Private Taiwanese Cooking Class in Taipei: Family Recipes

Cook family recipes in a residential Taipei kitchen, then eat what you made at the host's table.

A private cooking class in a local home in Taipei's Neihu neighborhood where you watch Catherine prepare 2-3 traditional Taiwanese dishes from family recipes, help where the small kitchen allows, and then sit down to eat together. You choose between cooking and lunch alone, or adding a market tour where Catherine introduces you to her favorite vendors and you shop for ingredients together. The class runs about three and a half hours and is taught in English or Chinese.

The experience

Catherine learned to cook by watching her mother, and she builds each class around what's fresh in the market that day and what you want to eat. The kitchen in her modest apartment is small, typical for Taipei homes, so she does most of the hands-on work while you watch closely and help when there's room. Over one hour she walks you through the entire process of making dishes like smashed cucumbers, vermicelli with clams and luffa soup, crispy chicken with spicy tomato sauce, pork fried rice, or stir-fried mushrooms, explaining techniques and sharing tips as she goes. This is a cooking demonstration, not a hands-on class where you're at the stove the whole time, but you're in the kitchen with her the entire way.

After the cooking demonstration ends, you move to Catherine's dining table and eat the meal together. If you book the market option, the experience starts earlier: Catherine takes you to a local Taipei street market, shows you her favorite stalls and produce, and you buy a few ingredients together before heading back to her home to begin cooking. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available, and the class is 100% private. Just you, Catherine, and whoever else is in your group.

What’s included

• Private cooking demonstration with your host Catherine.
• meal together at her dining table.
• if you choose the market option, a guided tour of a local Taipei street market and shopping for ingredients with Catherine.
• instruction in English or Chinese.
• gratuities.

Options for this experience

2 options

Lunch and a cooking classGuide in English or Chinese · 10:00

Cooking and lunch, plus a market tourGuide in English or Chinese · 09:30Private market tour: On foot, explore a local street market with your host, who introduces you to the vendors she usually buys from. Duration: 4 hours. The market tour lasts about 45 minutes. From there, walk 5 minutes to your host's home for the cooking class.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 09:30 and 10:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Traveling Spoon

Is this one for you?Book the market option if you want to explore where Catherine shops and learn about local produce before cooking. Choose cooking and lunch alone if you'd rather spend the full time in the kitchen and at the table. Either way, the small kitchen means you're watching and learning rather than cooking independently: ideal if you want to absorb techniques and stories from someone who learned at her mother's side.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What traditional Taiwanese dishes will Catherine teach me to make?

Catherine chooses 2-3 dishes based on what's fresh in the market that day and your food preferences. The menu typically includes options like smashed cucumbers, vermicelli with clams and luffa soup, crispy chicken with spicy tomato sauce, pork fried rice, and stir-fried mushrooms with fresh shiitake.

Will I do the cooking myself, or is this a demonstration?

This is a cooking demonstration. Catherine's kitchen is small, so she does most of the cooking while you watch and help whenever space allows. She walks you through every step and shares cooking tips throughout the one-hour demonstration.

Should I book the market tour option, or just the cooking class?

The market tour option adds a visit to a local Taipei street market where Catherine introduces you to her favorite vendors and you shop for ingredients together before cooking. Choose it if you want to see where she sources her food and learn about local produce. Skip it if you prefer to go straight to the cooking demonstration.

What happens after the cooking demonstration?

You sit down together at Catherine's dining table and eat the meal you just watched her prepare. This is included in both the cooking-only and market-plus-cooking options.

Is this class suitable for dietary restrictions?

Yes. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available. Let Catherine know your preferences when you book so she can plan the dishes accordingly.