Taiwan on the Tip of Your Tongue: Top 20 Must-Try Night Market Snacks
Last updated 2026-09-25 — For travelers who love to collect local memories through their taste buds, no trip to a new place is complete without venturing into the local night markets or alleyways in search of unique snacks. However, while fried chicken cutlets, pan-fried buns, oyster omelets, and rice balls may come in different variations from different vendors, and each has its loyal fans, these widely available snacks often fail to offer something truly fresh or unique. That’s why this special feature by HowToTrip focuses on local culinary delights, uncovering 20 distinctive snacks that are rarely found elsewhere, allowing readers to embark on a delicious island-wide journey through flavors you won’t find just anywhere.
Text by MOOK Travel Life Network’s Chen Guanxin | Compiled & Reported | Source: MOOK Editorial Team
For travelers who love to collect local memories through their taste buds, no trip to a new place is complete without venturing into the local night markets or alleyways in search of unique snacks. However, while fried chicken cutlets, pan-fried buns, oyster omelets, and rice balls may come in different variations from different vendors, and each has its loyal fans, these widely available snacks often fail to offer something truly fresh or unique. That’s why this special feature by HowToTrip focuses on local culinary delights, uncovering 20 distinctive snacks that are rarely found elsewhere, allowing readers to embark on a delicious island-wide journey through flavors you won’t find just anywhere.
Savor exclusive local specialties and complete your own gourmet island adventure (Photo provided by MOOK Editorial Team)
1. Yilan / Luodong Night Market / Qiqiaowei Sanxing Scallion Pancake — A Treasure Bag Stuffed with Emerald Green Scallions
This small stall always draws a long queue at Luodong Night Market. The sizzling sound of the frying pan reveals golden pancake pockets, each about the size of a meat bun, filled with fresh green Sanxing scallions, seasoned minced pork, and white sesame seeds inside a crispy, thin crust. When you take a big bite, there’s no harsh spiciness—just the sweet aroma of scallions blending with the savory pork and nutty sesame. It’s crispy, savory, and not greasy at all. Paired with their signature sauce, the flavor is even more delightful.
【info】
Address: Intersection of Gongyuan Road and ZhenTai Street, Luodong Township, Yilan County
Phone: 0983-951-524
How to get there: Starting from Luodong Zhongshan Park, walk along Gongyuan Road for about 10 seconds until you reach the intersection with ZhenTai Street.
2. Yilan / Luodong Night Market / Bu Ya Snack Shop — Uniquely Flavored, Delicious Fried Duck
Bu Ya refers to fried duck—the word “bu” is the Taiwanese pronunciation of “fried.” This snack shop, located near Dian’an Temple, has been operating locally for nearly 40 years. They carefully select semi-free-range local ducks raised in Yilan, marinate them for over half a day with pepper, five-spice, wine, sugar, and other seasonings, coat them with ingredients like sweet potato starch, and then deep-fry them. The result is crispy-skinned, tender-fleshed duck that’s juicy and springy, with a texture similar to salt-and-pepper chicken. It gives off a uniquely fragrant taste that’s unlike anything else.
【info】
Address: No. 209, Section 3, Zhongshan Road, Luodong Township, Yilan County
Phone: 03-956-5426
How to get there: Starting from Luodong Zhongshan Park, walk straight along Gongyuan Road, turn left onto Section 3 of Zhongshan Road, and you’ll arrive in about 2 seconds.
Left: The scallion pancake is packed with fragrant scallions. Right: Bu Ya is one of Luodong’s most iconic night market foods—don’t miss it when you’re in Yilan. (Photo provided by MOOK Editorial Team)
3. Keelung / Keelung Night Market / Charcoal-Grilled Peas — A Nearly Lost Traditional Snack
The owner has been selling charcoal-grilled peas for decades, and now her university-going granddaughter helps out too—all to let modern city dwellers and kids experience the delightful taste of traditional snacks. Grilling peas requires skill and a lot of patience, constantly adjusting the angle to achieve that unique smoky aroma and the satisfyingly chewy, toasty flavor.
