Night owls, take note: Taipei’s late-night exclusive snacks – super savory braised milkfish belly

Written & photos byFood Craving, Snapshot

Have a snack before bed.

For our family of night owls, whenever weekends or holidays roll around, we always love to grab some late-night snacks before heading home. Lately, with the added entertainment of Pokémon GO, that late-night meal has become even more essential (I’m sure many others feel the same)! On one such Pokémon-hunting day, we got hungry on the way back and happened to stumble upon this small eatery in Ximending – only to discover it’s actually a famously delicious late-night spot.

A-Cai Milkfish is located around Neijiang Street in Ximending, closer to the Red House. If you’re taking the MRT, you can walk here from Exit 1. It’s open from 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM (closed on Sundays). We went around 1:00 AM that day, and although it was the middle of the night, there was still quite a line. From the outside, the queue looked pretty long, but actually A-Cai Milkfish turns tables fairly quickly, so you won’t wait too long—about 10–15 minutes at most.

Milkfish belly is the signature dish here – definitely a must-order. There are also various stir-fried dishes available, like three-cup squid, stir-fried lamb, and so on.

Braised Pork Rice – NT$30, Pork Chop Rice – NT$50

Between the two, we preferred the pork chop rice more. The large pork chops were tender, soft, fragrant, and slightly chewy, not greasy at all, and paired nicely with pickled radish. The braised pork rice, on the other hand, we felt wasn’t as aromatic or rich in flavor – maybe because I prefer the saltier-sweeter taste from the south, so this one didn’t seem bold enough for me.

Oyster Fritters – NT$120　Best enjoyed fresh out of the fryer. They’re crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, but be careful – the oysters inside are very hot. The oysters are fresh and delicious, and go well with pepper or basil. The only small downside is that the portion is a bit small.

Pan-Fried Scallion Egg – NT$40　We ordered this after seeing lots of online reviews recommending it. It looks like a simple, ordinary scallion egg, but it surprised us quite a bit. The flavor is still your home-style scallion egg, but the inside of the egg has a soft, slightly runny texture. Combined with the eggy aroma and scallion fragrance, this simple dish becomes layered and tastier than expected.

Braised Milkfish Belly – NT$220　We originally wanted to order the pan-fried fish belly, but after seeing many reviews recommending the braised version, we changed our minds. Although we haven’t tried the pan-fried kind and can’t compare, the braised milkfish belly is truly delicious. The large, soft pieces of belly are incredibly flavorful, whether it’s the fish itself or the fatty parts – all delicious. What I liked most was that there are almost no bones, so you can eat it smoothly and happily, bite after bite. The flavor is also quite salty, making it perfect to enjoy with rice.

Three-Cup Squid – NT$350　Although the price per dish is a bit higher, we all felt it was definitely worth ordering. Especially when it first arrives, the thick cloud of white steam wafting up with the intense aroma of three-cup sauce is seriously tempting. The squid is paired with basil, and besides enjoying the rich three-cup flavor, you can also taste the freshness of the squid itself. The texture is also bouncy and not tough to chew.

Milkfish Belly Soup – NT$100　This is another must-order at the shop. The portion of fish belly in the soup isn’t small, and it’s really satisfying. The plain-boiled fish belly isn’t greasy or overly seasoned, so the fish soup doesn’t taste too salty or heavy – the flavor is refreshing. The fish belly is soft and melts in your mouth, and it’s recommended to enjoy it with the mustard soy sauce on the side.

Overall, A-Cai Milkfish is a great choice when you’re hungry and craving a late-night snack. We also feel that eating fish at night doesn’t weigh you down too much. Even just a bowl of fish belly soup is satisfying. Next time, we’d like to try their popular three-cup clams and stir-fried lamb as well.

A-Cai Milkfish
Address: No. 53, Neijiang Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2370-3378
Business Hours: 10:00 PM – 5:00 AM (Closed every Sunday)

Food Craving, Snapshot
Navigating through the busy yet laid-back life of Taipei locals.
Loves uncovering hidden culinary gems in the city, alleys, and right by your doorstep, with a passion for exploring places full of stories.
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