Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, sits in a bowl-shaped basin near the island’s northern tip along the Tamsui River and is famous for its cultural and architectural landmarks.
Before Burj Khalifa, Taipei 101 held the title of the world’s tallest building. It features a 508-meter, bamboo-shaped skyscraper and houses a massive 660-metric-ton tuned mass damper between its 87th and 92nd floors.
Next are the city’s vibrant night markets, including famous street food hubs like Raohe Street and Shilin Night Markets. Raohe Street Night Market is one of Taipei’s oldest night markets, which spans a linear stretch in Songshan District, anchored by the glowing Ciyou Temple at one end. Local visitors and foodies praise it for its compact layout and high-quality street food.
Shilin Night Market is the city’s largest and most famous night market, known for its underground food court, boutiques and souvenirs and carnival games.
Do try these five underrated dishes in Taipei night markets
Taipei’s night markets are trendy these days and are major hubs for social outings, street food exploration and local tourism.
Speaking of night markets, how can one miss the famous night markets of Taipei – Shilin and Raohe? Shilin is popular for its more than 500 vendors spread across multiple streets and is a major tourist attraction, while Raohe is known for its quality delicacies. These underrated markets prioritize family-run stalls and traditional dishes that rarely appear on tourist checklists.
Besides Shilin and Raohe, Nanjichang Night Market, Ningxia Night Market, Tonghua Night Market (Linjiang Street) and Huaxi Street stand out for their specialties like Taipei soul food. From sesame-oil chicken soup to unique stuffed squid and silky offal broth, here are five dishes worth seeking out at these night markets.
1. Pork liver soup (zhugan tang) at Ningxia Night Market
Found at spots like Ningxia Night Market, this dish features tender slices of pork liver cooked in a clear, ginger-infused broth. The soup is cooked until the texture becomes silky. This dish is rich in minerals and deeply comforting.
2. Steamed meatballs (ba-wan) at Nanjichang Night Market
Unlike the more common deep-fried versions, the steamed ba-wan at this market has a soft, translucent skin made from sweet potato starch and a solid, savory pork filling. It is a local staple. The most famous spot for this is South Airport Changhua Meatballs.
3. Glutinous rice sausage wrap (Da Chang Bao Xiao Chang) at Shilin Night Market
Locally known as Da Chang Bao Xiao Chang, this dish is a “small sausage in big sausage” and is Taiwan’s spin on the famous hot dog. This dish features a grilled Taiwanese pork sausage tucked inside a split and charred sticky-rice sausage “bun.” It is most commonly dressed with garlic, pickled mustard greens, and special sauces.
4. Salted egg yolk & pork floss fried taro balls (Liu Yu Zi) at Ningxia Night Market
This famous sweet-and-savory Taiwanese street snack features a thin, crispy crust with a soft, naturally sweet mashed taro paste exterior. They are filled with shredded pork and a lava-like salted duck egg yolk. You can try this dish at the Michelin Bib Gourmand street food stall at Stall 091 / Stall 19.
5. Stuffed crispy fried squid at Ningxia Night Market
A stuffed, crispy fried squid at Ningxia Market features a whole squid packed with fresh vegetables, adding extra crunch to the dish. Vegetables like cucumber and jicama are used as the filling. The stuffed squid is lightly coated in batter or sweet potato starch, then deep-fried until the outside turns golden and crunchy. The most famous spot is the Bursting Crispy Squid vendor at Stall No. 89 in Ningxia Night Market.
So, if you are a foodie or a tourist looking for underrated dishes in Taipei, these five food items are a must-try. Skip the long queues at famous spots and wander the city’s night markets for fuller flavors.
