Pick the right time to visit Luodong Night Market—no more long queues for Dragon-Tiger Legs or Eight-Treasure Ice!

Text and photos byViviyu

This time we stayed at Eric’s Homestay in Wujie, not far from Luodong Night Market. We originally wanted to try the stir-fry restaurant recommended by the host, but the kids were adamant about visiting the night market, so off we went again. We only managed to try a few stalls before it started raining. Here’s where we ate this time… Grandpa’s Dragon-Tiger Legs → Japanese-style Sweets Mitsuga-yaki → Tang Shu Shu (Stinky Fries) → Original Sesame Oil Chicken → Park No. 20 Desserts & Ice Cream → Wei Jia Xiang Cantonese Braised Dishes

Going to the night market with friends is definitely a great choice—you can all pick your favorite snacks. To each their own, and everyone ends up happy. The kids especially love playing pinball at the night market, though the ratio is usually one game for every five visits. These days pinball is just too expensive—back in the day, wasn’t it 10 NT for a whole tray? Now it’s 100 NT per basket, which is just crazy. So we always make a little deal with the kids beforehand.

Right after parking, we spotted Yifeng Scallion Pancakes had moved to 130 Minsheng Road. The ones we had before were decent, and since we’d already tried Jinzhu Scallion Pancakes that day, we just took some photos this time. The queue wasn’t as long as it used to be.

Grandpa’s Dragon-Tiger Legs
Contact: Chih-Ming Tseng - 0911828258

There was quite a crowd at Grandpa’s Dragon-Tiger Legs. It’s been ages since I last had this old-school snack. Nowadays, not many places still use lard wrappers for Dragon-Tiger Legs—they usually go with bean curd skin instead. I couldn’t resist giving it a try.

A 40-year-old fragrant tradition passed down from Grandpa’s era, using the single lard wrapper that comes from just one pig, wrapped around vegetables and fish paste.

It has even won the Executive Yuan’s Silver Award. Each Dragon-Tiger Leg is 20 NT, two for 35 NT; each spring roll is 15 NT, two for 25 NT. Getting two at a time seems like the better deal.

The freshly fried Dragon-Tiger Legs absolutely need a dab of the shop’s special chili sauce to bring out the flavor—shiny, golden, and irresistible.

The crust is nice and crispy, but it didn’t quite taste like the Dragon-Tiger Legs I remember. There’s too little fish paste—it’s mostly cabbage, more like the spring rolls from my memory. Still, they were pretty good when eaten hot.

Japanese Snacks · Mitsuga-yaki

This is another little snack I always buy when I see it. A box of five costs 50 NT, or single pieces are 12 NT each. Flavors include butter, red bean, taro, and peanut. I think they’re best eaten fresh and hot. The kids each got one with butter and one with taro. Anita said they were delicious and wanted to buy more on the way back.

Tang Shu Shu · Stinky Fries

Originating from its flagship store in Luodong, Tang Shu Shu Stinky Fries cuts stinky tofu into fry-like shapes. Their branches can be found in many night markets, and the quality is pretty consistent across them. Remember to grab a number first, then just let them know your flavor when your number is called.

It’s also a popular spot frequently featured on TV shows. There are six flavors in total. First-timers can order based on the shop’s popularity ranking, but Anita specifically asked for the Special Cheese flavor for 50 NT. I personally prefer the rich, creamy Special Cheese one too.

Just look at these crispy stinky tofu sticks drizzled with thick cheese sauce—isn’t it totally indulgent? There’s also some pickled veggies on the side to cut through the richness, adding a nice crunch.

Original Sesame Oil Chicken

We chose to eat here because the kids said their feet were sore and they needed a place to sit. We figured we’d get a proper meal to fill up before continuing our night market adventure. There were quite a few choices, mostly sesame oil-based dishes, and the staff were really friendly.

If you don’t want sesame oil soup, you can also opt for angelica or shredded ginger broth. They even had pig brain soup, which I’ve been wanting to try for ages—so we each got something different.

Lamb Shredded Ginger Soup – 65 NT

Braised Pork Rice (small) – 30 NT

Sesame Oil Dry Wheat Noodles – 40 NT

Sesame Oil Pig Brain – 60 NT
With no queue, the broth actually wasn’t bad either. At least we could sit and enjoy the meal without squeezing through crowds. The pig brain was surprisingly tender, though I’m guessing not everyone would dare to try it.

Park No. 20 Desserts & Ice Cream
Business hours: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM, closed every Wednesday
Contact number: (03) 9563 6888
No. 108, Gongyuan Road, Luodong Town (next to the steak stall in Luodong Night Market)

Grass Jelly Pudding

Mung Bean Milk Ice

Eight-Treasure Ice

Ever since I tried it last time, I felt the ingredients were substantial and the atmosphere was very comfortable, so this time I came with my kid to give it a try. After the season changed, they started offering ice desserts. Compared to sweet soups, I prefer this Eight-Treasure Ice. Everything is homemade by the shop, and the ingredients are smooth and delicate. I really hope they come out with a Taro Milk Ice—it would definitely be amazing！

Weijiaxiang · Cantonese Braised Delicacies

This place is on our must-buy takeout list every time because it's convenient and there’s usually no long wait. Even when it’s crowded, people move through the selection quickly. It’s also very handy to bring back to the homestay for a late-night snack.

However, not all items are recommended. This time we only bought our favorite braised intestines—they were super flavorful and delicious. Three for 20 NT dollars, and we finished the 100-dollar worth in no time between me and Mr. A.

Later, as the crowd began to thicken and we had finished browsing, we could leave Up. If you’d rather avoid the crowds, I suggest arriving at Luodong Night Market earlier. On holidays, by around 4 or 5 PM, the stalls are mostly set up and the crowd is at its lightest—perfect for strolling around.

Follow Viviyu’s mini-world fan page to stay updated and never miss a thing
‘VIVIYU Mini-World’ ~ Travel Across Taiwan, Explore the World