This photo was taken at Ningxia night market.
Taipei Night Markets
The “Big 5”
There are many different night markets all-around Taipei. This guide is focused on the "Big 5":
Lastly, there is also Ximending, which is a lovely marketplace that has many activities both during the day and at night. This is one of my favorite areas in Taipei and is the best place to stay as one can have breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert while being in walking distance from the Taipei Main Station and other metro stations.
- Shilin: The most famous night market and the former largest.
- Raohe: The oldest and busiest market.
- Ningxia: Single-street market known for their oyster omelettes.
- Linjiang: Otherwise known as Tonghua, this market has more traditional food and is near Taipei 101.
- Huaxi: Former red light district that was actually the first night market catered towards tourists. Formerly known as Snake Alley because they specialized in serving snake meat. It consists of four night markets.
Lastly, there is also Ximending, which is a lovely marketplace that has many activities both during the day and at night. This is one of my favorite areas in Taipei and is the best place to stay as one can have breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert while being in walking distance from the Taipei Main Station and other metro stations.
Things to note about the page:
- Sometimes, the English names for the restaurants are not located on Google Maps. In these situations, I recommend trying the Chinese name.
- Any retaurant that is recommended by the Michelin Guide or has/had a Michelin Bib Gourmand (MB) will have ⭐ around its name.
- My favorite restaurants will be underlined and in GREEN.
- Non-food places will be in PURPLE.
LASTLY, I have never had bad Taiwanese street food, at least in taste. Many of the negative reviews you'll find online are due to lack of customer service or long wait times, and occasionally price. However, if you see some food that looks good, go for it!
Shilin
- The most famous night market in Taiwan and the largest night market in Taipei.
- It is also considered the most touristy, and for those who can't speak Mandarin, this is a great option and starting point.
- All-around good food pick!
- The original market originated in 1909 around the Shilin Cixian Temple (士林慈諴宮) where the original brick and timber market was built across from the temple.
- In 2002, it was closed due to deterioration, and in 2011, they moved the vendors into the Shilin Underground Food Court, which subsequently closed (and remains closed) due to COVID-19.
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Route and Food to Eat
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Start at the official entrance, where one can see the large Shilin Market sign and the lanterns by the side.
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Head north up Danan Road then turn left to go west on Danan Road.
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3D Tiger: Digital artwork of a 3D baby tiger cub on a billboard partaking in silly activities.
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Head into the Shilin Covered Children Games Area to play some games and
Upon exiting the market, if one is still hungry, there are a few places to eat on the left and down Jihe Road.
Upon exiting the market, if one is still hungry, there are a few places to eat on the left and down Jihe Road.
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Raohe
This market consists of a main street split into two passageways with stalls and shops lining the sides and in the center and smaller alleys on the sides. It is easy to navigate as it is a single street where one can walk in a counter-clockwise circle.
- 🚇 Transit: Start and end at Songshan MRT station (Exit 5) or the Songshan Station (of the TRA train)
- ⌚ Hours: Mon-Sun: 4 PM - 12 AM
- Tips: Visit early (5 – 7 PM) or late (10 PM – 12 AM) and not on Friday or Saturday to avoid crowds. If the streets get too crowded, duck into the back where the claw machine parlors and shops are located.
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Eastern Entrance
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First Lane
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Second Lane
- Po Lam Kopitiam (寶林咖啡館饒河店) – NT$100-200: Malaysian all-vegetarian restaurant known for fried (tofu) fish skin, deep fried fish cakes, curries, and rice combo dishes.
- Shanghai Crispy Chicken (大上海香酥雞饒河店) – NT$60: Crispy chicken chain with delicious options.
- Handmade Scallion Pancake (蔥海手工蔥油餅) – NT$100: Rolled up scallion pancakes that have some of the best sauces.
- Deer's Flower Cake (小鹿梅花糕饒河店) – NT$50: With a less crowded location at Shilin, this place serves delicious cakes.
- Jiahe Squid King (加賀魷魚大王) – NT$150: Flavorful squid with seating on the second floor.
- Yupinyuan Fire and Ice Tangyuan (御品元冰火湯圓) – NT$80-110: A branch of the famous stall at Tonghua Street Market serving sesame and peanut-filled glutinous rice balls over ice and osmanthus syrup.
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Ningxia
As a smaller marketplace along Ningxia street, it consists of two rows of stalls creating a VERY narrow passageway in between. It's difficult to navigate between as people move single file in both directions. The most popular stalls have long lines that wrap behind the stall and onto the sidewalk.
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Start at the south, where the first block past the Jiancheng Traffic Circle consist of childrens’ game area (遊戲機.玩具娃娃畫) and even an indoor game center for adults (小時候彈珠堂-台北寧夏店).
