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Dive into the heart of Taipei's Ximending Night Market in 2026! From savory street eats like Ji Pai to refreshing tropical fruits, find your next favorite bite in this bustling district.
Taipei, Taiwan Travel Itinerary: Ximending Night Market
Must-Try Street Food, Dishes, and Fruits
Text/Photos ©HaiBubu
Most travelers to Taipei, Taiwan
likely choose to stay near Ximending.
Ximending is much like Seoul's Myeongdong district,
bursting with amazing food and exciting attractions,
making it an absolute must-visit for travelers.
But did you know that Ximending truly comes alive even more brightly late at night with its
vibrant night market?
Today, I'll be sharing all about the delicious street food, incredible dishes, and unique fruits
you can savor in Ximending and its fantastic night market!
First up, let's dive into the mouth-watering street food, amazing dishes,
and exotic fruits you can find right in Ximending.
In Ximending, you'll discover a dedicated
night market alley filled with established food stalls.
Though not a huge space, it's packed with so many delicious treats,
it attracts a huge crowd of tourists.
Here you'll find iconic Taiwanese street foods like Cong Zhua Bing (scallion pancake), Ji Pai (fried chicken cutlet), grilled squid, and more.
These are just some of the classic delicacies that define Taiwan's culinary scene.
There's also a delightful fruit stall here.
You can discover a bounty of unique Taiwanese fruits, including dragon fruit, custard apple (shijia), sugar apple, guava, and more.
While it's a shop right in the heart of Ximending, so the prices aren't the cheapest,
it's still a wonderful spot to casually enjoy some unique local fruits.
As you wander past the bustling food alley,
you'll find a few more food vendors operating from stalls.
They offer unique and incredibly delicious items like chicken skewers and Taiwanese-style burgers.
While the area I just introduced features store-front night market stalls,
Ximending's main street also hosts a street vendor-style night market.
There are so many street vendors here, they line the entire long thoroughfare!
As these are mostly street stalls, you'll mainly find simple yet tempting foods like Taiwanese sausages, roasted corn,
and pig's blood rice cake.
Since they're stall vendors, the food prices are quite affordable,
so it's a great option to grab a bite here.
However, it seemed like this part of the night market consists of unauthorized street vendors,
not officially licensed restaurants. It was quite a spectacle to see dozens of vendors suddenly
pack up and scatter when a patrol car drove by!
Beyond the night market delights I've just shared, Ximending also boasts famous eateries like
the renowned Sanxiongdi Bing-su (Three Brothers Shaved Ice) and Yonghe Doujiang (Yonghe Soy Milk King).
There are countless amazing eateries, including Taiwanese restaurants,
so I think it would be wonderful to take your time and explore them all.
Next, I'll introduce some of the dishes I highly recommend
from Ximending.
📍 First up is Taiwan's most famous milk tea,
Xing Fu Tang's Brown Sugar Bubble Tea.
No matter what time you go, there's always a long queue,
but it moves quickly, so don't hesitate to give it a try.
You can watch them make the rich tapioca pearls right in front of you,
and even see them melt the brown sugar on top of the milk tea with an adorable
dinosaur-shaped torch.
Plus, they even have signs marking "Best photo spots,"
so you won't feel shy about snapping some amazing pictures.
The milk tea itself is incredibly sweet and delicious,
so if you love sweet milk tea, you absolutely have to try it!
📍 Next up is Pyeong Gatango, a fantastic skewer spot at the entrance of Ximending.
You pick your desired ingredients, pay, and they grill them for you
on the spot.
The skewers are high quality,
and you can enjoy them with the famous 18-day beer,
which is why it's a must-visit spot for me every time I go to Taipei.
📍 The third and final recommendation is a Taiwanese sausage you can find
at night market stalls.
It's an impressive sausage with juicy bursts of flavor,
and its rich, savory taste was absolutely delicious.
However, among the sausages, the one labeled "Daejang" (大腸),
which literally means "large intestine," felt more like a glutinous rice cake.
This one seems to be quite polarizing,
so it might be a good idea to be aware of that when ordering.
Today, I introduced you to the amazing food and fantastic restaurants
of Taipei's Ximending Night Market.
Even though it's in a fantastic location that's incredibly easy for tourists to visit,
there are tons of delicious dishes and great eateries,
along with unique treats that offer both visual delight and culinary adventure.
It's truly a place where you can enjoy both the sights and the tastes simultaneously.
For those planning a trip to Taipei,
I highly recommend visiting Ximending Night Market in the evening,
and I hope you'll find the dishes and restaurants I've shared helpful!
▼ Want to discover more Ximending street food in Taiwan? ▼
The Ximending Night Market is divided into two types: a street food alley with established shops and a street vendor type night market along the main roads. In the established shop type, you can try dishes like Cong You Bing (scallion pancakes) and Ji Pai (fried chicken cutlet). In the street vendor type, you can enjoy inexpensive, simple foods such as Taiwanese sausages. The street vendor type night market is characterized by its unauthorized operation.
At Ximending Night Market, we recommend Xing Fu Tang's brown sugar bubble tea, which is the most famous in Taiwan, 'Ping Gu Tan Go' (grilled skewers) at the entrance of Ximending, and the juicy Taiwanese sausages from the night market stalls. Especially at Xing Fu Tang, you can watch the process of making pearls by hand and melting brown sugar.
At fruit shops in downtown Ximending, you can taste unique Taiwanese fruits such as dragon fruit, custard apple, sugar apple, and guava. Since they are located in downtown Ximending, the prices are not particularly cheap, but it's a good option for casually enjoying unique fruits.
Among the Taiwanese sausages at Ximending Night Market, 'Dachang (大腸)' is a dish that feels like a glutinous rice cake. It can be quite polarizing, so it's advisable to consider your personal preference before ordering.
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