Taipei Night Markets: Which One to Pick and What to Eat

Last verified 25 Oct 2026

The main markets at a glance

All details below come from the Tourism Administration’s pages. Distances are the ones those pages list, measured to the nearest metro station, not walking routes.

How to choose

Shilin is the one to pick if you want choice. The Tourism Administration calls it one of the largest night markets in Taipei. It has a wide spread of snacks and sit-down food, so a group with mixed tastes can split up and meet again.

Raohe Street suits a shorter visit. It is one street of 600 metres, and Songshan station is about 95 metres away, so it is easy to find and easy to leave. The official page describes the food only as “various products and local foods.”

Huaxi Street sits close to Longshan Temple, so it pairs well with a temple visit earlier in the day. It is the market the Tourism Administration associates with snake meals and fresh water turtle meals. It also lists plainer dishes (see below).

Ningxia is a traditional-style market in Datong District. The Tourism Administration notes it as the first night market in Taipei to separate pedestrians from car traffic.

Linjiang Street mixes food with shopping: the official page mentions grocery and clothing stores alongside the eating.

What people eat

These are dishes the Tourism Administration names for each market. This guide does not rank stalls or recommend specific vendors.

Shilin

• Large pancake enfolding small pancake (大餅包小餅, a crisp pancake wrapped in a larger soft one)
• Hot pot on stone (石頭火鍋)
• Shilin sausage
• Large fried chicken
• Oyster omelets, steak, hot stuffed dumplings, sliced noodles, liver soup and squid thick soup (from the official night market list)

Huaxi

• Danzai noodles, which the official page ties to a historic shop in the market
• Meat soup and squid soup
• Chopped ice plates and fresh juice, listed as popular in summer
• Chinese medicine dishes, listed as popular in winter
• Snake meal, snake wine and fresh water turtle meal

Raohe, Ningxia, Linjiang

• The official pages name no specific dishes. They describe local foods and snacks in general.

Prices are not listed on these official pages, so none are given here. Menus often show prices; check before you order.

Step by step: planning a night market visit

1. Pick one market. Two in one night is rarely worth the travel time.
2. Look up current opening hours on the Taipei Travel night market listing.
3. Plan your MRT route to the nearest station. See the Taipei MRT guide for fares and rules, and the EasyCard guide for paying.
4. Go hungry and share dishes so you can try more.
5. Check the last train for your return station before you head out.

Common mistakes

• Assuming the market is open at all hours. Hours differ by market. Check the official listing.
• Eating on the MRT. Finish food and drinks outside the station.
• Treating one market as the whole picture. Each market has its own layout and mix of food, shopping and games.
• Arriving without a return plan. Late at night, check the last train or other options. The Taipei MRT guide links the official first and last train page.
• Ordering unfamiliar dishes blind. Snake, turtle and herbal dishes are specialities at Huaxi, not the default. Ask what a dish is before ordering.

Time-sensitive details

Opening hours, stall lineups and local rules change. Check the Taipei Travel night market listing and the Tourism Administration page before you go. If you are still planning the rest of your trip, start with first time in Taiwan.

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