Taipei is a foodie’s paradise. Its iconic culinary scene is impressive and praiseworthy. You will find flavorful, colorful, and exotic dishes wherever you go. Most Taiwanese dishes utilize local products and ingredients, including meat, poultry, and seafood. Some contain non-conventional ingredients, such as blood, brain, and intestines. While Pig blood rice pudding doesn’t sound appetizing, you will be shocked to know how many people love it. Are you intrigued yet? If so, see this guide on Taipei Street Food and where to get them.
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Stinky Tofu
- Where To Eat: Dai’s House of Stinky Tofu, Shi Boss Spicy Tofu
- Price Range: NT$35 – NT$50
We begin our list with the iconic stinky tofu. It is either a hit or a miss among diners. You will know this dish from a mile away, thanks to its pungent odor. But don’t let its smell hinder you; it is among the delicious Taiwanese street foods. If you want any comparison, take European blue cheese as an example, which has a distinct smell and intense taste.
Stinky tofu has a strong smell due to its fermentation process. Some even compare its smell to that of smelly feet or rotten garbage. It is served in various ways, including fried, stewed, and steamed. The best deep-fried tofu is usually served with garlic sauce and pickled cabbage. If you don’t mind spice, try mala stinky tofu, a steamed version with a spicy broth.
Popcorn Chicken
- Where To Eat: Two Peck Crispy Chicken, Angel Jipai, Monga Fried Chicken
- Price Range: NT$85 apiece
Taiwanese cuisine always has that extra element that makes it better than the others. For instance, Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken is more than your regular fried chicken. While it retains crispy and juicy elements, it also adds local ingredients to give that authentic taste. This popcorn chicken is available all over Taipei, including in food stalls, vendors, and restaurants.
The idea of Taiwanese popcorn chicken was developed in the late 1970s. At that time, street stall cooks tried to replicate American-style fried chicken with a local taste. They used local ingredients and spices, including potato starch, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, and basil. The result was Taiwanese popcorn chicken, deep fried twice, coated in potato/tapioca starch, and served with basil. It also comes with various veggies, such as broccoli, tofu, and sweet potatoes on the side.
Oyster Omelette
- Where To Eat: Yuan Huan Pien Oyster Egg Omelette, Lai Ji Oyster Omelet
- Price Range: $3.5 onwards
Oyster omelets are among the best Taipei street foods. They’re a more advanced version of regular omelets, with oysters as the main component. This savory dish perfectly balances salty oysters with eggs and veggies. You can also add sweet chili sauce to make it even more delicious. In addition, greens like scallions, lettuce, baby spinach, bok choy, and celery leaves go perfectly with this dish.
Oyster Omelets are rooted in Fujianese cuisine and are of Min Nan origin. They are available in night markets and roadside stalls. Furthermore, this dish is softer and fluffier. While it is high in calories, it also contains some nutrients, including Vitamin A and iron. Taipei’s oyster omelets are affordable, costing from NT$40 to NT$85.
Pigs Blood Rice Pudding
- Where To Eat: Da-Qiao-Tou Tube Rice Pudding, ChangJi Street Pigs Blood Soup
- Price Range: NT$25 – NT$35
If you are adventurous, we suggest you try Pig’s Blood Rice Pudding. It is made of pig’s blood and sticky rice. A semi-gelatinous rice cake is soaked in pork blood and steamed on a popsicle stick. It is then covered in a sweet, syrupy sauce and coated with peanuts and cilantro. The result is a dark-colored mochi-style savory dish.
Pig’s blood pudding is famous in many areas of Taiwan. You can easily find it in Taipei night markets or food stalls. Street vendors serve it hot and often keep it warm in a metal steamer or a wooden box. However, this dish is not for everyone. Its unique texture and flavor are either a hit or a disappointment among diners. If you are a first-timer, expect a porky, spicy, sweet, salty taste and chewy texture.
Scallion Pancakes (Cōng yóu Bǐng)
- Where To Eat: Hsiung Chi Scallion Pancake, Tian Jin Onion Pancake
- Price Range: NT$35 – NT$50
Who doesn’t love pancakes? This dish is often included among the breakfast items. However, Taipei’s scallion pancakes are slightly different than your usual pancakes. Unlike sweet pancakes of the West, these pancakes taste savory. You can easily find them at streetside stalls or restaurants all over Taipei. It is one of the few vegetarian street foods.
