Taste of Taiwan: A First-Timer’s Guide to the Best Night Market Eats

Time to eat your way through Taiwan's famous night markets.
by Kaitlyn Beatrice See | August 26, 2026

The fun of travel is that there’s always something for everyone. History buffs head to sites of old battles and big moments dotted throughout the past, art lovers make a beeline for world-famous museums full of culture, and tired citizens seeking a break from everyday life trot to beaches of white sand and clear-blue waters. Each travel destination offers something different for its guests—different sites, different museums, different beaches—and the same goes for its food. That’s why the foodies? Well, they roam about the city looking for the very best of a country’s cuisine.

Taiwan is known for its street food culture and lively night markets, but it’s easy to get lost in the busy alleys and get overwhelmed trying to figure out what’s a must-try and what’s a must-not. So here are 8 Taiwanese foods you can’t miss when it’s your turn to visit their iconic night markets.

 

1. Braised Pork Rice

Called “lou rou fan” in Mandarin, Braised Pork Rice is warm steamed rice covered in sauce and topped with small pieces of pork. The meat is often fatty, and put all together, it makes it the perfect lunch or dinner on a busy day of sightseeing. A staple for the locals, you can find it at most restaurants lining the sidewalks.

 

2. Taiwan Sausage

Taiwan sausage, or “xiang chang,” is nothing like your typical Tender Juicy hotdog—it’s a sweet and savory pork sausage, traditionally served with raw cloves of garlic (my dad’s personal favorite). The sausage is so good that whenever my family and I head to Taiwan, the first thing I look forward to is Taiwan sausage. It’s the first thing I mention when friends and strangers alike bring up Taiwan.

You’ll often find it at night markets, but if you love it as much as I do, you can easily buy frozen packs at grocery stores like Carrefour, making it the perfect—and tastiest!—souvenir for your trip.

 

3. Da Chang Bao Xiao Chang

While there’s no English name for the dish, it literally translates to “big sausage wraps small sausage.” It’s pretty self-explanatory when you realize it’s essentially a Taiwan sausage stuffed into a sticky rice sausage, typically served with different veggies on top (depending on the stall you get it from). It’s basically the quirky brother to the hot dog sandwich. And somehow, it’s even better than a Taiwan sausage alone.

 

4. Peanut Ice Cream Roll

Popular as a street-food dessert, it features two scoops of ice cream—usually vanilla, but now they offer options—and fresh cilantro on a bed of shaved peanut brittle, all wrapped in a thin, chewy crepe. It’s the perfect sweet treat to munch on while you walk down the streets of a busy night market.

 

5. Milk Tea

Of course, this wouldn’t be a Taiwan food listicle without milk tea. I’ve always said that the milk tea in Taiwan is more tea than milk—whereas in the Philippines, it’s often more milk than tea—so it might not be everyone’s cup of tea (pun intended). But can you really say you’ve been to Taiwan if you haven’t had its milk tea?

Whether you’re strolling down the sidewalks during the day or walking around the night markets after the sun has set, milk tea is a convenient and satisfying treat. In Taiwan, you can never go wrong with it, no matter which store you get it from. My personal favorite is wintermelon milk tea (not to be confused with wintermelon tea) with boba—yum.

 

6. Meatball Soup

Meatball soup sounds simple, but in Taiwan it’s somehow so much more mouthwatering and satisfying. Hit up a night market stall or a kiosk selling these, and you’ll get to experience meatballs unlike any other meatball you’ve ever had before. Meatball soup, or “gong wan” in Mandarin, is served in a rich pork broth. Each sip is so satisfying, whether you’re craving something to warm you up or soup is your comfort food. The best part is you can buy frozen packs of meatballs at grocery stores to take home!

 

7. Soup Dumplings

Everyone has heard of soup dumplings, or “xiao long bao,” and while the Philippines does a good job emulating these tasty dumplings, it would still be a missed opportunity not to have them in Taiwan. There’s nothing quite like biting into a hot—but not too hot—dumpling only for it to burst in your mouth, revealing the soupy and meaty flavors it hides inside.

 

8. Shaved Ice Dessert

Perfect for a hot summer day, Taiwan’s shaved ice dessert—or “chua bing”—features a variety of toppings, up to your discretion, and syrups over a large mound of flavored shaved ice. My siblings and I love the mango chua bing, but my mom always opts for the traditional toppings, like red beans, mung beans, taro balls, and peanuts. With sprawling menus catering to both modern toppings and more traditional ones, there’s something for everyone!

 

Which other Taiwan night market must-tries would you recommend?

 

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