Enjoyable even for night market beginners! 11 recommended places in Ningxia Night Market, the mecca of Taipei cuisine

*1 yuan = approximately 4.5 yen (as of September 2024)
*Prices, offerings, and business hours are current as of September 2024.
*As of September 2024, road construction is underway within the Ningxia Night Market site, so the number of food stalls operating will be significantly reduced and they will operate in shifts until construction is scheduled to be completed in mid-November 2024. Please check the operating status of each store in advance when visiting.

What is Ningxia Night Market, where you can find restaurants featured in the Michelin Guide?

Ningxia Road, where Ningxia Night Market is located, became a popular area after a roundabout was built during the Japanese colonial period. It is known as the "holy land of Taiwanese cuisine" because of the large number of cheap and delicious gourmet restaurants, and the number of restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide (Bib Gourmand) has increased in recent years. For large groups, we also recommend "Qian Sui Yen" (reservations required, 6,000 NTD per table for 10 people), where you can enjoy 22 of the most representative street food stalls in Ningxia Night Market at one round table.

How to get to Ningxia Night Market

To get to Ningxia Night Market, walk for about 8 minutes from Exit 1 of Taipei MRT Shuanglian Station or Exit 5 of Zhongshan Station. To access the nearest station, it is convenient to use Taiwan's transportation IC card, EasyCard. For information on how to use the EasyCard, please see the following article. Master how to use it and enjoy your night market stroll even more.

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Make travelling easier with the "Taiwanese version of the transportation IC card"! Learn how to use the "EasyCard" which is also convenient for shopping

If you have decided to travel to Taiwan, be sure to get a "EasyCard". It is a transportation IC card similar to Suica or PASMO, and can be used on public transportation, convenience stores, restaurants, shops, etc. throughout Taiwan, and comes with discounts and other benefits. Make good use of the EasyCard and enjoy a comfortable, cashless trip.

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11 recommended foods you can't miss when you come to Ningxia Night Market

From here, we will introduce some must-try gourmet foods, divided into categories of "food" and "sweets." Many of the night market foods are made with oil or sauce, so it's a good idea to bring wet wipes with you.

[Gourmet] Yuan Huan Bien Oyster Omelet

"Oyster Omelet", which originated in Taiwan, is an omelette made with sweet potato flour dough, oysters, eggs, green onions, Taiwanese cabbage, etc., and cooked on a hot plate. "Yuan Huan Bian Oyster Omelet", a regular in the Michelin Guide, was started by Lai Bing-hsun as a food stall in 1965, and has now become a popular street-front restaurant with long lines.

The oysters are sourced from farms in Chiayi and Tainan in southern Taiwan, and the eggs are from local chickens in Yunlin. The sauce that goes on the omelet is made from a secret recipe based on sweet chili sauce.

Round oyster omelet

[Gourmet] Pork liver roe

Founded in 1950, "Zhongliangzi" is a food stall famous for its pork liver soup. The recommended dish is the "Zongfutang" which contains pork liver, pork stomach, and meatballs. They use fresh ingredients procured on the day, and are particular about using only the soft part of the liver in the center. The soup, made from pork bones and vegetables, is so delicious you'll want more.

The new taro cake, "Shang Cong Yu To Gao," and the special side dish, "Rouzon," are also must-try dishes. Try ordering them together.

Pork liver

[Gourmet] Explosive Crispy Skin Fish (Bao Jiang Tsui Pi You Yu)

The impactful squid dish "Bak Jang Brittle Skin Fish" has become a hot topic on social media. It is made with a whole fresh squid, deep-fried with cucumber and fermented black beans (a crunchy legume).

You can choose from eight different sauces, with the sweet and sour Wu Wei Jiang (a Taiwanese sauce made from a mix of sweet chili sauce, garlic, sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce) being the recommended choice. The sweet Taiwanese mayonnaise Mino Shige is also popular.

Explosive Crisp Fish

[Gourmet] Fang Family Chicken Rice (Fangjia Jiro Fan)

"Jikrou-han" is a dish where boiled chicken breast is shredded and placed on rice, topped with a sauce made from simmered chicken bones and fried shallots. Fang Jikrou-han, a popular restaurant that has been in business for over 40 years and is featured in the Michelin Guide, uses fresh ingredients purchased at the market every morning.

In addition to a variety of soups, the restaurant is also proud of its flavorful braised tofu, called "lu dou fu."

Fang family chicken rice

[Gourmet] Liu yam egg and yellow yam pancake

Founded over 40 years ago, Liu Yao Zi Dan Huang Tao Bing is a popular taro dumpling shop run by the second generation and has even been featured in the Michelin Guide.

One of the must-try items is the "Dan Huang Yu Bing," which has an exquisite balance of saltiness and sweetness. It is made with a paste made from taro root from Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, which is simmered for half a day, then deep-fried with steamed taro paste, salted egg yolk, and meat floss.

We also recommend the "Fragrant Taro Rounds" (25 yuan), which are made with just taro paste. Orders for two or more items are accepted.

Liu Yao Zai Egg and Yellow Sweet Potato Cake

[Gourmet] Shandong red meat steamed dumplings (Shandong Qilou Zhen Jiao)

Founded over 60 years ago, Shandong Red Meat Steamed Dumplings is a popular local steamed dumpling (zhenjiao) shop run by the second generation. The steamed dumplings, which are wrapped up in front of the store, are filled with lean pork thigh meat, cabbage, green onions, and black sesame oil. The dough is made by pouring boiling water over wheat flour and kneading it, so they are chewier than boiled dumplings.