Scallion pancakes are super easy to make. You only need four ingredients: flour, scallions, hot water, and salt. To enhance your experience, you can request additional meat and vegetable fillings. You can also ask for cheese, corn, or kimchi toppings. Start your day with Cōng yóu Bǐng while staying at Taipei. They are affordable, with the cheapest costing about NT$30.
Grilled Squid
- Where To Eat: Shilin Night Market, Raohe Night Market
- Price Range: NT$60 – NT$100
Taiwan is the best place to have seafood. They have everything from local fish to crabs, eels, squids, and exotic snail dishes. You can have them raw, fried, steamed, or grilled. If you want any recommendations, we suggest you try grilled squid. It is commonly found in seafood restaurants, street vendors, and food stalls. Most sellers grill the squid right before customers and serve it hot.
Fresh squid is usually marinated in a garlic and soy mix. It is then skewered on a stick and roasted over charcoal. This seafood is cooked until medium, with the chef casually brushing it with sauce. It tastes savory, chewy, and sweet with just enough freshness. In addition to this dish, you can try grilled abalone and oysters.
Xiao Long Bao
- Where To Eat: Din Tai Fung 101, Hang Zhou Xiao Long Bao, Dian Shui Lou
- Price Range: NT$250 for 12 dumplings
The delicious Xiao long bao is not a new dish. These soup dumplings are available in many Asian countries, including China, Japan, and Nepal. This dish originated in Changzhou, Jiangsu province in the 1800s. It originally had pork fillings inside steamed buns. These days, people use various stuffings, including vegetarian, seafood, poultry, and other meats. The size of buns also varies from small to large.
Xiao long bao is massively popular in Taiwan. Many Michelin-starred restaurants and food stalls sell it. In addition, prices vary based on fillings and variations. These soup dumplings are filled with hot liquid and generous stuffings. You should follow five steps to eat them: lift, move, open, sip, and eat. Put a dumpling on a spoon using chopsticks, nibble the outer skin to create a hole, and gently sip the hot soup inside. Then, eat the whole dumpling in a single bite.
Taro Balls
- Where To Eat: Liu Yu Zi, A-Gan-Yi Taro-Ball, Grandma Lai’s Sweet Taro Ball
- Price Range: NT$20 – NT$25 per ball
After all those savory dishes, it’s time for desserts. Taro balls are a beloved Taiwanese dessert made from taro. They are colorful, chewy, and sweet and come in ice and hot versions. The best place to eat this dish is Jiufen Village. It is only 30-40 minutes from Taipei and is known for its old and traditional features. After your arrival, you can plan a day trip to Jiufen and enjoy taro balls alongside other local delicacies.
A-Gan-Yi Taro Balls is a famous dessert shop specializing in taro balls. It was established in the 1960s and is super busy daily. The shop serves taro balls with sweet potato, mung, and red beans. Another local favorite taro shop is Grandma Lai’s Taro Balls on Jishan Old Street. They prepare taro balls from scratch and serve them with sweet potato cubes and green mung beans.
Peanut Ice Cream Roll
- Where To Eat: A-Zhu Peanut Ice Cream Roll
- Price Range: NT$40 – NT$50 per serving
Your trip to Taipei will be incomplete without trying its signature food: Peanut Ice Cream Roll. This sweet and salty dessert is available at night markets and ice cream shops. Unlike your usual ice cream, this one doesn’t have a cone. It is wrapped into a spring roll and usually consists of peanut brittle, two taro or vanilla ice cream scoops, and topped with fresh cilantro.
Cilantro on ice cream sounds weird, right? Surprisingly, they go well together. The cilantro adds a herby kick to the smooth ice cream and salty peanut brittle. This dessert originated in Yilan and later spread to neighboring districts, including Taipei. Jiufen’s Jishan Street also features many ice cream shops selling this unique street food.
Bubble Tea
- Where To Eat: Chun Shui Tang, Chen San Ding Bubble Tea
- Price Range: NT$85 – NT$180
Bubble Tea has slowly but firmly declared its presence globally. However, not many know that this beverage originated from Taiwan. It was initially a simple black tea mixed with tapioca pearls. Thanks to its ever-increasing popularity, we now have more variations, including fruit-flavored and matcha-flavored. Still, Taiwan’s bubble teas are the best in the world. They are also cheaper compared to other countries.
