Authentic Taiwanese Food in London: Old Tree Daiwan Bee

For those of us studying or working abroad, the hardest part isn’t always the language or schoolwork — it’s the homesickness that hits when we least expect it. Especially on a cold day in London, you might suddenly crave a hot bowl of braised pork rice, crispy popcorn chicken, or a creamy taro smoothie. While there are plenty of Asian restaurants in the UK — Chinese, Japanese, Korean — finding a place that truly tastes like Taiwan isn’t that easy.

One day, while wandering through Chinatown, I stumbled upon a small shop with a bold sign: Old Tree Daiwan Bee. Without hesitation, I stepped inside. The place was small and simple. The “Taiwanese Flavour” on the sign felt like it was calling out to every homesick student. Inside, the seating was tight and a bit cramped — bumping elbows wasn’t uncommon. But somehow, the lively, close-knit setting reminded me of Taiwan’s night markets.

When I opened the menu and saw names like Oyster Omelette, Popcorn Chicken, Beef Noodle Soup, and Bubble Tea, my mouth was already watering. I knew this meal wouldn’t just fill my stomach — it would comfort my soul.

Taiwanese Salt & Pepper Crispy Chicken: Crispy and seasoned with that classic peppery salt — the kind you only get from Taiwanese street vendors. Totally different from your average fried chicken shop. One bite and I almost teared up.
Stewed Pork Trotters: Tender, gelatinous skin with chewy meat, full of flavour but not too salty. It paired well with plain rice. A bit greasy, though — I could feel my blood pressure creeping up.
Taiwanese Style Stewed Minced Pork Noodles(Dry): Decent, though I personally prefer sesame noodles. Sadly, they don’t serve that here.
Taiwanese Beef Noodles in Soup: The broth had a good kick from the chili and pepper. The noodles were just like the kind I used to eat back home. Solid choice.
Taiwanese Steam Rice Pudding with Chinese Mushroom & Stewed Pork: Instead of the usual minced pork topping, they used lots of mushrooms. Not bad, but I still prefer the traditional pork version.
Taiwanese Turnip Cake: Crispy on the outside, soft inside — nice texture and balance overall.
Taro Freezer: After all that oily food, I needed something cold. This taro smoothie hit the spot — not too sweet, full of taro flavour, and instantly refreshing. If only London actually had a summer…

The food here brought back a lot of memories. Sure, it’s not exactly like what you’d get in Taiwan, but for something found in the middle of London, it’s more than enough to ease a bit of homesickness.

Funny thing happened when we went to pay — they don’t accept cards. My friend and I had to dig through our pockets and bags to scrape together just enough cash — barely hit £30.

Note to future visitors: bring cash! 😂

📍Old Tree Daiwan Bee（老树台湾味）
26 Rupert St, London W1D 6DH, United Kingdom