My district of Taipei, is known for having a pretty large number of Burmese immigrants. As such there is a local street that has come to be known as "South East Asia Street." This street is full of restaurants run by immigrants (and some taiwanese) from countries such as Thailand, Burma, and India.
The street is definitely an adventure. I've been there a few times, trying out a different restaurant every time I go. Some have been pretty good, some i really didn't like, and some just ok. But no matter how it tastes, I'm always glad just to eat something different from same ole Taiwanese food I eat everyday.
I also love going with Taiwanese friends. I'm always blamed for being "too picky" when it comes to food. But coming to this street, even the most easy going Taiwanese person starts to clinch up and get scared of trying some new dish they don't know the name of. I go there, point to something and try it, while my friends ask the owner a hundred questions trying to find the most "taiwanese" dish there. It's nice to be on the other side of the coin for once.
The picture above is the menu of a Burmese restaurant I ate at this evening. Pretty good food, but even better was the politeness of the owner. That niceness warrants a repeat visit from me. Also it seems to be one of the few places that is open many hours. Most places seem to close early to hold private gatherings for Burmese friends and family. I'm hoping to one day get invited, because hanging out with people whose language I don't understand, is pretty much my day to day activity.
