For those who have been to Taipei before and took a stroll in various night markets around the city, there’s no surprise when Taipei appeared in the top 10 list for food and snacks. Pretty sure, Internet media giant, CNNGO agrees too, by listing Taipei as one of the top 10 cities in Asia for street food along with Thailand’s Bangkok, Japan’s Fukuoka, Vietnam’s Hanoi and Seoul in Korea. Here’s the top 10, most popular street food in Taipei.

1. Shen Jian Bao – pork dumplings being cooked in oiled, shallow pans with crispy bottom and juicy pork mince inside topped with toasted sesame seeds.
2. Chou Doufu (Fermented To-fu) – Also known as “Smelly tofu or Stinky tofu”, one of the most seen Taiwanese snack around Taiwan. The distinctive aroma and delicious taste attracts locals and tourists from miles away. Usually served deep-fried or grilled with pickled vegetables.
3. Oa Misua – Also known as Oyster wheat-flour noodles, served as a soup style snack, usually topped with minced garlic, chili and a splash of vinegar.
4. Gua Bao – Also known as “Taiwanese burger” or “Pork belly bun”. Served in a steamed bun with braised pork belly in between, along with cilantro, pickled greens and pulverized peanuts.
5. Hujiao Bing – Translated as “Pepper Pies”, cooked in a clay oven, the meaty snack is topped with sesame seeds and filled with minced pork or beef, green onions and plenty of black pepper.
6. Niu rou mian – Also known as “beef noodles”, one of the most popular and well-known dish in Taiwan. Spicy beef soup with hand-made noodles becomes a perfect combination. Served in chopped ginger and garlic, chili and pickled greens.
7. Dou hua – A dessert made with tofu, often served with sweet tapioca pearls as seen in the famous “Pearl milk tea” and sugar syrup.
8. Ba wan – Also known as “Taiwanese Meat Ball”, actually more like dumplings with glutinous outside, filled with bamboo shoots, mushrooms and pork. The chewy meat ball usually served with a sweet and spicy sauce and cilantro.
9. Tsong you bing – Originally from China, also known as “Scallion pancake”. Visitors may find different ingredients in the pancake throughout different parts of Taiwan. Some are thicker, some with stuffed meat and vegetarian versions as well.
10. Da chang bao xiao chang – This is to be seen in every night market in Taipei, originally translates as “big sausage wrapped small sausage”. Often served similar to a hot dog, as the “big sausage” stuffed with sticky rice acts as the bun, split open for the “small sausage” to fit in between, topped with garlic, chili and basil. Visitors may see tens of different flavored including butter, satay and black pepper.

These top 10, most popular Taiwanese snacks can be easily found in night markets around Taiwan, At Sinotour.com, we have a dedicated a whole section of night markets around Taiwan for your convenience (Sinotour.com Taiwan Night Markets), you may find information on night markets including Shilin night market, Keelung Miao kou night market, Raohe Street night market and Fengjia night market.