To celebrate the 115th National Day of the Republic of China, a Taste of Taiwan event will be held in Southern California from October 2nd to 11th at STC Rowland Legacy in Rowland Heights. This event will showcase Taiwanese night market cuisine, local flavors, cultural performances, and traditional games over 10 consecutive days, presenting Taiwan’s diverse food and lifestyle culture. It aims to invite people from various ethnic backgrounds in Southern California to participate, starting with a taste of Taiwan to get to know the country.
Los Angeles Deputy Director of the Economic and Cultural Office, and Director of the Los Angeles Overseas Community Center, Zhang Haojun, believes that Southern California provides a stage to showcase Taiwan to the world. He mentioned that Taiwan’s stock market has a total market value of about $5.3 trillion, ranking as the fourth-largest stock market globally. Through collective participation in this year’s National Day celebrations, he hopes to bring together Taiwanese diaspora and community forces scattered around the world. “Each of us is a representative of Taiwan, but when we come together, the power we unleash is multiplied tens or even hundreds of times.”
In addition to technology and economy, Taiwan also possesses many charming aspects. Zhang Haojun expressed that people often trigger memories through senses like smell, taste, and sight, making Taiwanese cuisine and cultural activities more than just gatherings but a means to connect with feelings of home. He encourages everyone to continue participating in related activities to help more people understand Taiwan through culture and food.
John Hsu, President of the STC Foundation, stated that getting to know Taiwan doesn’t necessarily have to start with history, geography, or culture. A freshly made pan-fried dumpling, oyster omelet, a bowl of fruit shaved ice, or a cup of Taiwanese tea or coffee could serve as the first step to understanding Taiwan. The event aims to use food as a common language for cross-cultural exchange, allowing people to delve further into the lands, cities, people, and stories behind the cuisine while enjoying the flavors.
Taste of Taiwan 2026 is jointly organized by the STC Foundation, AI Education Foundation, and Taiwan-U.S. Food & Beverage Association (TUFBA). This year’s event will feature 15 groups of cooperating businesses and delegation teams from Taiwan, presenting over 60 varieties of Taiwanese cuisine, beverages, and cultural content over the 10-day period. Over 50 local cooperating businesses from Southern California will also participate, offering distinctive dishes, products, and night market experiences representing various ethnicities and cultural backgrounds, creating a platform for cultural exchange between Taiwan and Southern California.
The event will kick off with classic Taiwanese night market snacks such as oyster omelets, sausages, fried foods, scallion pancakes, pan-fried dumplings, braised meats, and seafood dishes, along with traditional desserts, fruit drinks, specialty teas, and gourmet coffees.
AI Education Foundation President, Pan Yiling, pointed out that these dishes are more than just “Taiwanese snacks.” Different flavors connect with different cities, lands, origins, and family memories. Some dishes carry on through generations, some reflect local customs, and some are the creative reinterpretations of traditional flavors by the new generation of food industry professionals.
The event will also showcase Taiwanese indigenous food and culture, extending from mountain ingredients, sticky rice, and herbs to crafts, music, and dance, allowing participants to understand Taiwan’s diverse ethnic groups and cultures from various perspectives.
Moreover, the content of Taiwanese tea, fruits, and gourmet coffees will extend the Taiwanese night market culture from the streets to the lands and origins, showcasing to the public the richness of Taiwanese agriculture, tea culture, and mountain forest coffee beyond just the night market snacks.
John Hsu stated that Taste of Taiwan is not merely “transporting” Taiwanese cuisine to Southern California but aiming to bring Taiwan and Southern California’s diverse cultures together.
Therefore, in addition to the 15 Taiwanese collaborating businesses, over 50 local businesses from Southern California have been invited to participate. People can step into the event with a Taiwanese night market snack and experience a variety of cuisines and cultures from different ethnic groups in the same venue.
Hsu hopes that Taiwan serves as the cultural core of the event, while the participation of the diverse ethnic groups in Southern California will make this event a platform for community exchange. For Taiwanese businesses, the event provides an opportunity to reach Southern California consumers and a diverse market; for local businesses, it allows interactions with Taiwanese brands, community organizations, and consumers from different cultural backgrounds.
The “Grand Opening & Taiwan National Day Celebration” will take place on Friday, October 2nd, starting at 5:00 PM, with the opening ceremony at 6:00 PM, inviting elected officials, community leaders, various distinguished guests, and participating groups and arranging a “Balloon Blessing Ceremony.”
The evening will combine cultural performances, Taiwanese specialty cuisine, and night market experiences to kick off the 10-day Taste of Taiwan event.
During the event, a “Sip & Save Pass” for culinary experiences will be available, allowing people to explore the different cuisines and beverages of cooperating businesses. Hsu hopes that people will not only choose familiar dishes but also try several Taiwanese flavors they have never experienced or even heard of before. After using the culinary pass, it can serve as a commemorative card for Taste of Taiwan 2026.
By participating in “Taste of Taiwan 2026,” people can start to understand Taiwan’s people, lands, and culture through taste. “Taste Taiwan, Experience Taiwan, Discover Taiwan” becomes the concept the event aims to convey. Starting from a taste of Taiwan, cultural exchange extends from the dining table to the community, and could even be an opportunity to personally visit Taiwan and explore the island in the future.
The event will take place at STC Rowland Legacy, located at 18991 Colima Road, Rowland Heights, from October 2nd to 11th, spanning 10 days. Operating hours are from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM on weekdays and from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM on weekends and related event days.