10 Must-Visit Night Markets in Taipei

Many consider Shilin Night Market to be Taiwan's most popular—and largest—night market, home to more than 500 night market shopping stalls in Taipei during its pre-pandemic peak. Established around 1899, this must-see Taipei night bazaar sprawls near Yangming Theater and Cixian Temple. As it’s central to many schools, it’s also heavily populated by students and locals, giving it a more local feel.

In addition to standard bites and eats, there are sections dedicated to photography, clothing, and home goods, so let a guide pave your way on a private walking tour. While you're there, can’t-miss eats include enormous spiced and fried chicken cutlets; juicy, sticky rice–wrapped sausage; and sheng jian bao (soft, crispy, and juicy pan-fried pork buns) from Chung Chia Sheng Jian Bao.

Raohe Street Night Market, a top Taipei evening market in the Songshan district, is petite: only about 1,968 feet (600 meters) long. However, it's also conveniently situated just steps away from the stunning Songshan Ciyou Temple, and is accessible via the Songshan MRT station.

A market tour here will help you navigate food stalls and peruse toiletries, toys, and traditional souvenirs. Most people come for Hsia Kang Ming Peng Stinky Tofu, which serves traditional stinky tofu paired with tangy pickled cabbage. Another famous stall, A Kuo Lu Wei, sits at the market entrance, and features a display of braised and marinated bites. Try their braised duck wings, hundred-layer tofu, and baby corn.

Street food tours frequent this Taipei nightlife market for its English menus and vendors that accept credit card and mobile payments. Located in the Datong District Circle near the old-school Taipei neighborhood Dadaocheng, Ningxia Night Market is a bit more organized chaos than others, with separate lanes designated for people and cars, making it somewhat easier to navigate.

In the middle of the night market, find Yuan Huan Pien Oyster Egg Omelette, which dishes up a savory and sweet treat featuring multiple textures and fresh Tainan oysters. It has served this one dish since 1965, topped with its homemade sweet hot sauce. If you're not an oyster fan, many other stalls also serve meltingly soft bowls of lu rou fan (braised fatty pork over rice).

Inside the Wanhua District, these lantern-jeweled streets are among the most historic in Taipei. You know you’re nearby when the smell of fried food wafts past Longshan Temple and the Taiwanese foot spas. Those in the know visit Huaxi Night Market for its seafood and local specialties like bao, now well-known internationally, but first popularized at night markets like this one.

For a true explosion of fatty pork belly, pickles, and peanuts tucked into a fluffy, sweet bao, try Yuan Fang Guabao. Alternatively, stop by Liang Xi Hao’s for thick squid stew, a savory and gelatinous dish of mollusks, bamboo, and bean sprouts.

A stylish university crowd frequently visits this popular Da’an District night market in Taipei. As a result, prices tend to be even lower than other options in the Taiwanese capital. Plus, Shida Night Market is the perfect low-key pick if you're looking for a quieter night market experience with shorter lines.

Besides food, there's also a great selection of affordable trendy clothing, although popular eateries include Longquan Fish Soup for hearty oyster or fish soup, or Shi Yun Fried Chicken for its garlic and herbed poultry, popular since 1984. It’s fun to pick your favorite vegetable or tofu ingredients to pair with the chicken, which is deep-fried to order and served with toothpicks and a paper bag.

Also known as Linjiang Night Market, this Taipei street food market can be reached via a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. Selling produce during the day, these night market vendors in Taipei transform Tonghua into a lively nightlife destination. Frequented primarily by locals, it’s decidedly smaller and quieter than most tourist favorites, making it fun to explore alone.

Here, enjoy traditional delicacies, such as skewers, aiyu jelly, fried chicken, and gua bao (pork-belly buns). Head over to Four Herbs Soup, which serves its namesake meaty dish filled with offal, mushrooms, yam, and lotus seeds. The longest lines are usually found at Yu Pin Yuan Binghuo Tangyuan for tang yuan (glutinous rice dumplings). The house specialty includes hot sesame-stuffed dumplings served over a sweetened osmanthus syrup-soaked ice bed.

Tourists often miss the more traditional Nanjichang Night Market, aka South Airport Night Market. You may need a guide to visit; few of the vendors speak English, although English menus are increasingly available. However, many stalls are numbered, making it relatively straightforward to navigate.

Follow the crowds to A Nan Sesame Oil Chicken for a soup of meltingly soft, deboned chicken legs served with a bowl of rice vermicelli. Another hot pick is Wu Wang Tsai Chi for its Taiwanese-style spring roll served with 10 fillings, including yuk sung (pork “floss”), bean sprouts, and peanut powder.

One of Taipei’s oldest, Yansan Night Market is located in the Datong District. Locals stop here after work to grab a cheap and fast meal of traditional Taiwanese staple dishes. If you're feeling adventurous, try savory, sweet oyster omelets or get a taste of real Taiwan at Da Qiao Tou Old Brand Rice Tube Pudding, in business since 1973.

Locals love its pork-filled sticky rice paired with the shop's signature homemade sweet chili and spicy radish sauces. Shi Jia Fresh Meat Tangyuan is another must-try for its savory, juicy pork-filled dumplings. However, a night market tour lets you sample eight popular bites with ease, rather than having to pick just one spot.

Unlike other night markets, Gongguan in the Zhongzheng District focuses more on food than other shopping-driven spots. Located about two blocks from National Taiwan University, it’s heavily populated with local university students, giving it a very local vibe.

Try green onion pancakes at Hsiung Chi Scallion Pancakes. This Michelin-recognized stall even offers a selection of toppings for these traditional treat, so you can better personalize your dish. Then, for dessert, eat at Ho’s Sweet Potato Balls, which serves crispy, chewy fried bites.

Leave the city center at this night market in the Yonghe District of New Taipei City. Started in the 1970s, Lehua Night Market is quite sizeable and the clothing stalls are separated from the food for easier access.

For classic Taiwanese shaved ice, visit A-ba's Taro Ball Lehua Shop. You can choose your toppings or go for the signature Taro Ice—a sweet, gloopy delight of taro, sweet potato, and boba balls. Other treats popular at the market include deep-fried pork rib soup and skewers.