Jiufen, Taiwan: Best Food & Souvenir Shopping Guide 2026
Explore Jiufen, Taiwan's enchanting old streets in 2026! Discover must-try street food like savory shrimp balls and find the perfect pineapple cake souvenirs.
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Explore Jiufen, Taiwan's enchanting old streets in 2026! Discover must-try street food like savory shrimp balls and find the perfect pineapple cake souvenirs.
Jiufen: A Must-Visit for Your Taiwan Trip,
Food (like Pineapple Cakes) & Souvenir Shopping Recommendations
Words & Photos © Haibubu
If you're planning a trip to Taipei, Taiwan,
chances are you'll want to explore the charming nearby town of Jiufen!
Many visitors opt for a guided tour, while others prefer the freedom of a DIY trip.
Today, I'll share some fantastic food recommendations and a
souvenir shopping list that will make your trip to Jiufen, Taiwan even more delightful!
First up, I've got three fantastic snack recommendations that are perfect for a
quick bite in Jiufen!
Shrimp Fritters
Our first stop is a **shrimp fritter** stall located right at the entrance of Jiufen.
The moment you arrive, you'll notice the bustling crowds right from the entrance –
and it's largely thanks to this popular shrimp fritter spot!
There's always a queue, which is a sure sign of something delicious.
It was fascinating to watch the staff, working in a well-coordinated team,
expertly preparing the shrimp fritters.
Each fritter was surprisingly generous in size,
definitely feeling like you're getting great value!
📍 Just so you know: **two shrimp fritters cost 80 TWD,**
**and three are 110 TWD**.
They serve them in a simple paper bowl with cucumber and pickled vegetables,
topped with a generous drizzle of chili sauce.
Freshly fried and wonderfully warm, these fritters were the epitome of
crispy on the outside and tender-juicy on the inside – absolutely delicious!
Personally, I found the shrimp so plump and the fritter filling so savory
that I honestly wanted to devour both pieces all by myself!
The generous amount of shrimp packed inside really showed me why this spot is so incredibly popular.
Cheese Milk Sticks
Next up, just a short walk from the shrimp fritter stall, you'll find these delightful
**Cheese Milk Sticks**!
On a previous trip to Jiufen, I actually passed on these, thinking they might be a 'familiar taste.'
But this time, the irresistible aroma drew me in, and I just had to try them!
📍 Good to know: **One stick costs 40 TWD**.
As the name suggests, these Cheese Milk Sticks are a delightful combination of
a soft, milky-flavored stick and savory cheese – a truly winning snack!
It's a flavor that even kids will adore, so if you're traveling with little ones,
make sure to grab a stick!
Grandma's Taro Balls
Next up is the famous shop known as **Grandma's Taro Balls**.
You'll find this spot a bit further into Jiufen Old Street,
past the two places I mentioned earlier.
At Grandma's Taro Balls, you'll find not only Koreans but also
There were so many Japanese tourists and locals!
Interestingly, they had both hot and iced versions,
so we ordered one of each!
📍 The price is 50 TWD per serving.
The warm taro ball dessert and the cold taro ball dessert looked completely different.
Their flavors were also quite distinct, so if you're traveling as a pair,
I recommend ordering one of each to share and try both!
The warm taro ball dessert had a sweet yet deep broth,
making it perfect for slurping down on a chilly day.
The cold taro ball dessert made the taro balls even chewier,
which I loved, and with red beans included,
it reminded me a bit of bingsu (Korean shaved ice dessert)!
By the way, we used a FunPass,
which allowed us to enjoy Grandma's Taro Balls after presenting it.
You can find information about the FunPass I used below.
Next, I'll introduce two must-buy souvenirs from Jiufen.
Shoushinfang Nougat Crackers, Mango Jelly, Pineapple Cakes
First up is the incredibly famous Shoushinfang.
Shoushinfang is located near the entrance of Jiufen,
so you'll find it easily.
At Shoushinfang, you can buy famous Taiwanese souvenirs like
mango jelly, nougat crackers, and pineapple cakes all in one place.
Plus, if you buy multiple items, you can often get a 'buy one get one free' or similar deal!
📍 For reference, here are the prices:
Pineapple Cakes (10 pieces): 449 TWD
Nougat Crackers (20 pieces): 299 TWD
Mango Jelly (8 pieces): 280 TWD
Personally, I highly recommend Shoushinfang souvenirs
as gifts for parents or friends. The packaging is quite elegant!
You can even sample some products before buying,
so give them a taste before you shop!
Goryeocho Gaoshan Tea
Next is Goryeocho Teahouse, just a short walk from Shoushinfang.
Here too, you can sample different types of tea before making a purchase,
which is great because you can try various options and pick your favorite.
It was a great place to personally try famous Taiwanese teas like
Alishan Gaoshan Tea, Oriental Beauty Tea, and Black Tea,
making it perfect for souvenir shopping.
📍 For reference, Alishan Gaoshan Tea and Black Tea are 1,000 TWD for 120g,
and Oriental Beauty Tea is 1,000 TWD for 50g. The prices are quite on the higher side.
However, compared to cheaper teas at supermarkets,
the flavor is much deeper and the packaging is exquisite, making them excellent gifts.
Also, if you used FunTrip's Yehliu-Shifen-Jiufen (YESJI) tour like I did,
you can even receive a complimentary fish-shaped teacup!
Just tell the owner your tour bus number!
So, with all the delicious food and souvenir shopping options
from Jiufen that we've introduced today,
we hope you have an incredibly fulfilling trip!
▼ Discover More About Jiufen, Taiwan ▼
You can buy shrimp balls for 80 TWD for 2 pieces, or 110 TWD for 3 pieces. They are freshly fried, hot, crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside, served with chili sauce, cucumber, and pickled vegetables.
Grandma's Taro Ball shop sells two types of taro balls: warm taro balls and cold taro balls, each priced at 50 TWD per serving. The warm taro balls have a sweet and rich flavor, while the cold taro balls have a chewy texture with red beans, similar to patbingsu (shaved ice with red beans).
At Sushinbang, a pack of 10 pineapple cakes is 449 TWD, a pack of 20 nougat crackers is 299 TWD, and a pack of 8 mango jellies is 280 TWD. There are additional benefits for purchasing multiple items, and some products can be sampled before buying.
At Goryeojo Teahouse, Alishan high-mountain tea and black tea are 1,000 TWD for 120g, and Oriental Beauty tea is 1,000 TWD for 50g. You can sample various types of tea before purchasing, and you will receive a fish-shaped cup as a service when using the FunTrip Yes-Ji tour.
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