The ultimate street food to eat on the go – Top 10 popular Taiwanese snacks in Taipei

Reported by Jiayun Yu / Comprehensive report

"Eating while walking" is arguably one of the unique sights on the streets of Taiwan, but you really can’t blame locals for loving to eat — Taiwanese street food is just too irresistible. Whether it's piping hot freshly fried doughnuts, crispy-on-the-outside-chewy-on-the-inside sweet potato balls, or savory and aromatic fried chicken, you just can’t wait to dig in the moment you get your hands on them. This article will introduce 10 outrageously delicious and mouthwatering street snacks that are highly recommended by locals in Taipei, taking you on a food journey through Taipei where you simply won’t want to stop eating.

1. Crispy Skin Milk-filled Doughnuts

Japanese doughnuts have Mister Donut, American ones have Krispy Kreme, but the undisputed representative of Taiwanese-style doughnuts has to be the Crispy Skin Milk-filled Doughnuts. The crunchy exterior is coated with sweet powdered sugar, and the soft, chewy milk dough is rich and fragrant. In addition to the signature original flavor, there are also options like chocolate, curry, and red bean — once you try them, you’ll be hooked.

Head store (Qingtian): No. 24, Lane 17, Shuangcheng St., Taipei City
Taipei branch: No. 183, Huayin St., Taipei City
Business hours: 11:00–19:30

▲ Taiwanese crispy skin doughnuts. (Photo provided by netizen eason_1127. Please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

2. Old-Fashioned Egg Cakes

These egg cakes, a childhood favorite, are hard to resist every time you pass by — you just have to buy a pack and relive those nostalgic flavors. The old-fashioned egg cake stall located on Wuxing St. in Taipei always draws a crowd as soon as it sets up shop. Not only do these egg cakes have a unique shape, but their crispy outer layer and the simple batter aroma of the cake leave a lasting impression.

Location: Front porch of Lane 9, Wuxing St., No. 156, Xinyi District, Taipei City
Business hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 1:00 PM–9:00 PM

▲ Egg cakes are a nostalgic treat for many. (Photo provided by netizen however88. Please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

3. Qingguang Red Bean Pancakes

The wildly popular Qingguang Red Bean Pancakes are practically a household name in Taipei. Even with multiple branches, there’s often still a long line. These pancakes come in three flavors: red bean, cream, and shredded radish. The red bean filling is smooth and rich, the cream is sweet without being cloying, and the shredded radish is savory and refreshing. For just NT$10, this street snack is truly one you could eat forever and never get tired of.

Tamsui branch: No. 80, Gongming St., Tamsui District, New Taipei City (Tamsui Old Street)
Qingguang branch: No. 16, Lane 12, Shuangcheng St., Taipei City (Stall 70 at the market)
Siping branch: No. 55, Siping St., Taipei City
Da’an branch: No. 41, Section 1, Da’an Rd., Taipei City
Gongguan branch: No. 257, Section 3, Tingzhou Rd., Taipei City (Front porch of Southeast Asia Theater)

▲ Red bean pancake with generous filling. (Photo from the official Qingguang Red Bean Pancakes fan page)

4. Tonghua St. Sweet Potato Balls

This sweet potato ball cart near Jinxingfa on Tonghua St. is one of the well-known night market snacks. Every evening, crowds of hungry people gather here. Since only a limited number of sweet potato balls are fried at a time, the wait is often over 30 minutes — but once you get your hands on the hot and fresh ones, you’ll know it was worth it. The freshly fried sweet potato balls have a crispy outer shell and a chewy, filling interior. A pack of 10 for NT$20 is pure satisfaction.

5. Wenzhou St. Shredded Radish Pancakes

This shredded radish pancake stall, located near National Taiwan Normal University, was already a favorite on many people’s food lists back when it was on Wenzhou St. before relocating. Ever since it reopened, there’s almost always a line. At just NT$30 each, these affordable and tasty pancakes with generous fillings have won over many stomachs. Other offerings include egg pancakes, scallion pancakes, and red bean paste pancakes. After moving, they continue to serve just shredded radish pancakes, egg pancakes, scallion pancakes, and red bean paste pancakes — simple and unpretentious.

Location: No. 186-1, Section 1, Heping E. Rd., Da’an District, Taipei City
Business hours: 7:00 AM–8:00 PM

▲The ratio of shredded radish to pastry crust is just right. (Photo / Wisely)

6. Bulao Ma |
When it comes to Taipei’s must-queue street snacks, this Bulao Ma| branch near Xingtian Temple sells out daily. It ranks high not just for its pork belly, but also because the ingredients are prepped early in the morning to ensure quality. It takes some time to cook, so each person is limited to two boxes. Aside from pork belly, there are also options with bamboo shoots, taro, dried tofu, dried shrimp, and other fillings. The mochi inside isn’t sticky, and the filling is generous and hearty.

297巷, Songjiang Rd., Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Business hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 13:00–19:00 (until sold out)

▲Mochi with peanut powder is a classic Taiwanese snack. (Photo / Wisely)

7. Chen Sanding Black Sugar Frog Fresh Milk

Every visit to the Gongguan shopping area calls for a cup of this. With just three simple ingredients—black sugar, boba, and fresh milk—it’s enough to make people willingly wait in long lines, especially on weekends when the queue spills out the door. Though they also sell drinks like grass jelly and yuzu jelly, everyone lines up for the black sugar frog fresh milk.

No. 2, Lane 8, Alley 316, Section 3, Roosevelt Rd., Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Business hours: 11:00–22:00

▲Black sugar frog fresh milk draws crowds year-round. (Photo / Orange Dog Loves Candy)

8. Beimen Fengli Ice

This traditional ice shop, tucked away in Taipei’s East District at 216巷, often sees long queues in summer. Its signature Fengli ice, made with pineapple and purple plum, has a texture similar to shaved ice. Its sweet-and-sour flavor is refreshing and addictive—you won’t stop at just one bite. Other flavors include peanut, taro, and salty plum ice.

No. 9, Lane 33, 216巷, Section 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Da’an District, Taipei City
Business hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00–21:30

▲A traditional ice shop in Taipei’s East District. (Photo / Provided by netizen yanyen_; no unauthorized copying to avoid copyright infringement.)

9. Shiyuan Salt and Pepper Chicken

Located in the bustling Shida Night Market, Shiyuan Salt and Pepper Chicken isn’t just a late-night snack for Shida students—it’s a must-try delicious treat for all Taipei locals. Having been around for 32 years, it’s best known for its signature garlicky flavor that you’ll both love and crave. That sinful mix of oil and aroma is simply irresistible.

No. 14, Lane 39, Shida Rd., Taipei City
Business hours: 12:00–01:00

▲Shiyuan Salt and Pepper Chicken is a famous spot in Shida Night Market. (Photo / Screenshot from Shiyuan Salt and Pepper Chicken’s official fan page)

10. Keelung Miaokou Delicious Candied Hawthorn

Keelung Miaokou offers a wide variety of street food, but you can’t miss this childhood-favorite traditional candied hawthorn. A small iron pot beside the stall cooks the syrup fresh, sending the rich aroma of brown sugar into the air. Fruits like cherry tomatoes, grapes, and strawberries are skewered and coated in a thin, crispy sugar shell. What you’re tasting isn’t just calories—it’s the nostalgia of begging your parents for candied hawthorn as a kid.

▲Assorted fruit skewers with candied sugar. (Photo / Provided by netizen Ashleytsai5; no unauthorized copying to avoid copyright infringement.)