respectful attitude and try to understand and appreciate their culture.
As you talk about the unsafe food, yes this few years there are few awful news about the safety of the food in Taiwan. That’s shame and horrible. But I believe people are trying very hard to correct this problem. But which food in the world is safe now? Can you be 100% sure organic food are definitely organic? Have you see farmer how to feed the cow, pig…etc everyday? Have you watch how the farmer grow vegetable from seed to harvest everyday yourself?
The fact is no food in this world is 100% safe anymore. There are 42% more chance to get Alzheimer if there is rice, pasta and any carbohydrate food in your diet. That including most of the people on the plant. There are more research similar like this. So all I can said is hope you have better experience of food in the future no matter where you are and sorry again about your terrible experience with Taiwanese food.
Many thanks,
Liv
Hi Liv,
Unfortunately I have to stay. But I just buy and eat food imported from safer countries (mostly Europe). It’s true that there is something bad in each country. But Taiwan food security is a major issue most developed countries don’t have. Think of melamine plastic, people eating beef noodle from plastic bags, gutter oil, the cockroaches infesting a lot of restaurants, the refried food they reheat for you (refrying is highly cancerogenous), fish you don’t know where it comes etc. I beg to think Taiwan does have a food security issue that’s much higher than that of a developed country. There are studies linking melamine in plastic with mental retardation, sterility, cancer etc. I don’t think you get the same level of problems in Europe… This is without even considering things like ractopamine beef imported from the US and total lack of food traceability.
Wow!! That’s a adorable and attractive illustration! I live in Taiwan but there are lots of amazing cuisines on this list that I don’t know or even try ! Thanks for sharing a nice island to the whole globe and love your amazing and detailed illustration.
Hi Logan,
Thank you for your lovely words! I’m really glad that you like my Taiwan map illustration. 😀
Many thanks,
Liv
OMG I miss the food back in Taiwan
Me too!!
It is so cute and point out everything nicely. Love it.
Thank you so much! You’re so kind.
tks your great blog. can I save your images to write Taiwan topic? I feel great if you allow me.
Hi,
Thank you for your comment. I will send you an email shortly to discuss about this.
Many thanks,
Liv
Hi, I love this so much. I am a school teacher and I am going to teach the street food in Taiwan. Therefore, may I use this image in my slide?
Thanks.
Hi Renee,
Thank you very much for getting in touch with me.
Yes, you can use my image for teaching for sure. 😀
Good morning!
This is Amy Wu from Tainan. I’m a teacher in a elementary school.
We’d like to hold an exhibition about Taiwan Street food at the school. We found your illustration on the Internet and we love it.
Is there any possibility that we could have your original file of the Taiwan Street Food Map? It’s only for education purpose.
It’s an honor to have your work at our school and we do appreciate if there’s a chance to work with you.
Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you!
Hi Amy,
I’m so sorry for my late reply. I was really busy with work and family and I only saw your comment now.
If you still need this illustration please contact me by email: Liv@Livwanillustration.com