Taipei Street Food Guide

Growing up, I had a bucket list filled with things I wanted to do in my lifetime. As a little girl, my dreams were never about being rich or famous, or even finding love. Instead, they all centered around one thing: traveling the world. Maybe it was the result of spending my childhood in the middle of nowhere, but seeing the world was all I really wanted to do. One of these dreams was simple: "drink boba in Taiwan." A couple of years ago, I finally did, and as silly as that goal might sound, it meant everything to the childhood version of me to be able to see it through. I'm still in awe every time I get to experience a new part of the world, and food is one of my favorite ways to do that. Through traditions, flavors and the ritual of sharing a meal, you get to understand a culture in a way that nothing else quite allows. The opportunity to be able to do that and share it as part of my job is something I'll never take for granted.

What I love about Taipei's street food is that every dish tells a story. Among the lively night markets and humble Michelin Guide-recommended stalls are vendors that have been perfecting their dishes for decades and recipes that have been passed down for generations.

If you're visiting for the first time and looking for the best street food in Taipei, here are some spots that brought my childhood dream full circle, and I hope they do the same for you.

1. Fresh scallion pancakes for breakfast (旭達豆漿店)

There's nothing better than waking up to fresh scallion pancakes and this local breakfast shop makes them from scratch. The dough is layered with fragrant scallions, rolled out to create chewy, airy layers on the inside, then pan-fried until they're golden, crispy and flaky on the outside. Each pancake is wrapped around a soft, savory egg, creating a simple yet deeply satisfying Taiwanese breakfast.

2. Pan-fried pork buns or sheng jian bao (宁波生煎包)

If you can't decide between soup dumplings or pan-fried dumplings, sheng jian bao are the best of both worlds. These Shanghai-style buns are pan-fried and steamed in the same pan, resulting in a unique contrast in texture - soft and fluffy on top, crispy and golden on the bottom. Inside, they're filled with juicy, flavorful pork and savory broth.

3. Coffee by the World Barista Champion (Simple Kaffa)

Simple Kaffa was founded by 2016 World Barista Champion Berg Wu, so you can expect some of the best coffee in Taipei. I always order their Taiwanese tea-infused latte, a blend of locally sourced tea, espresso and steamed milk. The floral fragrance of the tea pairs beautifully with the deep, roasted notes of the coffee, creating a balanced and aromatic drink.

4. For the music lovers (Sounds Good Cafe)

There's no better way to spend an afternoon than sitting in a retro coffee shop, sipping a brown sugar latte and listening to a vinyl record from front to back. Sounds Good Cafe offers just that. The dim, intimate atmosphere invites guests to slow down, browse through the curated music collection and even make music requests. The theme carries through to every detail - even the menu is on a mini record.

5. Specialty lattes and retro vibes (Coffee Dumbo)

Taipei's coffee scene feels so refreshing and Coffee Dumbo is a great example of why. This retro-inspired café pairs a playful, nostalgic interior with inventive drinks. They're known for their quality beans, which shine through in both their orange Americano and brown sugar latte.

6. The night market for foodies (Raohe Night Market)

You can't go to Taipei without eating your way through the night markets. Here are some of my favorite foods to try at Raohe Night Market, which features five Michelin-recommended street food stalls. Right at the entrance, you'll see Fuzhou Black Pepper Buns, which are legendary. These buns are filled with black pepper pork and spring onions and then baked on the sides of a barrel-like oven. They're golden and crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

7. Desserts that are not too sweet (Raohe Night Market)

One of the most popular desserts at the night market is tanghulu, fresh strawberries coated in a sugar shell that's crackly on the outside and warm on the inside. To wash it all down, pick up an aiyu jelly drink. Taiwan is the only place in the world that produces aiyu jelly, which is made from the seeds of the creeping fig. The delicate jelly is typically combined with lemon and honey, creating a light and refreshing drink to balance out the street food.

8. The birthplace of boba (Xing Fu Tang)

Bubble tea was invented in Taiwan so I had to check off my childhood bucket list item by trying it here. At Xing Fu Tang, you can watch the boba being handrolled before it's added to the milk tea, which is then torched with brown sugar. The tapioca pearls are incredibly chewy and you can definitely taste how fresh they are.

9. Affordable Michelin Bib Gourmand (Wang's Broth)

Wang's Broth is Michelin-recommended for their lu rou fan, or braised pork over rice. It's made with fatty, tender pork and coated in a rich, savory sauce that melts in your mouth. It pairs perfectly with the rice and is the ultimate comfort food.

10. Take a day trip to Jiufen (A-Zhu Peanut Ice Cream Roll)

One hour away from Taipei lies Jiufen, a town straight out of Miyazaki's Spirited Away with traditional tea houses, narrow streets and glowing red lanterns. While you're there, stop by A-Zhu Peanut Ice Cream Roll for a unique dessert that combines coconut ice cream, shaved peanut brittle and cilantro, all wrapped in a thin popiah crepe. The combination might sound strange, but it's a surprisingly delightful combination of sweet, herbal and nutty flavors that reminds me why I love street food.

11. Try different styles of dumplings (京鼎小館)

We stopped by this local favorite for xiao long bao, which are soup dumplings filled with pork and broth, and steamed in a bamboo basket. This spot had a lot of variations to choose from, including oolong-infused soup dumplings, mini soup dumplings and even a dessert dumpling filled with red bean paste and wrapped in a thin, chewy skin. This was so satisfying and the perfect meal on a chilly day.

12. The restaurant that popularized xiao long bao (Din Tai Fung)

If you love soup dumplings, you've likely heard of Din Tai Fung. Founded in 1972, this restaurant has since expanded globally to 165 locations in 13 countries around the world. However, there's something special about visiting the restaurant where it all started. Here, you can see the chefs carefully folding each delicate soup dumpling by hand.

13. Beef noodle soup (Xi Shu Zhuan Beef Noodle Restaurant)

You can't leave Taipei without trying beef noodle soup. You'll find it in every corner of the city, but this spot stood out for serving generous portions with tender beef, springy, hand-pulled noodles and a rich, aromatic broth. It's hearty, comforting and a staple of Taiwanese cuisine.

For more everyday videos and clips from my trip to Taipei, check out my Instagram Story Highlights.