Taiwan night markets are areas with purpose-built venues or streets lined with stalls and shops. These folks sell various foods, clothing, and host carnival-style games. Keep reading to learn more.
I’ve been to many Taiwanese night markets throughout my 5 years of living here and want to share my knowledge. To help you determine whether they’re worth visiting while in Taiwan.
Important Information
What to Buy in Taiwan Night Markets
Buy food. Many night markets will have clothing shops with affordable clothing, I also recommend checking those out.
And if you’re in need of cheap cellphone accessories, night markets are an excellent place to find them. However, I wouldn’t use night markets as a place to buy souvenirs.
What Are Taiwan Night Markets?
A Taiwan night market, or 夜市 (yeshi), is a street market that operates between sunset and sunrise. You will find these markets in purpose-built venues, like Huaxi Night Market. Or you’ll find food stalls and shops lining streets and occupying sidewalks.
These markets usually exist in suburban or urban areas throughout the country. However, these markets come and go depending on their demand.
What Can You Do at Night Markets in Taiwan?
For the most part, at Taiwanese night markets, you can buy xiaochi (fast food). In Mandarin Chinese, this translates to “small eats.” Otherwise, buy specialty drinks like bubble tea or smoothies, explore clothing or souvenir shops, or play carnival-style games.
You may find interesting stalls like the fortune-telling birds in Raohe Night Market.
If you see people lining up for a food stand, then that usually means the stand has superb food. I recommend waiting in line if you have time.
Most night markets throughout Taiwan have a noteworthy restaurant or dish. Or they have Michelin-starred restaurants. A Michelin restaurant means judges deemed the establishment as having delicious food in its category.
Keep reading. And you’ll find recommendations on the best foods to try at most night markets throughout the country.
North Taiwan Night Markets
Other than New Taipei, Hsinchu, and Taipei, consider exploring these markets:
| Night Market | City | Food To Try | Chinese Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keelung Miaokou Night Market | Keelung | Sandwich | 廟口夜市 |
| Zhongli Sinming Night Market | Taoyuan | Sweet potato balls | 中壢新明夜市 |
| Zhongyuan (Chungyuan) Night Market | Taoyuan | Scallion pancakes | 中原夜市 |
| Taoyuan Tourism Night Market | Taoyuan | Spareribs | 桃園觀光夜市 |
| Xingren Garden Night Market | Taoyuan | Crispy fried squid | 興仁夜市 |
| Toucheng Night Market | Yilan | Nothing noteworthy | 頭城夜市 |
| Luodong Night Market | Yilan | Nothing noteworthy | 羅東夜市 |
| Dongmen Night Market | Yilan | Dried tofu wrapped around sausage | 東門夜市 |
Night Markets in New Taipei City, Taiwan
New Taipei City’s night markets are as follows:
| Night Market | Food To Try | Chinese Name |
|---|---|---|
| Linkou Night Market | Braised foods | 林口街夜市 |
| Luzhou Night Market | Nothing noteworthy | 蘆洲夜市 |
| Datong Night Market | Scallion pancakes | 大同夜市 |
| Nanya Night Market | Sesame oil chicken soup | 南雅夜市 |
| Shalun Night Market | Nothing noteworthy | NA |
| Lehua Night Market | Sweet soy milk | 樂華夜市 |
| Ji Ying Miao Night Market | Nothing noteworthy | 集應廟夜市 |
| Sanxia Night Market | Nothing noteworthy | 三峽夜市 |
| Tamsui Yingzhuan Night Market | Permanently closed | 淡水夜市 |
| Xinzhuang Night Market | Green onion cakes | 新莊夜市 |
| Xingnan Night Market | Duck head | 興南夜市 |
| Sanzhi Night Market | Nothing noteworthy | 三芝夜市 |
| Sanhe Night Market | Oyster vermicelli | 三和夜市 |
| Sing Ren Garden Night Market | Crepes | 興仁花園夜市 |
| Zhongyang Night Market | Nothing noteworthy | 中央夜市 |
Night Markets in Hsinchu, Taiwan
Night markets you’ll find in Hsinchu include:
| Night Market | Food To Try | Chinese Name |
|---|---|---|
| Qingda (NTHU) Night Market | Nothing noteworthy | 清大夜市 |
| Chenghuang (City God) Temple Night Market | Fish meatball soup | 城隍廟夜市 |
| Zhongzhengtai Night Market | Nothing noteworthy | 中正台夜市 |
| Huayuan Street Night Market | Nothing noteworthy | 花園街夜市 |
Central Taiwan Night Markets
Night markets throughout various central cities and regions include:
| Night Market | City | Chinese Name | Food To Try |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jingcheng Night Market | Changhua | 精誠夜市 | Oyster omelet |
| Lugang Night Market | Changhua | 鹿港夜市 | Steamed meat buns |
| Caotun Night Market | Nantou | 草鞋墩人文觀光夜市 | Mongolian barbecue |
Night Markets in Taichung, Taiwan
Check out these night markets when you’re in Taichung:
| Night Market | Chinese Name | Food To Try |
|---|---|---|
| Fengjia Night Market | 逢甲夜市 | Sausages & egg pancakes |