Taiwanese people are crazy about bubble teas and usually have them at least once daily. You can easily grab this drink from roadside stalls or milk tea shops in Taipei. In addition, you can choose the size of the cup, the sweetness level, and the amount of ice. Since you are in the boba tea capital, we recommend you purchase a large cup. Sip on this refreshing drink and enjoy chewing tapioca pearls.
Where To Eat Taipei Street Food?
Our handpicked street foods are available in most restaurants and food stalls in Taipei. However, for an authentic local experience, head to night markets. You will walk along the busy streets, mingle with others, and sample dishes throughout your night expedition. These night markets are more than tourist attractions; they pay homage to Taipei’s vibrant culture and have decades of history.
Shilin Night Market
- Address: No. 101, Jihe Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 4 PM – 12 AM
- Social Media: Official Website
Taipei has many night markets, including the Shilin Night Market, which ranks among the top. It was built as early as 1899 and is home to hundreds of stores, food stalls, and restaurants. You will find Michelin-starred food stalls selling mouthwatering vegetarian, nonvegetarian, and seafood dishes. Some must-try street foods are pork liver soup, stinky tofu, skewered squid, tempura, and braised pork rice. You can also buy souvenirs and gifts from the local stores.
Ningxia Night Market
- Address: 103, Taiwan, Taipei City, Datong District, Ningxia Rd, 58號2樓; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 5 PM – 1 AM
- Things To Do: Window shopping, Shopping, Food Tours
Next, Ningxia Night Market is a food lover’s paradise. You will find every kind of Taiwanese street food here. The must-try dishes are braised pork rice balls, crispy fried chicken, oysters, stinky tofu, Ji Rou Fan, Lu Rou Fan, fried quails’ eggs, oyster vermicelli, tempura, and fried scallion. You will also find plenty of desserts and beverage options. Furthermore, this small market is only a short walk from Dihua Street. You can take the Taipei Metro Red Line to Shuanglian Station and walk to the market.
Raohe Street Night Market
- Address: Raohe St, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 5 PM – 11 PM
- Things To Do: Shopping, Dining, Taking Pictures
Have you ever tried pork pepper buns at the Raohe Street Night Market? They are crispy buns made from minced pork and pepper. The taste is out of this world, and the best one is available at Raohe Night Market. In addition to these buns, oyster vermicelli, beef noodle soup, pork feet noodles, and stinky tofu are must-try dishes. The market also houses many stores selling clothing, accessories, and merchandise at affordable rates.
Huaxi Street Night Market
- Address: Huaxi St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 4 PM – 12 AM
- Things To Do: Shopping, Dining
Compared to its partners, Huaxi Street Night Market is less crowded and fades into the background. It has long since fallen from its heyday when tourists flocked here to see live snake killings. It was also a red-light zone with hundreds of brothels. Today, the market primarily has restaurants and food stalls selling pork dumplings, goose meat, and squid soup. Initially, it housed many snake-meat-selling restaurants; however, those are rare.
Yansan Night Market
- Address: Section 3, Yanping N Rd, Datong District, Taipei City, Taiwan 103; Google Map
- Opening Hours: 6 PM – 12 AM
- Things To Do: Shopping, Dining
Shilin, Raohe, and Ningxia Night Markets are overcrowded. To avoid crowds, head to Yansan Night Market. This local market in Taipei’s southern part offers a quieter and intimate setting. It has many roadside restaurants and food stalls selling mouthwatering Taiwanese street foods. Among many other options, the must-have dishes are Gua Bao (a cut-open steamed bun with pork and peanut powder stuffings), chewy fried noodles, and sweet mochi ice. All dishes are available at affordable rates here.
Our blog on Taipei Street Food and Where to Eat Them discusses the must-have street snacks and the top places to find them. You will enjoy sampling these dishes while strolling through night markets. Walking around these lively markets gives you insight into the locals’ lifestyles and cultures. Moreover, vendors and food stalls charge less than restaurants. Hence, you can eat as much as you want without draining your wallet. Also, don’t forget to practice food etiquette. These include being patient while waiting in line, disposing of your trash appropriately, using provided utensils, and making positive comments about the food.
