Ningxia Night Market | Top 18 Foods + Drinks (2024)
So you want to take a trip down Ningxia Night Market lane – well good news, I’ve got everything you need to know so you come well-prepped and ready to feast on the best 18 foods and drinks. Let’s dig in.
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Interest in the Ningxia Night Market (pronounced ‘ning- sha’) has grown quite a bit among tourists in recent years. It’s a favorite among locals and with a feature in a Netflix series, it’s popularity has boomed.
When I first moved to Taipei, my apartment was about a ten minute walk away, so I came here frequently with my Taiwanese and foreigner friends. Although it’s on the smaller end, it packs a punch – you will not be leaving hungry or dissatisfied.
From Michelin star food stands to local hidden gems, here is the ultimate guide to everything Ningxia Night Market.
Ningxia Night Market Tips & Tricks
Before we get into all the yummy options, there are a few things to know before going to the Ningxia Night Market (or any other night market in Taipei for that matter).
1. Cash is King
While some food stands in Taiwan do accept mobile payment (typically with Line), most don’t have card machines so your best bet is to come prepared with small bills and coins.
Specifically for Taiwan, a $500 bill is okay, but $100 bills and the 50¢ and 10¢ coins are best. The average price for food and drinks at a night market can be anywhere from 25-120 NTD (0.75¢ – $4 USD).
2. No Haggling Here
In other countries around the world, like Thailand, the price is nearly always negotiable. However, in Taiwan the price is set and typically placed on the stall somewhere itself.
Taiwanese people are usually very kind to foreigners and don’t rip you off (not everyone though – I’m looking at you, taxi drivers).
3. Don’t Worry (too much) about Theft
If you haven’t already read or heard about it, Taiwan is a very safe country for foreigners. Like mentioned above, Taiwanese people are very kind to tourists.
So, when you’re walking through the night market you don’t need to be worried about someone trying to steal your purse.
However, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your belongings (unlike me when I accidentally left my purse on a table at a night market in Tainan – S/O to the Taiwanese woman who saw me and proceed to run after me with my purse in hand).
4. Learn (super) Basic Mandarin
Taiwanese people are always happy to hear a foreigner trying to speak to them in Mandarin and learning a little bit of the language can go a long way, especially at the night market! Here are the absolute basics:
Hello → Ni hao (pronounced ‘knee – how’)
Thank you → Xiexie (pronounced ‘shay – shay’)
This → Zhege (pronounced ‘jig – guh’)*
No thank you → Buyong xiexie (pronounced ‘boo – yung’ , ‘shay – shay’)**
*point to what you want to eat/drink and say zhege, they will understand you want one of whatever it is
**can be used when they offer you/ask if you want a bag
5. Best Day & Time to Go
The Ningxia Night Market is open Monday to Sunday from 5pm to 1am, but not all the stalls are open 7 days a week.
Most Michelin star food stands are closed on a weekday or two. If your main goal is to eat from these stands, the best time to go is Friday-Sunday because all stands are open during these three days.
It will be crowded any day of the week, but more so Friday-Sunday, so if you want to avoid major crowds then it’s best to go on a weeknight.
In my opinion, part of the fun is getting the full experience which means embracing the crowds. But I get it if you’re like nah girl, going on a weekday. You do you!
6. Best Way to Tackle Night Market Food
There is so much food to try, it can be difficult to do it on your own (but not impossible). If traveling solo, I highly recommend making a friend (or five) at your hostel and going together so everyone can share all the delicious food.
How to Get There
The nearest MRT station is Shuanglian station on the red line. Take Exit 1 and hang left upon coming out, walk straight for about 10 minutes and you’ll walk right up to the entrance of the Ningxia Night Market.
There are also plenty of bus stations and YouBike stations nearby if you choose to come that route.
Top Ningxia Night Market Food + Drinks
1. Er Dai Goose
I have yet to find this food stall on any guides online and I’m floored by it. My Taiwanese friends (S/O Victor and Kevin) introduced me to this food stand and I continued to come back for their goose soup for the next four years.
They serve all things goose and I promise it will blow your mind. Order the goose soup with noodles. It’s simple, but scrumptious – especially in winter time! You have a choice of different kinds of noodles, I’ve chosen regular noodles and bean noodles and both tasted great!
