Jensen Huang praises Taiwan night market fare: ‘This island makes semiconductors and fruit’

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang shared his enthusiasm for Taiwan’s night market cuisine, highlighting its flavors, textures and unusual combinations.

In an interview published by Lex Clips on Oct. 14, Huang toured a Taiwanese night market and said, “This island makes semiconductors and fruit.”

After trying ice cream served with cilantro and nuts, Huang praised its soft, chewy texture. The unexpected combination “doesn’t make any sense, but it’s delicious,” he said.

Huang also noted the widespread use of eggs in regional cuisine. He said eggs are an inexpensive source of protein in Southeast Asia and are added to dishes including pancakes.

Recalling that he grew up eating pork floss, Huang joked that the name posed a branding problem and said Taiwan “is not very good at marketing.”

He emphasized that noodles and sesame balls are valued not only for flavor but also for their bouncy, chewy texture. Tasting a mildly sweet dessert, he called “not too sweet” the ultimate compliment.

Huang also discussed cultural differences around finishing a meal. In some cultures, eating everything expresses appreciation, while in others it may pressure the host to serve more food, he said, adding that diners need to understand what each culture values more.

He was also intrigued by the contrast between durian’s strong odor and sweet flavor. Huang said it smelled bad but tasted very good, describing it as though “nature played a little trick.”