Postcard Getaway

The Ultimate Guide to Must-Try Foods in Taiwan’s Night Markets

Written by Kaelie Piscitello

There might be no better place in the world for street food than Taiwan. The sheer variety of culinary delights, from whole squids fried in oil to beef charred by a blow torch, is sure to excite even the pickiest eaters. A night market is truly a culinary adventure, and you will miss out if you don’t visit at least one. 

At a Taiwanese night market, you can do more than just eat. You can play traditional carnival games, stop for a sweet, juicy drink, and in some places, even search for the night market pig! But the real allure is the diverse food options.

From the crispy and light scallion pancakes to the unique oyster omelets, every dish is a new adventure. If you’re having trouble deciding what to eat for dinner in Taiwan, a night market is the perfect place for a unique and cheap meal. Whether you choose to eat at a big one like Raohe or a smaller one like Ningxia, you will enjoy yourself.

1. Papaya Milk

Every night market has an assortment of fruit juices and sweet treats, but you should try papaya milk before anything else. It has a milkshake-like consistency and is made from fresh ingredients. It’s filling and tastes like creamy heaven.

2. Scallion Pancakes

These scallion pancakes are a delicious twist on the ones you’ll find at a Chinese restaurant in the United States. With their crispy and light consistency, and a variety of sauces and fillings to choose from, they are a true delight for the taste buds.

3. Peanut Ice Cream Roll

Imagine wrapping ice cream in a sweet crepe and then topping it with light peanut shavings. Similar to an ice cream burrito, peanut ice cream rolls feel more like sherbet than heavy ice cream.

The crepe is the perfect thing to encase the desert filling, and you will walk away from any ice cream roll stand full and content.

4. Oyster Pancake

In general, Taiwan has some delicious savory pancakes to try. These pancakes, or “oyster omelets,” are chewy and crispy simultaneously and will seduce your taste buds. This dish has a Hokkien origin, and most vendors use fresh oysters to cook them, making them a real treat for the consumer.

5. Sweet Potato Balls

Taiwan’s fried sweet potato balls will pleasantly surprise munchkin and donut hole fans. The best time to eat them is when they’re fresh out of the oil, and often, you can get them made fresh right in front of you at the night market. The cooks toss purple and yellow dough in oil and a special round pan. Their method of tossing hollows them out and keeps the sides chewy. They’re a great dessert option at every night market.

6. Stinky Tofu

As a Taiwanese classic, stinky tofu is often high on most travelers’ “must-try” lists when they visit. Don’t get put off if you’re in a night market and smell something strange. It’s this dish, and it’s meant to be that pungent. Despite its fragrance, many people love this kind of tofu, so try acting bravely and tasting this Taiwanese specialty.

7. Boba Tea

Of course, you can only visit Taiwan with at least one cup of bubble tea. If you want the boba pearls, remember to ask the barista to “加珍珠 (jia zhen zhu) “because sometimes the stands have flavors that come without them but will put them in if you ask. There are infinite flavors, including classics like brown sugar and novelties like strawberry shortcake. There is truly a boba tea for everyone.

8. Fried Squid

Taiwan has no shortage of delicious seafood, and there is so much squid to go around. You can either get it chopped into pieces or buy an entire squid dropped untouched into the frying pan. The best-fried squid in night markets will have a crispy and crunchy texture.

9. Shaved Ice

When I heard about this dish, I thought it was the equivalent of a snow cone. Boy, was I wrong! While the ice is prepared similarly to snow cones, that’s where the similarities end. The cooks douse the ice in milk, making the texture creamy and silky. Then, the ice is covered in any number of flavored syrups or powders and topped with mochi or fresh fruit.

10. Gua Bao

There are many kinds of buns to sample in Taiwan, but everyone should try gua bao. The cooks often dust the insides with peanut shavings, and the braised pork inside melts in your mouth. The pickled veggies add a tangy flavor to the mix, and it all comes together in one flavorful package.

11. Da Chang Bao Xiao Chang

The literal translation for this dish’s name is “big sausage wrapped in a little sausage,” and that’s pretty much what it is. While you can find sausages in every night market, this sausage has a rice roll wrapped around it instead of a common hot dog bun. The rice bun adds more flavor to the meal and has a satisfyingly bumpy texture, making the sausage even more delicious.

12. Watermelon Juice

In my opinion, watermelon has the best flavor. It never tastes artificial and always has a delicious flavor. I always order watermelon juice every time I go to a night market. The juice is light and refreshing and always made from fresh watermelons, making it one of the healthier options offered at night markets.

13. Fresh Fruit

One of the best places for fruit is Taiwan. Sweet strawberries and pineapples line the stalls, and you can find fruits native to Taiwan, like pomelos, everywhere. Many night market stalls cut them up, and you can buy any fruit you want packaged.