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Experience the electric atmosphere and incredible flavors of Taipei's Raohe Night Market. From savory pepper buns to unique local treats, discover why this culinary hotspot is a must-visit for any foodie traveler.
Must-Visit Spots for Your Taipei, Taiwan Trip,
Raohe Night Market Food Recommendations
Text/Photos ©Hi-Bubu
Taiwan is a paradise for foodies, and I'd say visiting a night market is an absolute must during your trip.
So, for those of you wondering which night market to visit in Taipei today,
I'm excited to introduce you to the amazing food at Raohe Night Market!
Raohe Night Market 饒河街 觀光夜市 |
Opening Hours: Daily, 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM Location: 2-minute walk from Songshan Station (松山) |
Raohe Night Market is super easy to get to, located just a 2-minute walk from Songshan Subway Station.
It's often the last stop on popular suburban tours like 'Yehliu, Shifen, Jiufen, Jinguashi' (Ye-Shifen-Jiufen-Jinguashi, or 'Yeshijing'), making it a perfect end to your day.
It's great to visit as part of a tour,
but even if you're coming from Ximending downtown, you can get here within 30 minutes,
so I highly recommend it for independent travelers too!
From the moment you arrive, the entrance to Raohe Night Market is absolutely dazzling!
Even before stepping inside, I could feel that vibrant Taiwanese night market vibe I'd been dreaming of, and I was so excited!
There were so many people right from the entrance, I worried I might get overwhelmed,
but as you go further in, it actually gets less crowded, so a clever tip is to push through and explore from the back!
Now, let's dive into some of the must-try Taiwanese dishes and treats
you simply can't miss at Raohe Night Market.
Pepper Buns (Hu Jiao Bing) 胡椒餅
First up is the famous Pepper Bun!
The reason there's often a bustling crowd right at the entrance of Raohe Night Market is all thanks to these amazing pepper buns.
Even if the line looks long, it moves pretty quickly, so you absolutely have to queue up and try one at least once.
What's unique is how these buns are baked, stuck right onto the inside wall of a traditional clay oven.
They look adorably stuck on there, so if you get the chance, peek inside the oven!
The pepper bun is a savory delight filled with peppery pork,
a flavor profile that I think anyone, especially if you enjoy savory pastries, will absolutely love.
The spices aren't too strong, and it's served warm, making it incredibly delicious.
Just a heads-up: if you each get a pepper bun, you might find yourselves quite full, so if you're with a travel buddy, sharing one could be a smart move!
You wouldn't want to fill up too quickly right at the entrance, would you? There's so much more to try!
Chicken Sausage
Next up is the chicken sausage, also known as a chicken roll!
📍 Price: 50 TWD for 1, 180 TWD for 4.
This chicken sausage looked so tempting, I just had to try it without a second thought.
It looked plump and juicy, just from sight,
and the aroma was absolutely divine.
True to its appearance, the inside was incredibly tender and bursting with savory juices – I immediately wanted another one!
It's the perfect snack to pair with a cold beer!
Herbal Rib Soup
The third dish I'm thrilled to introduce is none other than Hanyak Galbitang!
This was actually one of the dishes I had been dreaming of trying even before I arrived.
True to its popularity, it's always buzzing with people,
but don't let that deter you! The turnover here is quick, so you'll likely snag a seat in no time.
Visually, it might remind you of Korean Galbitang,
but the broth here is a much richer, darker brown.
The moment I took a spoonful, a distinct herbal aroma enveloped my senses,
and I could truly taste the depth and richness of the broth.
Now, if you're not a fan of traditional herbal scents,
you might find the flavor profile a bit strong,
but I personally loved its profound, complex taste.
And let's not forget the ribs themselves – incredibly tender, just melting in your mouth!
📍 Best of all, it's an absolute steal at only 100 TWD,
so I highly recommend giving a bowl a try!
Sweet Potato Balls
Next on our culinary adventure are Sweet Potato Balls!
📍The stall I visited offered a large size for 60 TWD
and a small size for 40 TWD – super affordable!