The recommended sauce to dip the steamed dumplings in is a combination of soy sauce, garlic, and chili sauce. The chili sauce here is quite spicy, so try adjusting the amount to find the spiciness you like.

Shandong red meat steamed dumplings

[Gourmet] Chef Pepper Shrimp (Liao Lizhang Fu Jiao Xia)

Chef Pepper Shrimp is a food stall where you can enjoy 11 different dishes using fresh shrimp delivered directly from Pingtung in southern Taiwan. Pepper Shrimp is a popular dish of shrimp seasoned with pepper and fried in a pan. The shrimp are processed and cooked after an order is placed, so they are extremely fresh.

Many people hang the hot shrimp on the edge of the pot and let them cool before eating. The peppery flavor is addictive.

Chef Pepper Shrimp

[Gourmet] Ciyin Ancient Savory Grandma's Rice Tuan

"Ciyin Ancient Saweet Grandma's Fan Tuan" is a food stall that has been serving Taiwanese rice balls "Fan Tuan" for over 40 years. The signature dish is the "Xian Fan Tuan" filled with fish floss, fried bread, pickles, and pickled radish.

Fan tuans are usually thought of as something to eat in the morning, but the fan tuans here are packed with ingredients and have a strong flavor, making them a perfect late-night snack.

Another popular menu item is sweet rice tuan, a dessert made with peanut powder, fried bread, and sugar.

The sound of old and early taste of old lady rice

[Sweets] Yamie Huashengjuen Bingqi Lin

"Yami Hua Sheng Bingqi Li" is popular among tourists. Here, you can eat "Hua Sheng Bingqi Li", a crepe-like dessert made by rolling up the dough with freshly grated peanut powder and ice cream.

The ice cream flavor changes depending on the season, but on this day it was a mix of taro (yutou), black tea, and pineapple. If you don't want coriander, you can leave it out by saying "Wobu yao shan tsai."

Elegant rice flower rolled ice cream

[Sweets] Xiangji Pure Sugar Mochi

Xiangji Pure Sugar Mochi is a mochi sweets shop that has been in business for over 50 years in Taipei's Daqiaotou. The most popular menu item at the Ningxia store is the "Mochi Bing" (large 80 NTD), which is a generous amount of mochi placed on crunchy ice and topped with peanut powder, sesame seeds, and condensed milk.

Because it is so filling, many people share it between two people, but if you are eating alone, we recommend the Mochi Ice (small 55 NTD) which has one topping, or the Shao Ma Shu (55 NTD), which is rice cake sprinkled with peanut powder and sesame seeds.

Shoki pure sugar malt

[Sweets] Bingling Zhaowei Douhua

"Bing Lin Gu Zao Wei Douhua" was founded in 1996 and is a shop near Ningxia Night Market where you can enjoy traditional Taiwanese sweets. The signature dish, "Douhua", has a smooth texture made using traditional methods. There are two types of toppings for 65 NTD. Each additional topping is +10 NTD, and taro is +15 NTD. The carefully simmered golden kidney beans are delicious!

You can either point to the toppings you want, or choose from the popular combinations on the menu.

Bingling old-fashioned tofu pudding

How to walk around Ningxia Night Market. How to enjoy it to the fullest?

We will also introduce some useful information you should know to enjoy the night market to the fullest.

Recommended time

If you want to take your time looking around, it's best to visit on a weekday, avoiding the peak hours of 18:30-20:00. Stores with long lines often close as soon as they sell out, so if you go at opening time, there will be fewer lines and it will be more comfortable.

However, most of the night market stalls are closed on irregular days, so it's best to check their websites or social media in advance, or make inquiries by phone before heading out.

Tips on how to get around

First, head to Yuanhuan Oyster Omelet, which opens at 4:30 p.m., and then visit the food stalls that catch your eye. If you want to rest your stomach along the way, you can play at the game stalls or enjoy shopping at the general goods stores and drug stores in the night market. After enjoying the night market, we recommend finishing off with some douhua at Binglin Guzaowei Douhua, which is open until 1:30 a.m.

Rules and Manners

At these establishments, you line up behind the stalls if you want to eat in, and in front of the stalls if you want to take out. The stores don't sell beer or other drinks, so you should get some at a convenience store before heading out. However, be careful as some stalls don't allow alcohol.

Even at food stalls where alcohol is allowed, the rule is not to leave empty cans on the premises, but to throw them away in trash cans located around the city at night. However, as there are only a few trash cans, it is convenient to bring your own plastic bags.

method of payment

It depends on the stall, but at stalls with tables, you order by saying "neiyon" (inside). In most cases, you pay after the food arrives at your table, and you can pay by cash, 2D code payment (※), EasyCard, credit card, etc.

*LINE Pay in Japan is scheduled to end its service in April 2025.

Where are the restrooms?

The public toilets in Ningxia Night Market are as follows. There are times and areas where it gets crowded, so it may be a good idea to allow yourself plenty of time.

Crime prevention measures when strolling around night markets

Ningxia Night Market is very crowded, so we recommend that you carry your backpack in front of you and put your valuables in a shoulder bag. It is a good idea to bring a raincoat instead of an umbrella on rainy days so that you can keep your hands free as much as possible. Raincoats can also be purchased at convenience stores in the night market.

Ningxia Night Market is full of Taiwanese traditional and popular gourmet foods. From dishes that can only be eaten here to Taiwanese street food specialties, enjoy eating to your heart's content.

Ningxia Night Market

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