Night Markets and Street Food in Taipei
Part of the Taipei travel guide — see every topic in All Taipei Guides.
Night markets are the heart of food in Taipei. Every evening, streets fill with small stalls that sell hot snacks, drinks and desserts. Most dishes are cheap and come in small portions, so you can try many things in one night. Each market has its own style. Some are big and busy, others are small and local. All of them are easy to reach by MRT.
Shilin Night Market
Shilin is the largest and best-known night market in Taipei. Get off at Jiantan station on the red line, not Shilin station, which is one stop further. The market covers several streets and has an underground food court as well. You will find fried chicken cutlets bigger than your face, grilled squid, oyster omelettes and bubble tea. There are also many clothes, shoe and game stalls. Shilin is very crowded on weekends, so go on a weekday if you can. It is a good first market because it shows you almost every kind of Taipei snack in one place.
Raohe Street Night Market
Raohe is one long, straight street near Songshan station, at the end of the green line. Because it is a single lane, it is easy to walk from one end to the other and back. The most famous stall here sells pepper buns, called hujiao bing. Bakers stick the buns to the inside of a hot clay oven, and the line is often long. Other good snacks are herbal pork rib soup, grilled corn and fresh fruit juice. The market also passes a large temple gate at one end. Raohe feels more local than Shilin and is a little less crowded.
Ningxia and smaller markets
Ningxia Night Market is small but known for its food. It is a short walk from Zhongshan or Shuanglian MRT stations. Almost every stall here sells food, not clothes or games. Try the oyster omelette, the taro balls and the braised pork rice. In the Xinyi area, Linjiang Street Night Market, also called Tonghua, is close to Taipei 101 and popular with office workers. It is a good choice if you stay on the east side of the city. Smaller neighbourhood markets often have the best prices and the shortest lines, so it is worth exploring near your hotel too.
What to eat
Some dishes are found in almost every market. Stinky tofu is fermented tofu, fried or in a spicy soup. The smell is strong, but many people love the taste. Oyster omelette is made with egg, sweet potato starch and small oysters, with a sweet red sauce. Braised pork rice, lu rou fan, is a cheap bowl of rice with soft pork and sauce. Bubble tea was born in Taiwan, and you can buy it at every corner. For dessert, try shaved ice with mango in summer, or warm peanut and taro soups in winter. Ask for less sugar if you prefer.
Tips for night markets
Most markets get busy from about 6pm and stay open until around midnight. Bring cash in small notes, because many stalls do not take cards. Some stalls now accept mobile payment or the EasyCard, but do not count on it. Eat while standing near the stall or find a small table, because walking and eating in a tight crowd is hard. Look for a stall with a long line of local people. It is usually a sign of good food. Bins can be hard to find, so keep a small bag for your rubbish. Weekdays are calmer than Friday and Saturday nights.
Night Markets and Street Food at a glance
| Getting there | Shilin: Jiantan MRT (red) · Raohe: Songshan MRT (green) · Ningxia: Zhongshan MRT |
|---|---|
| Hours | Roughly 5pm–midnight, every day |
| Cost | Most snacks are cheap; bring small cash notes |
| Best time | Weekday evenings, 7pm–9pm |
| Must try | Pepper bun, oyster omelette, braised pork rice, bubble tea |