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Narrow Passage
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West Stall Side
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- Huan Ji Sesame Oil Chicken (環記麻油雞) – NT$210: Known for their sesame oil chicken soup (with chicken organs), but they also have vermicelli noodles and braised pork rice.
- Ningxia Vegetarian Restaurant (寧夏素食小館) – NT$25-50: Vegetarian noodle shop with delicious tofu rolls and tofu skin soup.
- Ganji Dessert Shop (甘記燒仙草刨冰甜點) – NT$25-50: Taiwanese shaved ice restaurant with fun toppings and ice cream
- Corgi Paw Cakes (柴進來雞蛋糕) – NT$55: Cute little cakes shaped like dog paws that is behind the Ganji Dessert shop.
- Tong Nian Papaya Milk (童年木瓜牛奶) – NT$60: Many juice bars are located in this area, but this is one of the more popular.
- Li Zhang Bo (里長伯麻辣臭豆腐鴨血和麵線) – NT$60-75: Combo meals of duck blood soup and fried stinky tofu
- SLT PAN-YAKI (香連鐵板料理) – NT$200-400: Taiwanese tenpanyaki for anyone who is still hungry.
- Piaoxiang Beef Noodles (飄香牛肉麵館) – NT$60-75: Delicious beef noodle soup with flavorful broth and noodles.
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There are a few other oyster omelet places one can try:
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Linjiang
As one of the closest night markets to Taipei 101 and easy to navigate without too many crowds, it is the smallest market of the "Big 5". It consist of a single road with a notable side street. It’s usually not too crowded, and in my opinion, offers some of the best dessert options.
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Route and Food to Eat
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Entrance
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Desserts
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Alley 50/Tonghua Street Lane 39 (通化街39巷50弄)
It’s more of a street that is where most of the famous stalls are located. We’ll be walking along the right side then coming back down on the other side of the “alley”:
It’s more of a street that is where most of the famous stalls are located. We’ll be walking along the right side then coming back down on the other side of the “alley”:
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Back on Linjiang
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Path to MRT station
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Huaxi
- Former red light district that became the first night market catered to tourists (although one can still find prostitutes on nearby streets)
- It caters more towards the elderly and has a traditional feel.
- Its nickname of "Snake Alley" stems from the fact that it used to specialize in serving snake meat to make stews and using the blood for alcohol shots. Today, it is no longer serving snake and consists of 4 night markets:
- Xichang: A flea or antique market filled with secondhand items that are sold by the elderly. It has a sad nickname as the garbage market, but you might discover one or two gemstones.It is located near Herb Alley.
- Huaxi: The former (and current) red light district with food stalls added to feed workers. This is where snakes were first skinned and today, this covered street has massage parlors and karaoke bars. There are only 2 stores left where they sell snake meat products. It is also known for its beautiful entrance and arcade.
- Guanzhou: Standard food as other night markets, but try the deep fried marlin cakes stuffed with a hard boiled egg.
- Wuzhou: An extension to the Guanzhou Night Market specializing in seafood and quick fry style restaurants where you choose from seafood and vegetables on display, and the stalls will quickly cook them for you.
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Longshan Temple Underground Street:
- An area filled with fortune tellers and traditional Talwanese teahouses
- LiuYu Teahouse (柳隅茶舍): One of the few recommended teahouses
- Longshan Temple: For more information check out my Taipei website, but if you arrive between 3:30 – 5:00 PM, they have a chanting ceremony. Arriving closer to 5 allows you to be there when the night markets open around 5 PM.
Xichang Street Night Market
- East of Longshan Temple, we start at Herb Lane, where Chinese herbs and medicines are put on display.
- 天順蔘藥青草行 - NT$20-50: Herbal tea is served here
- Chengji Original Pork Ribs Soup (誠記原汁排骨湯): Known for their delicious pork ribs radish soup and a side dish of cabbage rice. They have set meals and would recommend Set 2 ~ NT$170.
- 德安茶水舖 – NT$20-50: Delicious drink shop known for their green herbal tea and other herbal teas.
Turn around and head to the west of Longshan Temple
Huaxi Night Market
The entrance is located to the right when entering Guangzhou street and walking west. There are A LOT of delicious options and the list below barely covers all the great small restaurants that occupy the space (especially the second covered street).
The entrance is located to the right when entering Guangzhou street and walking west. There are A LOT of delicious options and the list below barely covers all the great small restaurants that occupy the space (especially the second covered street).
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First Covered Street
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Second Covered Street:
- Hokkaido Fresh Squid (北海道新鮮魷魚): Grilled squid served with garlic chili paste and wasabi
- Dang Gui Fragrant Por Trotters (當歸香當歸豬腳) – NT$130: Pig’s feet herbal soup.
