Lehua Night Market is a street food market in New Taipei City that focuses on locals. It doesn’t have any special dishes, but it’s worth visiting if you’re in the area.
Until I moved far away from Lehua, I used to go there all the time. That’s because it’s a non-touristy night market. Thus, there’s a more authentic feel to it. And I want to help you determine whether it’s worth visiting when you’re in the area.
I’ll cover the following points throughout this piece:
Important Information for Travelers
| Is It Worth Going to? | Not really |
| Hours (As of 2024) | 4 PM – 12 AM every day |
| Number of Stalls | Unknown |
| Closest Rail Station | Dingxi Station (Taipei MRT) |
| Opening Date | 1970s |
| City Located | New Taipei City |
| Address | Yongping Rd, Yonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 234 |
| Chinese Name | 樂華夜市 (Lèhuá Yèshì) |
| Wheelchair-Accessible? | Yes |
Yes, I said this night market isn’t really worth visiting as a traveler. If you live in Taiwan, you might as well try it. I’ve had some great-tasting drinks here.
Traveler Tips & Considerations
- * Create a food allergy chef card in Traditional Chinese if you have food allergies, then show it to the stall owner / employee.
- Most stall owners will likely not know English.
- Not many English menus.
- This isn’t a tourist night market, it’s targeted at locals.
- I suggest heading to the night market immediately when it opens to avoid crowds.
- Most stalls will ONLY accept cash. Some may accept alternative methods like LINE Pay.
- Stalls with long lines typically indicate they have great-tasting food or are newly opened.
Important information regarding food allergy cards.
Most Taiwanese people cannot read Simplified Chinese, DO NOT create chef cards with Simplified Chinese characters.
I recommend hiring a Taiwanese person to help you create an allergy card with Traditional Chinese characters. However, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) has interactive chef card templates. And even if you have this card, ensure you carry an Anapen or EpiPen (or something similar).
If you need such a pen in Taiwan, ask for a “艾筆腎上腺素注射筆” at a pharmacy. However, they will likely tell you you need a doctor’s prescription. Find a doctor who will prescribe it to you. From there, you’ll need to pay NT$4200 – 4500 (2021 price).
Foods That Are Worth Trying
Here are all the foods to try at Lehua market:
| Food | Restaurant/Stand |
|---|---|
| Sweet soy milk | Nowhere specific |
| Oyster omelet | Nowhere specific |
| Stinky tofu | Nowhere specific |
| Yolk filled taro balls | Nowhere specific |
| Pigs blood cakes | Nowhere specific |
I also had these cheese-filled corn dogs once. But I don’t want to recommend them since they’re not really “Taiwanese.” If you’re an American longing for diabetes-inducing foods, then sure, go for them.
I can’t remember the stand’s name, but it was close to the entrance. And the staff there spoke English.
Other than food, visit the clothing shops. You’ll find a lot of affordable clothes.
How To Get there
The easiest way to get there is to take Taipei Metro’s Orange Line to Dingxi Station and leave from Exit 1. From there, turn left on Yonghe Road and walk southbound for around 10 minutes until you see the massive sign in the image below.
If you don’t want to take the MRT, consider one of these public transportation methods:
- Uber / taxi:
- I honestly recommend downloading one of these apps to book a taxi:
- Find Taxi (English): Book a taxi ahead of time and know the driver’s ratings (like Uber…)
- 55688 (English): Same as Find Taxi, but with a reward point system.
- I honestly recommend downloading one of these apps to book a taxi:
- YouBike: There’s a YouBike station 3 minutes away (walking distance) from the night market.
- Bus: Take numbers 227, 2114, 5, or 304 to the Lehua Cinema Stop
- I recommend downloading the Bus+ app to make tracking buses easier.
Is There Anything to Do Nearby?
If you’re bored at the night market, here are nearby things to do:
| Attraction | Walking Time | To-Do |
|---|---|---|
| Museum of World Religions | 6 min. | Exhibits on various world religions |
| Yonghe Ren’ai Park | 8 min. | Walk, visit the concert hall, & explore nearby shops |
You won’t find the most things to do.
If you’re bored, I recommend taking the Taipei MRT at Dingxi Station and going to Guting Station (4 min.). It’s home to the Shida Student Night Market.
Or take the metro for another 4 minutes and depart at Dongmen Station. You’ll find the first Din Tai Fung store in this area and various other attractions and stores.