| Donghai Daxue Night Market (Tunghai Villa) | 東海夜市 | Chicken feet |
| Fengyuan Miaodong Night Market | 豐原廟東夜市 | Fried chestnuts |
| Zhonghua Night Market | 中華路夜市 | Deep fried beef & Taiwanese hamburger |
| Yizhong Street Night Market | 一中街夜市 | Stinky tofu & sun cakes |
| Lufeng Night Market | 峰夜市 | Nothing noteworthy |
| Hanxi Night Market | 旱溪夜市 | Dried tofu |
| Sizhangli Night market | 四張犁夜市 | Nothing noteworthy |
| Tianzi Shengli Night market | 潭子勝利夜市 | Nothing noteworthy |
| Yatan Night Market | 雅潭夜市 | Nothing noteworthy |
South Taiwan Night Markets
Here are night markets throughout Southern Taiwan’s Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Tainan cities:
| Night Market | City | Food To Try | Chinese Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wenhua Road Night Market | Chiayi | Rice cakes | 文化路夜市 |
| Chia-Le-Fu (Carrefour) Night Market | Chiayi | Taiwanese barbecue | 嘉樂福夜市 |
| Liuhe Night Market | Kaohsiung | Barbecued foods | 六合夜市 |
| Kaisyuan Night Market | Kaohsiung | Nothing noteworthy | 凱旋夜市 |
| Ruifeng Night Market | Kaohsiung | Fried chicken fillet | 瑞豐夜市 |
| Zhonghua Street Night Market | Kaohsiung | Nothing noteworthy | 中華街觀光夜市 |
| Tainan Flower Night Market | Tainan | Coffin bread | 花園夜市 |
| Fuhua Night Market | Tainan | Nothing noteworthy | 復華夜市 |
| Wusheng Night Market | Tainan | Oyster omelet & French-style crêpes | 武聖夜市 |
| Dadong (Ta-Tung) Night Market | Tainan | Sweet potato balls & BBQ | 大東夜市 |
| Xiaobei Night Market | Tainan | Fried snails | 小北成功夜市 |
East Taiwan Night Markets
No city- or county-specific markets here.
| Night Market | City | Chinese Name |
|---|---|---|
| Dongdamen Night Market | Hualien | 東大門夜市 |
| Dongqing Night Market | Lanyu (offshore island) | NA |
| Ziqiang Night Market | Permanently closed | NA |
Taiwan Night Market History: How Did It All Start?
Taiwan’s first night market, Shilin Night Market, popped up in 1899. Otherwise, most modern night markets didn’t debut until post-World War II.
Once they began emerging, vendors began hawking their food and wares to migrants who were rapidly building Taiwan during this period. They’d also sell inexpensive versions of banquet food to keep workers well-fed.
Around the 1960s’, Taiwan-made toys, garments, and other accessories began flooding these markets.
And as the 70s’ approached, manufacturers began shifting toward international markets. Thus displacing these stores and bringing in handicrafts, Chinese medicine, and other shops.
When the ’80s hit, Taiwanese night markets had gift shops, high-quality garments, various vendors, and popular restaurants.
By then, it transitioned into becoming popular culture. I’ve covered the history of individual night markets throughout my blog. I can’t cover them all here.
I’d bore you.
Find out why it’s worth visiting a night market.
Taiwan Night Market Tips
Keep these tips and tidbits in mind when visiting Taiwanese night markets:
- Most vendors only accept cash: sometimes, they’ll accept EasyCards or LINE Pay
- Don’t haggle: folks don’t usually haggle at night markets
- Enter the night market around 4 PM: this is when they set up their booths
- Night markets don’t have toilets: use the restroom before visiting
- Keep your belongings close: while uncommon, pickpockets may roam night markets
- Most stalls don’t notify customers of food allergens: ask beforehand whether the food contains “X” ingredient
- English menu translations are hit-or-miss: outside tourist markets, not many stands have English menus
- Taiwanese food is safe to eat: food-related illnesses are uncommon
- But there are a lot of fried food vendors: prepare probiotics or your supplement stack for greasy foods
- Try Vietnamese coffee when you find it: it’s amazing
- Watch out for motorbikes: drivers tend to roll through night market streets with motorbikes
And always practice awareness. Whether there’s a motorbike behind you or you accidentally drop your things, keep your head on a swivel. But enjoy yourself.
I say this because night markets are crowded. And it’s easy to find yourself overwhelmed (if you’re like me). If you’re wearing a backpack, keep it in front of you to deter pickpockets.
And for the love of all things holy.
Don’t keep your phone or wallet in your back pocket. That’s begging someone to pickpocket you.
FAQs
What Does a Taiwan Night Market Sell?
Taiwan night markets sell food, beverages, clothing, cell phone accessories, and other miscellaneous goods.
Why Do People in Taiwan Like Going to Night Markets So Much?
People in Taiwan going to night markets since they can get a meal for cheap without cooking. Many likely don’t want to cook after a long work day.
