The Raohe Night Market is often referred to as the best place to find local street food in Taipei. The selection is so vast, you can probably find all the must-try dishes in this one place alone, but if you have to narrow it down and save some space for your next market, here are our top picks:

You’ll find dozens of vendors selling their own variation of these bite-sized beef cubes. It might sound like an ordinary dish, but the aroma of perfectly charred meat is quite difficult to resist. Though the beef is tasty enough to enjoy on its own, stalls often offer different toppings such as teriyaki sauce, pink salts, or cheese.

This baked bun is a popular snack that originated in Fuzhou, China. However, because it became so well-known in night markets across Taiwan, it is now more known as the “Taiwanese Pepper Bun”. Buns often come stuffed with a mixture of minced pork, seafood, or beef, and scallions and a combination of sweet-salty sauces.

Because of its highly pungent smell, it’s pretty hard to miss this fermented dish. Let your nose lead the way to any of the stalls, and take a chance on this local favorite. They say that the smellier it is, the better it tastes!

You can’t go wrong with anything deep-fried, and this dish proves this theory right. The cubed milk is battered, dunked in scalding oil, and is transformed to sweet fluffy goodness in a matter of seconds. If you’re reserving only one deep-fried item for “health reasons”, then this should be your choice.

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The Shilin Night Market is one of the biggest markets in Taiwan and at over a hundred years old, it’s still as alive as ever. In the middle of shopping for souvenirs and random trinkets, the best thing to do is binge on some street food.

Editorial Credit: Pisitphol/Shutterstock.com Shilin Night Market is home to the first ever branch of this fried chicken chain. Snack on this bigger-than-your-face slab of chicken, and you’re probably going to be set for the entire night.

Read What to Eat in Taiwan: 10 Taiwanese Food to Try

To cleanse your palate after a heavy meal, order cold glass of Aiyu Jelly. The drink is made from a type of fig, similar to that of a betel nut, and is served with fresh lemon juice.

These delicious savory pancakes are the best snacks for when you’re on-the-go. They’re filling, easy to bring around, and strangely addicting. The scallion version is actually a traditional Taiwanese breakfast best enjoyed with a glass of soy milk.

After feasting on all that savory food, you will have to leave some space for dessert. This dessert’s crispy, slightly salty crust compliments well with the sweet surprise of cold ice cream. It’s a refreshing choice after a long day of scouring for the best bargains, and it’s surprisingly light too!

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Known as the Harajuku of Taipei, Ximending is undoubtedly one of the city’s top sites to visit. The streets are filled with quirky boutiques, neon signs, and pretty much anything colorful and eye catching. The street, of course, is also home to some of Taipei's most interesting and delicious eats.

Like any good street food, these potatoes are deep-fried and stuffed with corn, cheese, ham, and generously bathed in a pool of hot cheese sauce.

This sticky treat is grilled fresh in front of you and is also enjoyed with various toppings such as condensed milk, peanuts, fruit shavings, and whatever else you can find.

For a more healthy and comforting snack, these steaming bowls of rice noodle soup are a great choice. The soup usually comes with either oysters, beef, or pork intestines, and some fresh scallions. Stalls will also have black vinegar and crushed chillies for added taste.

Every country will have their version of street-side hotdogs or sausages probably because you can’t go wrong with salty, fatty yet delicious processed meat. The Taiwanese Sausage does not scrimp on the umami taste, and comes in funkier options like the “Big Sausage Wrapped in Small Sausage”. It’s a must if you have the stomach for a sinful meal.

Book Ximending Hotels hereReady for your trip? Check out what to do in Taiwan for 3 days for more tips. Find Philippines to Taiwan flight deals at Traveloka now!]]>