We may receive a commission if you make purchases through affiliate links (at no extra cost to you). Read why our approach to travel is different.
A trip to Taiwan is simply not complete without paying a visit to its night markets. Night markets are as essential to a trip to Taiwan as a visit to the Eiffel Tower on a first trip to Paris. And there’s no better place in Taiwan to experience the weird and wonderful of Taiwan’s incredible food scene. There are over 20 night markets in Taipei alone, so we’ve curated this list of the best night markets in Taipei based on my years of visiting Taiwan and locals’ views.
When your tummy growls at night, what could be better than indulging in an open-air bazaar filled with a variety of budget-friendly eats? These lively street festivals with mouth-watering food, fun games and shops – and always crowded with hungry humans – are called night markets.
The Taiwanese take pride in their culture of street food served in small portions (in Mandarin, we call it “xiao chi”, literally meaning “little eat”), which for you translates to being able to sample some of the best of Taiwanese cuisine in a single night.
Night markets originated as informal gatherings of vendors drawn to the bustling atmosphere and crowd in temples, selling their goods on simple push carts. Over time, many night markets cropped up (even in places that aren’t close to temples) as their popularity soared, and it wasn’t long before night markets became synonymous with Taiwanese food culture.
Often times the best night market for you might be a function of your preferences and location. We’ll give you all the information you need plus we’ll recommend the best (and most unusual) foods for each night market that you simply must try. And if you’re struggling to choose, we’ve put together a handy Night Market Selector at the bottom of this article.
Skip to...
Essential Taipei night market tips
Before going, please keep these in mind:
- Make sure to bring cash. Many vendors do not accept cards.
- Finding a bathroom might be challenging on night market streets. If you really need to go to the bathroom, it’s best to go to the nearest MRT.
- Bring wet wipes with you. You’ll thank me for this.
- Long lines indicate famous stalls, but you can also find the same kind of good food without long lines if you walk further along.
- Avoid going on a full stomach to enjoy more options.
- Weekdays are ideal for avoiding chaotic crowds.
- With countless options available, don’t hesitate to try something new and random.
It can be a little messy in the night markets with queues and some litter on the ground. But in the chaos lies a sense of cultural charm and one of the best things that you can do in Taiwan. Visiting a night market is essential on your trip if for no other reason than it’s a cultural experience to discover the fun local surprises on your palate and games within the lively night spirit.
It’s a joy to feel the unique pleasure of strolling and consuming in the lively noise, hustle, chaos and crowds. In short, it’s all about enjoying the atmosphere.
Language tips
Although night markets are generally English-friendly, using Mandarin to express gratitude or preference is always a plus. Here are some phrases you might use when buying from vendors.
English | Mandarin |
---|---|
Thank you | 謝謝 (Xiè xiè) |
I want… | 要 (Yào) |
I don’t want… | 不要 (Bù yào) |
Spicy Common Conversation Example: Vendor: Want it to be spicy? You: Yes I want/ No I don’t want | 辣 (Là) Vendor: 要辣嗎? (Yào là ma?) You: 要 / 不要 (Yào / Bù yào) |
How much does it cost? | 多少錢? (Duō shǎo qián?) |
Best night markets in Taipei
Shilin Night Market
Shilin Night Market is the most famous and the largest night market in Taipei. It’s a quite a beast, so we’ve written an article specifically about Shilin Night Market.
With its large space that covers a whole range of stores, Shilin Night Market stands out as one of the best night markets in Taipei for affordable shopping, unique souvenirs, and the chance to try very, very peculiar Taiwanese snacks.
Tips for going to Shilin Night Market
Start your adventure at, you guessed it, the entrance: the building with the big sign reading “Shilin Market”. The night market games are concentrated right at the entrance.
It’s the perfect place to unleash the playfulness in you and test your skills in some balloon shooting, pinball, ring toss, and so many more. And, yes, you can win that oversized, cuddly stuffed toy. However, you will have to carry it for the rest of the night (hint: don’t do that).
What’s better, this arcade has an area for restrooms which most night markets don’t have. This building will come to your rescue when it rains or it’s too hot because it has an underground food court which reopened in June 2024.
Food in Shilin Night Market
As you find your way out of this covered area, you’ll discover streets of food vendors in front of Cixian Temple. This is where the heart of the night market is. Try out some spiral potatoes, cheese shrimp eggs, tempura, and local thin noodles near the temple.
There are two directions that lead you to more stores for trendy clothes and souvenirs – and even a few bars. Besides the food, games and stores, there are two main attractions in this night market: the 3D tiger cub screen and Lover’s Alley. Stop and enjoy the adorable 3D tiger animation at the crossroad – it might jump towards you.
Ningxia Night Market
Ningxia Night Market is famous for being the first to embrace mobile payment and delivery apps (for a country as technically advanced as Taiwan, it took way too long for this to happen). It also earned the title of the most eco-friendly night market, having banned single-use utensils and preventing oil fumes and odors.
Tips for going to Ningxia Night Market
Dihua Street (迪化街), Taipei’s most historically significant street, has buildings in traditional Fujian, Baroque, and western styles. Best of all, it’s only a 10-minute walk from Ningxia Night Market. When planning your Taipei itinerary, keep in mind that you’ll want to go to Ningxia after your visit to Dihua Street.
Ningxia Night Market has a narrow walkway between two rows of stalls which makes it hard to move during crowded weekend or Friday nights. It’s because of this we highly recommend visiting Ningxia during the weekday. Otherwise, be mentally prepared to be huddled in between hungry crowds.
Having said that, on account of the amazing food options and excellent vibe, Ningxia is still one of the best night markets in Taipei.