【info】
Address: No. 27-2, Ren 3rd Road, Keelung City
Phone: 0937-508-711
How to get there: Walk about 9 minutes from the exit of Keelung Railway Station
4. Taipei / Shilin Night Market / Old Shilin Big Wrap Small — A Must-Try Signature Snack
One of the representative foods of Shilin Night Market, this snack has a unique way of being served. A crispy flatbread is placed inside a wrapper similar to a spring roll skin, and then the inside flatbread is cracked with a hammer before being rolled up for eating. Aside from the original flavor, there are also various sweet and savory options such as shredded pork, curry, spicy, red bean paste, peanut, and sesame, which customers can choose based on their preference. It has a delightful combination of softness and crispiness, with a refreshing and layered taste.
【info】
Address: No. 101, Jiyi Road, Taipei City (Stall 67, B1 of Shilin Market)
Phone: 0928-829-926
How to get there: Walk about 5 minutes from Exit 1 of Taipei Metro Jiantan Station
Left: Nearly lost traditional snack—charcoal-grilled peas—are hidden in Keelung Night Market. Right: Shilin Night Market’s famously unique big pancake wrapped around a small one—something you won’t find elsewhere. (Photo provided by Monochrome Editorial Department)
5. Taipei / Shuangcheng Street Night Market / Ah Hong Black-Bone Chicken—Glossy and Exclusively Delicious
Once winning the Sesame Oil Chicken Shop PK Competition, Ah Hong Black-Bone Chicken is run by Boss Ah Hong, who uses his unique craftsmanship to prepare low-fat, high-protein free-range black-bone chicken. The chicken is smoked with cane sugar to create an exclusive flavor—chewy with a springy bite, juicy and rich, and truly unforgettable once tasted.
[Info]
Address: Stall 26, Shuangcheng Street Night Market, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2593-5650
How to get there: Get off at Zhongshan Elementary School MRT Station, exit at Exit 1, turn onto Shuangcheng Street via Minquan East Road; about a 12-minute walk.
6. Taipei / Liaoning Night Market / Black Sesame | Drink—Self-Developed and Made Fresh Daily
The boss has been developing this sesame | drink for over 10 years, insisting on making it fresh daily. The fresh sesame | drink is believed to only be genuinely good when made with high-quality ingredients, layer upon layer of flavor. Each sip reveals more depth, with a uniquely rich taste. Additionally, there are many other flavors to choose from. The boss will kindly remind you to finish it on the same day for the best texture.
[Info]
Address: Opposite No. 79, Liaoning Street, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2777-3652
How to get there: About a 10-minute walk from the exit of Nanjing East Road MRT Station
Left: The juicy black-bone chicken carries a special aroma from cane sugar smoking, leaving an unforgettable taste. Right: The self-made sesame | drink is uniquely flavorful, but must be enjoyed the same day due to its short shelf life. (Photo provided by Monochrome Editorial Department)
7. New Taipei / Fu Jen Catholic University Garden Night Market / YA.MA.I.WA Coffee Latte Bread—Incredibly Soft Yet Chewy Bread
This is a shop opened by a group of young bakers. Driven by their passion for handmade bread, they started selling bread online three years ago, gaining a loyal fan base. They have now opened their first physical store in Fu Jen Catholic University Garden Night Market. Their best-selling bread includes Snow Latte Bread, Chocolate Soft French, and Strawberry Yogurt—soft yet chewy, and usually sold out shortly after baking.
[Info]
Address: E3, No. 666, Section 2, Zhongshan Road, Taishan District, New Taipei City
Phone: 0936-884-302
How to get there: About a 12–15 minute walk from Exit 1 of Fu Jen Catholic University MRT Station
8. New Taipei / Fu Jen Catholic University Garden Night Market / George’s Vegetarian Burger—Taiwan’s First Ever
Owner George is an overseas Chinese from the U.S. Being a vegetarian himself, he found that most vegetarian options in Taiwan were Chinese-style when he first returned. So he opened a vegetarian burger shop. The veggie burgers are made from soy and wheat, aiming to offer more dining choices for vegetarians.
[Info]
Address: M10, No. 666, Section 2, Zhongshan Road, Taishan District, New Taipei City
Phone: 0960-000-133
How to get there: About a 12–15 minute walk from Exit 1 of Fu Jen Catholic University MRT Station
Left: Who could bear to eat such adorable bread? Right: Taiwan’s first-ever night market vegetarian burger—truly touching for vegetarian travelers. (Photo provided by Monochrome Editorial Department)
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