MUNCHIES Presents: Taiwan’s Funeral Feasts

In the West, funeral catering is often limited to soggy fruit plates and cold-cut sandwiches. But that’s not the case in Taiwan, where classic local delicacies like pork buns, fried chicken, and sashimi are on the menu, and the pallbearers get buzzed on rice-wine-heavy chicken soup. Held in honor of the deceased, these funeral feasts are prepared by traditional “village chefs“ who specialize in ban-doh—outdoor banquets for community occasions ranging from weddings, births, and funerals to elections and fest