I noticed that each stall had its own unique way of frying these delicious sweet potato balls,
and the spot I chose fried them without the usual wok-tossing.
They usually offer four different kinds of seasoning powders,
but I highly recommend asking for the plum powder.
The combination of the sweet potato balls' natural sweetness and the plum powder's
savory tang creates that perfect 'dan-jjan' (sweet and salty) harmony that's simply irresistible!
This is another crowd-pleaser that most people will absolutely love!
Kaolungmian
Next up on our Raohe Night Market food adventure is
my absolute, all-time favorite: Kaolungmian!
It roughly translates to 'baked cold noodles' in Korean, but don't let that fool you!
It's nothing like the typical cold noodles we know;
instead, it's a unique dish where the noodles are grilled!
Since it's quite uncommon in Korea, I find myself seeking it out every time I visit a Chinese-speaking region.
📍 I was recommended and ordered the No. 1 menu item: the Cheese Samyangmyeon Kaolungmian
for 100 TWD!
Since I'm not great with spicy food, I opted for this non-spicy option,
and it turned out to be absolutely delightful!
For Kaolungmian, various vegetables and toppings are generously piled on top,
and then everything is grilled together.
The sauce, in particular, is incredibly savory and packed with umami flavor.
It was substantial enough to be a complete meal on its own,
and with its dense filling, it reminded me a bit of lasagna.
The flavor profile was quite similar to a hearty meat sauce spaghetti.
Even though I was already quite full, I devoured every last bite because it was just that delicious,
so I genuinely can't recommend this dish enough!
18-Day Beer
Among all the delicious treats, the shining star of the night market is 18 Beer.
It's a special brew that absolutely *must* be enjoyed within 18 days of production.
Its incredibly smooth and easy-drinking nature makes it the perfect companion for all those rich, savory Taiwanese dishes.
📍 A large bottle of 18 Beer for 180 TWD.
While it might be a bit pricier than what you'd find at the supermarket,
the way it elevates the flavors of your food makes it absolutely worth every TWD!
Grilled Mushrooms
Next up on my culinary adventure was something I'd personally been longing to try: Grilled Mushrooms.
📍 You can get a small for 100 TWD, medium for 150 TWD, and large for 200 TWD.
Even the small portion is quite generous, so I highly recommend starting with that!
The vendor I visited truly put their heart into grilling and cutting the mushrooms.
They grilled them whole to perfectly lock in all those delicious vegetable juices!
With a generous sprinkle of savory powder, salt, and pepper, there was simply no way it wouldn't be delicious!
And when paired with that 18 Beer I mentioned earlier? Absolute perfection!
Other Delicious Treats
Beyond the amazing night market delights I've already highlighted,
there were so many other tempting treats like pineapple bread, xiao long bao, and jipai (fried chicken cutlet) that looked absolutely worth trying!
My personal satisfaction with all the food I tasted was incredibly high,
making this a night market I absolutely can't wait to visit again!
When you head to Raohe Street Night Market, make sure to arrive with an empty stomach
and an adventurous spirit, ready to dive into the incredible variety of dishes!
So, go forth and savor the diverse flavors of Taiwanese cuisine!
▼ Curious about more amazing Taiwanese markets? ▼
Raohe Street Night Market operates daily from 5 PM to 12 AM (midnight). It's conveniently located just a 2-minute walk from Songshan MRT Station, offering excellent accessibility.
The pepper buns are baked on the inside wall of a clay oven and contain pepper and pork filling. Eating one per person can be quite filling, so it's recommended that two people share one.
Chicken sausages are 50 TWD for one and 180 TWD for four. The herbal sparerib soup can be enjoyed for 100 TWD per bowl.
When eating sweet potato balls, it is recommended to sprinkle plum powder. The sweet taste of the sweet potato balls combined with the savory plum powder creates a perfect sweet and salty harmony.
18-Day Beer costs 180 TWD for a large bottle and is a smooth beer that must be consumed within 18 days of production. Grilled mushrooms are 100 TWD for a small size, 150 TWD for a medium, and 200 TWD for a large. They are grilled whole to retain their juices, then seasoned with powder, salt, and pepper.
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