Eat Recommendations
Late-night ramen, market kushikatsu, century-old shops — eating is the fastest way to travel.
Featured
Illustrative Zhong Family Original Shanghai Pan-Fried Bun is a long-running snack stall in Taipei's Shilin Night Market, with more than 30 years of history, specializing in freshly wrapped and freshly pan-friedsheng jian baoin two flavors: cabbage and fresh pork. Each bun costs about NT$20, fried to a golden, crispy bottom while the filling stays juicy, beloved by loyal regulars and tourists alike. The stall opens at 15:00 and closes at 20:00, with Wednesdays off. Its Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition often fuels long queues, making it a coin-purse-friendly must-eat at Shilin Night Market.
Illustrative Lao-Dan A-Zhang Ba-Wan is a century-old snack shop on Chang-An Street in Changhua, near the train station, founded in 1948. It is known for the springy oil-bathed skin, the generous meat filling, and the side options of dragon-marrow-bone soup or free pork-bone broth, and famously appeared in the film 'You Are the Apple of My Eye', which still draws queues of tourists. The dish has also been served at state banquets and remains affordably priced — a must-eat when visiting Changhua.
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Illustrative →Yuanxing Yuxiangwu
Yu Xiang Tea Shop, a Chiayi West District fixture, has built its reputation on grapefruit green tea and orange green tea. The modest storefront draws early-morning weekday lines and weekend reservations, with drinks served at the signature half-sugar, less-ice golden ratio using real fruit pulp for a clean, refreshing finish. Hours run 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and till 9 p.m. on weekends (closed Mondays and Tuesdays), offering takeout and on-site sipping near the Culture Road Night Market.
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Illustrative →Robin's Nest Fresh Fruit Tea
Zhi Geng Niao Chao Fresh Fruit Tea is a Chiayi hand-shake darling built on grapefruit green tea and a fresh-fruit lineup. Sourced from old-tree Chiayi grapefruit, fruit pulp fills roughly 80 percent of each cup, hand-peeled and cut for a juicy mouthfeel that meets smooth green tea with a gently tart-sweet finish. The brand runs outlets on Guohua Road (closed Sundays) and Minzu Road (closed Mondays), opening around 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Large-size options and friendly prices make it a CP-value must for residents and tourists alike.
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Illustrative →A'e Soy Milk Tofu Pudding
A 60-plus-year veteran of the Culture Road Night Market, A-E Soy Milk Dou Hua specializes in tofu pudding bathed in soy milk, with toppings such as peanut, red bean, barley, mung bean and tapioca pearls. The silken texture and balanced sweetness pair beautifully with crispy youtiao or hot soy milk, endearing it to locals and visitors alike. After a 2023 Yanping Street fire, the stall relocated to a nearby new storefront with both indoor and outdoor seating, with a bowl running NT$35-40, making it one of the night market's most affordable treats.
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Illustrative →A'fu Net Pork Roll
A 40-year-old East Market landmark, A-Fu Wang Si Meat Roll wraps a generous filling of pork, onion, fish paste, water chestnut, jicama, carrot and celery in hand-laid pork caul fat, deep-fried to a golden crisp. Each hefty, juice-packed roll is limited to two per customer, so lines form early. At about NT$80 a piece, it is a beloved breakfast or late-night must for locals and tourists, with the market's lively atmosphere adding to the experience even without posted hours.
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Illustrative →Master Ade Turkey Rice
Hidden in an alley in Chiayi West District, A-De Shi Turkey Rice operates out of the ground floor of the owner's townhouse, slinging turkey rice over rice with a self-serve side bar. The vibe is warm and neighborly, drawing mostly locals. Turkey meat stars, joined by wok-fried vegetables and fried pork chops at friendly prices - a single turkey rice is about NT$40, or guests can pick three sides for a bento box. Parking and seating are limited, but the friendly owner and aromatic, oil-light fare make it a true Chiayi taste.
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Illustrative →Huangji Cold Noodles & Dumplings
Beside Chiayi Culture Park, Huang Ji Cold Noodles has earned a four-decade-old reputation for cold noodles and cold meat-balls defined by a unique white-vinegar (mayonnaise-style) sauce. The signature cold noodles use flat yellow noodles for a refreshing bite, joined by cold rou-yuan, century-egg tofu, and fen-guo ice for a full heat-busting lineup. The shop is clean, with free tea for dine-in customers and a takeout menu, drawing both locals and tourists back for the unmistakable flavor and longtime heritage.
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