Even if you sign up for one of our all-inclusive private guided tours of Taiwan, it’s almost certain you’ll step inside one of the island’s many convenience shops. There are more than 13,000 of them or (according to one calculation) one for every 1,562 residents.
The two main chains are 7-Eleven and Family Mart, both of which are popular elsewhere in East Asia. There are also Hi-Life and OK Mart brand shops. Almost all of these shops are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; a few located on thinly-populated outlying islands or in remote mountain communities close their doors at midnight and reopen at six o’clock in the morning.
Eat, drink, and surf the web
In addition to a range of cold drinks and snacks, these shops sell food items that the salesperson can reheat for you in a microwave. There are burgers, chicken nuggets, onigiri (triangular packets of rice filled with tuna, shredded chicken, or another kind of protein), and even complete bento meals. Just the thing if you made a super-early start and missed breakfast or if you’ve been motoring all day and all the conventional eateries have stopped serving.
In each shop you’ll see a pot filled with eggs slowly braising in a brown liquid. These are tea eggs, a popular snack, and they taste much better than they looks. For families travelling in Taiwan, 7-Elevens and Family Marts are great places to get fresh milk, bottled juices, ice cream, and other treats for kids.
Our coffee-aficionado friends tell us that 7-Eleven’s caffeinated beverages are superior to those of other convenience-shop chains. Each branch offers at least a dozen types of coffee including lattes and americanos of varying sizes. (7-Eleven is cheaper than Starbucks, to boot).
They’re also good places to top up your EasyCard. What’s an EasyCard? It’s a stored value contactless card that can be used to pay for metro travel, short distance bus and train trips, hiring bicycles through the YouBike system, and admission to many museums and attractions. If you’re going to guide yourself for more than a day or two, you’ll find getting one of these cards will save you a bit of money and hassle.
Many but not all convenience shops have indoor seats and tables. It’s no surprise they’re hugely appreciated by those cycling long distances (or exploring a big city on foot) who need to escape from the heat and humidity for an hour or two.
If you need to photocopy something or want free WiFi, the answer is… 7-Eleven! If all of a sudden you require an umbrella or cheap underwear, you’ll find it in a convenience store. Got some dead batteries and you don’t know what to do with them? Hand them in to a 7-Eleven worker and they’ll get properly recycled.
Want to take a few cans of cold beer back to your hotel? 7-Eleven and Family Mart stock both local German/American-style amber lager and beers imported from Japan and elsewhere. Something stronger? There are red and white wines, whisky, and a few other tipples.
Like our guides, shop staff go above and beyond
One more thing: If you’re struggling to communicate with a convenience store employee or they’re doing things a little too slowly for your liking, please be patient. These people have to work pretty hard as the job encompasses being not just a cashier but also a barista and an inventory manager. They either earn the minimum wage or a tiny bit more. From January 1 next year, Taiwan’s legal minimum wage will rise to NT$28,590 (GBP 686 / US$ 887) per month or NT$190 (GBP 4.56 / US$ 5.89) per hour which, when you consider the cost of living, isn’t a lot. For exactly the same reason, be kind to the restaurant workers and hotel staff you encounter during your trip. Taiwanese people are exceptionally welcoming to foreign tourists — and we don’t want that to change.
Contact us today to begin planning the Taiwan trip of a lifetime. We look forward to hearing from you!