I’ve been living out in Asia for 28 years now (!) and have had my fair share of very good meals out in Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and (especially) Japan. Breakfasts out this way are different than in the west. In Japan, I love a good teishoku (定食 = set meal) for breakfast. At a hotel this can be quite a complex affair with several small dishes, but a simple breakfast teishoku consists of a fish, usually salmon or mackerel, some rice, a few pickles and a miso soup. If you can handle the flavours, its a perfect cycling brekkie.

To be truthful, I’m not a massive fan of Chinese / Taiwanese food (though Aboriginal food out here is fantastic), but Taiwan does have a great breakfast culture. It’s made up of small food joints all over the country that serve up a not-so-healthy but delicious offering of hash browns, omelettes, fried chicken cutlets, greasy noodles and sandwiches. Not so great for cycling, has to be said, but as they open usuailly til 1pm, decent for a post-ride snack and a coffee.

My favourite Taiwanese breakfast offering, the dan bing (egg roll): basically a crepe filled with just about whatever you like. Quite healthy unless you ask for it filled with bacon and cheese, as I do, then bury it in ketchup…

A quick word on the Aboriginal communities that are here in Taiwan – there are 16 recognised tribes and they have been here on the island for at least 10,000 years. Linguists and anthropologists widely view Taiwan as the ancestral homeland of Austronesian peoples and they are linked as far along as to the Maori. The largest group in Taiwan are the Amis people, numbering some 200,000. My partner is Amis, and we went to her hometown in August to join in the Harvest Festival – 3 days of dancing for 4-5 hrs a day – need a good breakfast to get through that..!

Amis food is fantastic, with a lot of fish dishes and pork meals, with tons of vegetables and natural flavourings.

If in Taiwan, head to Hualien and Mu Ming Restaurant (the salted fish in the middle above is from there), it’s the best I’ve had on the island.

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Right, back to these Asia-inspired breakfasts!

Long rides demand long-lasting energy,  and the right breakfast can make all the difference. Meals that blend slow-release carbs, light protein, and easy-to-digest ingredients help keep your legs strong, your energy stable, and your stomach comfortable on the bike. Here are three Asia-inspired options

1. Banana-Oat Soy Milk Smoothie
Blend a ripe banana with oats, soy milk, and a drizzle of honey. It’s packed with slow-release carbs and gentle protein — and it’s easy to digest.

2. Savory Miso-Egg Rice Bowl
Top a small bowl of warm rice with a soft-boiled egg, a spoon of miso, a dash of sesame oil, and some steamed greens. Steady energy without feeling heavy, and the miso adds a great umami kick.

3. Ginger-Apple Oat Porridge
Take oats with a splash of milk or coconut milk, add grated ginger and apple slices, and finish with a few nuts. Oats ore the king of breakfast carbs, while ginger helps wake up your system. Good on cold days this one, served warm! 

Enjoy!