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Food tours in Taipei: what to eat and which tour to book
Taipei eats a lot of its meals outside the home, and much of it is cheap and quick: breakfast shops selling soy milk and egg crepes, lunch counters with braised pork rice, and night markets where stalls turn out pepper buns, oyster omelettes and grilled squid until midnight. The food mixes Hokkien-Taiwanese cooking with dishes brought by people who arrived from across mainland China after 1949, which is why beef noodle soup and soup dumplings sit alongside lu rou fan as local staples. Night markets such as Raohe, Ningxia and Shilin are the best-known places to graze, but the morning markets and the old streets of Dadaocheng and Wanhua show how residents actually shop and eat.
Use this page to know what to order, where to find it and what a normal price is. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked them; confirm the current price and details on the booking page.
What to eat in Taipei
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braised pork rice 滷肉飯 lu rou fan | Finely chopped fatty pork braised in soy sauce, rice wine and spices, spooned over a bowl of rice; often with a braised egg and pickled radish. The cheapest everyday meal in Taipei. | Small rice shops everywhere; night markets. | about NT$35–70 (≈€1–2) a small bowl |
| Beef noodle soup 牛肉麵 niu rou mian | Wheat noodles with chunks of slow-braised beef shank in either a dark soy-chilli 'red-braised' broth or a clear broth. Taipei has an annual beef noodle festival. | Specialist noodle shops, many in the Zhongzheng and Da'an districts. | about NT$180–300 (≈€5–9); premium versions cost more |
| Pepper bun 胡椒餅 hu jiao bing | Pork seasoned with lots of black pepper and spring onion, sealed in dough and baked against the wall of a clay tandoor-like oven. Very hot inside. | Raohe Night Market's entrance near Ciyou Temple is famous for one stall with a queue; also around other night markets. | about NT$60–70 (≈€2) |
| Oyster omelette 蚵仔煎 o-a-tsian | Small oysters and greens in a sticky sweet-potato-starch batter with egg, fried on a flat griddle and topped with a sweet, slightly spicy pink sauce. | Night markets, notably Ningxia, where an oyster omelette stall is listed in the Michelin Guide. | about NT$70–100 (≈€2–3) |
| Soup dumplings 小籠包 xiao long bao | Thin-skinned steamed pork dumplings filled with hot broth. Bite a small hole, let the soup out into your spoon, then eat with ginger and black vinegar. | From famous chains in Xinyi and around Yongkang Street to cheap neighbourhood steam shops. | about NT$100–150 (≈€3–4) for a basket at a local shop; NT$250+ at well-known chains |
| Taiwanese breakfast 豆漿 dou jiang / 蛋餅 dan bing / 燒餅油條 shao bing you tiao | Warm sweet or savoury soy milk, egg crepes rolled with spring onion, and sesame flatbread wrapped around a fried dough stick. | Breakfast shops (zao can dian) in every neighbourhood; open from early morning until late morning. | about NT$30–80 (≈€1–2.50) per item |
| Fried chicken cutlet 雞排 ji pai | A huge flattened chicken breast, marinated, coated in sweet-potato starch, fried and dusted with pepper salt or chilli. | Night markets and stalls near universities and MRT stations. | about NT$80–120 (≈€2.50–3.50) |
| Bubble tea and shaved ice 珍珠奶茶 zhen zhu nai cha / 刨冰 bao bing | Taiwan invented pearl milk tea; sugar and ice levels are chosen when ordering. Shaved ice comes topped with mango in summer or beans and taro balls in other months. | Tea shops everywhere; shaved-ice shops around Yongkang Street and the night markets. | about NT$50–80 (≈€1.50–2.50) for tea; NT$100–250 for shaved ice |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Raohe Street Night Market
About 600 metres of stalls in a single lane, which makes it easier to walk than larger markets. Ciyou Temple sits at the east end by Songshan MRT station; the pepper-bun stall is at the temple entrance.
Ningxia Night Market
Compact night market near Zhongshan and Shuanglian MRT stations, focused almost entirely on food and popular with locals; known for oyster omelettes, taro balls and braised pork rice.
Shilin Night Market
Taipei's largest and best-known night market, near Jiantan MRT, with a basement food court and surrounding streets of stalls. Crowded and more tourist-oriented, but has the widest range.
Dadaocheng and Dihua Street
Old trading district by the river with dried-goods shops, tea merchants and Yongle Market; old snack stalls around the City God Temple and Ciseng Temple courtyards.
Yongkang Street
Restaurant street in Da'an district with soup dumplings, beef noodles, scallion pancakes and shaved ice, plus quieter lanes of cafés.
Morning markets (e.g. Nanmen, Shuangyuan)
Traditional produce and meat markets where residents shop; good for breakfast snacks and seeing everyday ingredients. Nanmen Market moved into a new building near Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
Food tours in Taipei compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taipei: Your First Day Food Tour with Locals & 12+ Tasting | 3 hours | from €50 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Taipei: Food Tours w/ Top 10 Taiwan Food (Breakfast/Dinner) | 2.5 hours | from €40 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Taipei: Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals | 3 hours | from €112 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Taipei: Street Food & Hidden Eats Night Market Food Tour | 3 hours | from €48 per person | max 10 | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Taipei: 2-Hour Raohe Night Market Walking Tour | 2 hours | from €34 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Taipei: Cooking Class & Market Adventure Historic Dadaocheng | 3 hours | from €80 per person | max 6 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
Taipei: Your First Day Food Tour with Locals & 12+ Tasting
On GetYourGuide · run by Foodapest
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €50 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 42 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Guided walk through Taipei’s hidden street food alleys and traditional markets Tastings at authentic local stalls known for signature Taiwanese snacks Insights into local ingredients, cooking methods, and vendor stori…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- Beimen MRT Exit No. 3
Taipei: Food Tours w/ Top 10 Taiwan Food (Breakfast/Dinner)
On GetYourGuide · run by TourMeAway
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €40 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 682 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Taste over 7+ Taiwanese dishes Walking tour English-speaking Guide Introduction of the area and all food tastings No Hunger Guarantee - We promise you won’t leave the tour hungry! Transportation
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
- Starts
- Meeting point may vary depending on the option booked.