- Guo Jia Stir-fried Beef (郭家炒牛肉): – NT$100: Stir-fry dishes that specialize in beef with veggies; however, they have different types of beef innards that an all be cooked, such as beef heart and liver.
- 18 Hao Shop Stink Tofu (十八號店臭豆腐-艋舺華西店) – NT$70: A peculiar shop selling different flavored stinky tofu such as chocolate, Thai sweet chili sauce, honey mustard, tartar sauce, and even a condensed milk stinky tofu!
- Monga Huang Pepper Bun (艋舺黃元祖胡椒餅) – NT$60: While not as famous as the Raohe pepper buns, they still offer delicious buns with fragrant smells.
- MB⭐ Wang’s Broth (小王煮瓜) ⭐ : The most famous stall known for the steamed minced pork with pickles in broth (清湯瓜仔肉), but also serve delicious braised pork rice and stewed pork!
- MB⭐ Yuan Fang Gua Bao (源芳刈包) ⭐ : “Taiwanese hamburger” store with pork belly in a steamed bun.
- MB⭐ Chang Hung Noodles (昶鴻麵點) ⭐ : Noodles in a light and meaty broth.
- Buddha Jumping Over the Wall (蒸好吃佛跳牆) – NT$30 - 100: Small side dishes with pork ribs, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and rice cakes.
- Yao Yun Flour-Rice Noodles (悠鱻麵線華西街觀光夜市店) – NT$85: Mee sua with plump oysters, fish, squid, and preserved thousand-year old eggs.
- Huiyu Douhua (慧宇豆花): Classic tofu pudding.
Head back to Guangzhou Street Night Market.
Guangzhou Street Night Market
- Si Fang A Jiu Braised Pork Rice Wanhua (四方阿九魯肉飯 萬華店): Besides the braised pork rice, they also sell bento boxes and rib soup.
- Wan Tian Flying Saucer Skewers (艋舺夜市｜丸田飛碟燒): Specializes in wheel cakes with multiple fillings as well as peanut, milk, red bean, and chocolate mochi.
- Liang Xi Hao (兩喜號): Full-scale seafood restaurant where one should try the cuttlefish stew (花枝羹) and burdock tempura (炸牛蒡天婦羅).
- Donggang Marlin Sticks (東港旗魚串) – NT$30 for 2: Deep fried marlin fish cakes.
- Dingtop Tempura (頂級甜不辣): Serving the famous 甜不辣 or tianbula fishcake.
- Miss Iced Aiyu (懷念愛玉冰): Aiyu jelly drink.
- Da Dong Steakhouse (大東牛排館) – NT$200: Thinly sliced Taiwanese-style steak served with noodles, soup, and black tea.
Wuzhou Street Night Market
- Ren Shen Chicken Soup (人蔘雞湯花生豬腳湯) – NT$90: Delicious ginseng chicken soup.
- Jin Jin Seafood Restaurant (津津海鮮餐廳 & 津津無刺虱目魚) – NT$10: Seafood quick-fry restaurant known for their puffer fish
- Wu Zhou Street Local Beef (梧州街本地牛肉) – NT$50-75: Beef quick-fry restaurant known for beef soup.
- Tie Dou Full Beef House (鐵豆全牛之家) – NT$120-150/dish: A little pricier, but their beef options are delicious.
- Zheng Lao Pai Stir-Fried Eel (正老牌炒鱔魚) – NT$130: Try the Southern fried eels here.
- Zhou-Style Roasted Mochi (周氏燒麻糬) – NT$45: These are more akin to glutinous rice balls rolled in sweet peanut powder and served with complementary tea. They are quite large. One can also try a traditional peanut soup here.
Ximending
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Breakfast Places:
- Yong He Soy Milk (西門町永和豆漿): Known for freshly made soy milk (warm or cold), savory and sweet soy milk varieties, crispy fried dough sticks (youtiao), scallion pancakes, and steamed buns.
- YON HO (永和豆漿-西門町店): A chain of restaurants specializing in Taiwanese-style soy milk with dumplings, egg pancakes, and rice rolls
- Little DouDou Breakfast Place (小荳荳早餐坊): Homemade feel with traditional and fusion breakfast options, especially their egg crepes.
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Restaurants:
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Street Food:
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Desserts
- Wang Fu Taro Balls (王福芋圓): Known for its chewy taro balls served in a sweet soup or over shaved ice.
- Benyuan Tofu Pudding (本願豆花 漢中店): tofu pudding shop with multiple topping options, offering silky-smooth tofu pudding that’s worth every penny. Limited seating available.
- 3 Siblings (三兄妹雪花冰): Famous for Taiwanese shaved ice with a variety of options, from classic flavors to fresh fruit toppings. Additional toppings can be added for NT$20.
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Other Activities
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Other Street Food to Try:
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