New Taipei Shenkeng Stinky Tofu

Shenkeng Stinky Tofu is the signature street food of Shenkeng Old Street in New Taipei, served grilled, braised, or steamed, and one of its "Four Treasures." Local vendors serve the same ingredient charcoal-grilled, braised in spicy red oil, and steamed, with stalls clustering beneath the old street's century-old banyan tree at its entrance. It is the most emblematic of Shenkeng's "Four Treasures" — green bamboo shoots, black pork, white tofu, and Baozhong tea — and has earned the old street its widely used nickname, "Tofu Township."

The Tourism Administration's official listing for Shenkeng Old Street notes a century-old banyan tree landmark at the street's entrance and lists green bamboo shoots, black pork, white tofu, and Baozhong tea as Shenkeng's "Four Treasures"; the old street's tofu food has led locals to commonly call it the "Tofu Township," though this is a popular nickname rather than an official Tourism Administration designation.

What is Shenkeng Stinky Tofu?

Shenkeng stinky tofu is made using high-quality local spring water, giving it a richer bean flavor and a firmer texture than ordinary stinky tofu. Traditional preparations fall into three main styles: charcoal-grilled, which is crispy on the outside and tender inside, eaten with pickled mustard greens and soy paste; braised (spicy), which is soaked in red chili oil and served with duck blood and large intestine, a combination of heat and funk; and steamed, prepared with fermented black beans, minced ginger, and chili peppers, steaming until the tofu absorbs the sauce for a savory, clean finish. Nearly every shop on Shenkeng Old Street offers all three styles and more, making it rare community where a single ingredient fills an entire table.

The tofu culture of Shenkeng Old Street stems from the area's excellent land and water. Shenkeng's "Four Treasures" are green bamboo shoots, black pork, white tofu, and Baozhong tea — tofu is one of them. Established shops on the old street, such as Guzao Cuo, Wang Shuicheng, Da Shu Xia, and Miao Kou, each have slightly different preparations but all revolve around Shenkeng tofu as the central ingredient. The old street stretches about 200 meters, and from the entrance to the century-old banyan at the far end, charcoal-grilled, braised, and steamed tofu stalls appear throughout. It is one of the few food communities in New Taipei where an entire street serves just one dish.

How to eat it like a local

Local knowledge

Information compiled from the Michelin Guide, New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau, and large volumes of public reviews, with sponsored content filtered out. Photos will be replaced with exclusive channel footage after Dio's on-site shoot.