Taipei: Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals
On GetYourGuide · run by Withlocals
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €112 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 228 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Included
- 10 food and drink tastings (vegetarian alternative available) Pickup and drop-off service
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
- Starts
- No. 166, Section 2, Xinyi Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Taipei: Street Food & Hidden Eats Night Market Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Secret Food Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €48 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 225 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
Taipei: 2-Hour Raohe Night Market Walking Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by MyProGuide Inc.
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €34 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 91 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Professional tour guide Insurance Food and Drinks Transportation
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
- Starts
- Meet at MRT Songshan Station(G19) Exit 5. Look for your guide wearing yellow shirt.
Taipei: Cooking Class & Market Adventure Historic Dadaocheng
On GetYourGuide · run by BeMyGuest Taipei Cooking Class
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €80 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 28 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 6
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Night markets are the main street-food setting: buy small portions from several stalls and eat standing or at the few tables. Most stalls are cash only. Bins are scarce, so carry rubbish until you find one, often at a stall that sold you food.
Sit-down meals
Many small restaurants have a paper menu on which you tick dishes and quantities and hand it to staff; pay at the counter. Lunch is early, from about 11:30, and some shops close in mid-afternoon. Taiwanese banquet-style restaurants and hot-pot places are good for groups.
Cooking classes
Classes usually cover xiao long bao, beef noodles, scallion pancakes or bubble tea, sometimes with a market visit. Dumpling-pleating classes are popular because the technique is hard to learn by watching.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | NT$400–700 (≈€12–20): breakfast shop, lu rou fan lunch, night-market dinner |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | NT$1,000–1,800 (≈€30–50): dumpling restaurant lunch, hot pot or Taiwanese dinner, drinks |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | NT$4,000+ (≈€115+): fine dining or a Michelin-starred tasting menu |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Among the easiest cities in Asia. Buddhist vegetarian restaurants (sushi 素食) are common, including cheap buffets priced by weight. Look for the 素 character. Many vegetarian places also avoid garlic and onion. Night-market stalls are less reliable, as lard and meat stock are widespread.
Halal: Limited but present. Taipei Grand Mosque in Da'an has halal restaurants nearby, including halal beef noodle shops, and some hotels and restaurants hold Taiwan's halal certification. Pork appears in most local dishes, and rice wine is common in cooking.
Gluten-free: Difficult. Soy sauce (containing wheat) goes into braises and dips, and noodles, dumplings and buns are wheat-based. Rice dishes, sweet-potato-starch coatings and some soups can work, but ask about the sauce. Cross-contamination is likely at stalls.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Higher prices and smaller portions at the busiest tourist-facing stalls in Shilin, including 'giant' items made for photos. Check posted prices, try smaller markets like Ningxia or Raohe, and follow where locals queue.
- Unlicensed or unclear-price seafood and stinky-tofu stalls charging by weight or asking for more at the end. Most night-market stalls show prices on a board; confirm the price before ordering.
- Queueing for an hour at a famous stall promoted on social media when similar food is available nearby. If a queue is very long, try a neighbouring stall selling the same dish.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Do I tip in Taipei?
No. Tipping is not a custom in Taiwan. Many sit-down restaurants and hotels add a 10% service charge to the bill, which replaces a tip. Night-market stalls, noodle shops and breakfast places have no service charge and no tipping. Guides on tours for visitors may accept a tip, but it is not expected.
Which night market should I visit?
Ningxia is compact and food-focused, good if you want to eat rather than shop. Raohe is a single long lane and easy to walk, with the pepper-bun stall by Ciyou Temple. Shilin is the largest, with the widest choice but heavy crowds. If you have time, visiting two different ones on separate evenings works well.
Is night-market food safe?
Generally yes. Most food is cooked hot to order and turnover is high. Choose busy stalls, eat items straight off the griddle, and be careful with cut fruit and raw seafood in hot weather. Tap water is treated but most people boil it or drink filtered or bottled water.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Taipei is good value. A budget day with a breakfast-shop meal, a bowl of lu rou fan or beef noodles and a night-market dinner costs about NT$400–700. A mid-range day with a dumpling restaurant lunch and hot pot dinner is about NT$1,000–1,800. Fine dining starts well above NT$3,000 per person.
What is stinky tofu and is it worth trying?
Stinky tofu (chou doufu) is fermented tofu, usually deep-fried and served with pickled cabbage and chilli sauce, or stewed in a spicy broth. You will smell it from a distance at night markets. Fried versions taste milder than the smell suggests. It is an acquired taste, but a classic Taiwanese snack.
Do I need cash in Taipei?
Yes, for night markets, breakfast shops and small restaurants, which are mostly cash only. The EasyCard (transport card) works at convenience stores and some chains, and cards are accepted in larger restaurants. Carry NT$1,000–2,000 in small notes; ATMs at 7-Eleven and FamilyMart accept foreign cards.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.