Food in Ningxia Night Market
Each stall offers a spacious dining area behind it, which is perfect for sitting down and savoring the strange but wonderful (usually) Taiwanese snacks.
Scallion pancakes are a famous street food in Taiwan. Unlike your impression of sweet pancakes from the west, these pancakes have a blend of saltiness and crispiness. Made from fried dough mixed with eggs, scallions, and fragrant basil, they are a must-try local cuisine.
Don’t miss trying it at the renowned “Ningxia Yue Shi Scallion Pancake (月氏激蛋蔥油餅)” stall. But expect long lines due to its popularity – this is a firm local favorite.
There’s also a separate section of Ningxia Night Market where you can play night market games as well. It’s a Taiwanese pastime that captures the hearts and minds of all ages.
Raohe Night Market
The stalls in Raohe Night Market are neatly arranged, lining both sides of the street and in the pedestrian arcade. Apart from stuffing your face with traditional dishes and innovative cuisines like donut fried chicken, a trip to Raohe should include time playing the carnival games.
Tips for going to Raohe Night Market
Once you exit the Songshan MRT station, you’ll be led by atmospheric red lanterns to the beautiful Ciyou Temple built in 1753. With the temple located right beside Raohe Night Market, you should also make sure to visit the temple before or after foraging in the night market.
Food in Raohe Night Market
At the entrance, you’ll immediately spot the long line for the pork pepper buns at “Fuzhou Black Pepper Bun (福州胡椒餅)”, a famous Michelin-recommended stall. Minced pork and scallions are hand wrapped before being put into the high-temperature oven walls, making them crunchy and golden.
It’s delicious, and unless you’ve lived in East Asia before, I highly doubt you would have tried a flavor as unique as the flavor of the Fuzhou Black Pepper Bun.
And don’t worry about the long line – enjoy the pleasure of observing the skilful baking and cooking process as your anticipation builds.
If you’re up to challenge Taiwan’s classic, infamous love-it-or-hate-it stinky tofu, a visit to renowned “Ming Peng Xia Gang (名彭下港)” is a must. We recommend dining at a table to fully appreciate its crispy exterior and soft interior. They will also serve you with pickled cabbage as a palate cleanser. If you can stomach it, this is the experience to have at the best night markets in Taipei.
Local tip: For our vegans, stinky tofu isn’t quite as vegan as it sounds.
Stinky tofu is often soaked in shrimp or other animal products during its making. Vegans should remember to order the vegan version from the menu. That won’t always be clear to you, so make sure you tell the worker that you are “chi-su-de” (chi is not pronounced like “chee”, it’s pronounced “ch”).
And trust me, you won’t be able to resist the aroma of the grilled king oyster mushroom at Raohe. What’s even more alluring is your choice of the salt for your grilled mushroom, ranging from lemon pepper to wasabi pepper salt. When you take a bite, you’ll love the special salt combined with the juiciness of the mushroom.
Linjiang (Tonghua) Night Market
Tips for Going to Linjiang (Tonghua) Night Market
If you decide to spend the day around Taipei 101, take a stroll to this nearby night market at night which is just a 10-minute walk from Taipei 101. You’ll notice it’s a relatively small night market, but it’s complete and orderly which allows you to wander freely without jostling through crowds.
Food in Linjiang Night Market
You’ll come across many stalls selling the large, round sweet potato ball, a classic must-eat snack in night markets. These sweet potato balls are large and crispy but hollow inside. As you take a bite, you’ll experience a chewy texture known as ‘Q’ in Taiwan. You’ll often see this English letter among the unrecognizable Chinese characters on the stall signs.
Taiwanese people more or less use Q to describe a squishy texture. You’ll be surprised just how many things around Taiwan are described as being Q. If you’re not into Q at the beginning of the trip, you will be by the end (maybe not even by choice).
At Linjiang, you’ll find many traditional Taiwanese dishes, seafood, Teppanyaki restaurants in the pedestrian arcade. You can also find Vietnamese cuisine in the alleyway. There are also claw machines (an arcade game where you control the claw and try to grab the prize in the machine), clothes, shoes and daily necessities in the middle of the night market.
After indulging in the guilty pleasure of fried, grilled, and oily cuisines, why not balance out your guilt with a refreshing cup of fresh-cut fruits or fruit juices available at Linjiang?
Night Market Selector
As you can tell, all four night markets we recommend have various types of foods, games and clothing shops. Choosing which of the best night markets to visit in Taipei might be hard. We want to take the hassle out of it so you go to the right Taipei night market for you.
If you… | Night Market |
– are near Jiantan MRT station – want to visit a famous, large night market – seeking trendy clothing, daily necessities, and souvenirs stores – want to visit on a rainy day – want to visit Cixian temple | Shilin Night Market |
– will be around Taipei Main Station – can accept being jostled by the crowds – want to pay with electronic payment – want to visit on a rainy day | Ningxia Night Market |
– are near Songshan Airport – want to try the famous pork pepper buns – want to visit Ciyou temple | Raohe Night Market |
– are around Taipei 101 – like small, orderly places without the crowds – are looking for a place with a balance of good food and shopping | Linjiang Night Market |
Share This Article
Traveling soon? Subscribe to The Insight below and get exclusive access to our personalized travel advice community via WhatsApp so you can ask all your burning travel questions.
Looking for the best comprehensive travel insurance? SafetyWing has you covered.
And for your eSIM in every country, there is only one option we recommend: Airalo.
Read more of our best insights from around the world
Share This Article
Traveling soon? Subscribe to The Insight below and get exclusive access to our personalized travel advice community via WhatsApp so you can ask all your burning travel questions.
Looking for the best comprehensive travel insurance? SafetyWing has you covered.
And for your eSIM in every country, there is only one option we recommend: Airalo.
Read more of our best insights from around the world