Cost: $40-100 NTD/dish
2. Fried Squid (爆漿脆皮魷魚)
Here you will see some of the largest squid in your life – maybe that’s an exaggeration but still, they’re huge! You can order different flavors such as pepper, lemon, garlic, etc. They will cook the squid and then slice it for you so it’s easy to eat. I recommend ordering it with cucumber to help balance the flavor.
Cost: $130 – $150
3. Oyster Omelette
This is a very authentic Taiwanese dish you can’t miss. It’s the main dish that the Ningxia Night Market is known for. And for this guy, you get options.
The first is the one you have probably seen on all the guides (and maybe on Netflix) – Yuen Huan Pien Oyster Egg Omelette. It won a Michelin Star from 2018 to 2021.
The second is Lai Ji Oyster Omelette. This one didn’t win a Michelin Star, however every time I passed by it, there would be a long line filled with Taiwanese people.
They are pretty particular when it comes to food, so if you see a line of locals that usually means it must be good.
I, ironically, have been to neither of these places. Why? I had the oyster omelette quite a bit with Taiwanese friends the first year I lived here so for me, that was enough. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad! I just had a ton of other foods I wanted to eat at the Ningxia Night Market, so I unfortunately never made it to these restaurants.
However, it’s an absolute must-try when visiting Taiwan and especially at the Ningxia Night Market!
Cost: $85 NTD
4. Skewers
Stall number 31: the direct translation is Fire BBQ Invincible Big Meat Skewers. They offer lamb, beef, chicken thigh, chicken ass (their words, not mine), chicken skin, chicken heart, pork, and pig intestines.
I recommend the beef, chicken heart, and chicken skin. You bet I tried the chicken booty, but the texture is a little too hard for my liking.
There will be more skewer stands and the options are truly endless. I never really knew what I was ordering unless I was with a Taiwanese friend.
This is where the word zhege comes in handy (check out #4 under tips & tricks if you don’t know what I’m talking about), point to whichever ones you want to try and say, “zhege.” They’ll cook them for you and viola! Yummy skewer in hand.
Cost: 1 skewer $70 NTD, 2 skewers $120 NTD
5. Yue Shi Scallion Pancake
You can never go wrong with a scallion pancake, it’s nearly impossible not to like. At Yue Shi, they cook up a scallion pancake with eggs and (you guessed it) scallions.
They have options for regular, spicy, salty egg, barbeque, and more.
They also serve a Full Moon Shrimp Patty. I’ve never tried it, but if it’s your first time in Asia or Taiwan then I recommend it – it’s a special flavor to Asia.
Cost: $55 – $85 NTD
6. Lin Zhen Zhao Mochi
This dessert stand is *chef’s kiss* in my opinion. While they offer different kinds of classic Taiwanese desserts, the most popular is their mochi.
There are two ways you can order it, the first is the traditional way. It’s freshly made, warm mochi with a peanut and sesame powder on the side.
The non-traditional way is to have it over soft, shaved ice with the peanut and sesame powder.
I personally prefer the traditional way in the winter and the non-traditional way in the summer. But obviously, they’re both delicious any time of the year.
Cost: $50 – $150 NTD/dish
7. Rong’s Pork Liver
This past Michelin Star food stand is a fan favorite offering pork liver soup, pork tripe (stomach) soup, taro cake, and a rice dumpling.
I recommend ordering all of them (you can order Pork Liver and Tripe Soup in one soup) for the full, authentic experience.
If you’re feeling a little uneasy about trying liver or stomach, I promise it doesn’t taste bad at all.
For me, it’s usually the texture that I don’t love, but the taste is good.
Also, there is seating behind the stand so you don’t need to walk around with soup.
Cost: $50 – $70 NTD/dish
8. BBQ Corn
Oh yeah baby. You’ll see these in nearly every night market around Taiwan.
They love their corn and they offer good-ol regular corn on the cob but also different sauces/flavors.
It’s simple, but so good.
Cost: $80 NTD
9. 大腸包小腸 (Taiwanese Sausage & Sticky Rice)
This is one of my favorite dishes at the night markets in Taiwan!
Instead of a hotdog bun, it’s rice that wraps the Taiwanese sausage. The sausage is sweet rather than savory and they add garlic, cilantro, and pickled veggies on top.
It’s sooo good, you have to order it! Small heads up: it’s sometimes called “small intestine in large intestine” but have no fear, it’s just sausage and rice.
Cost: $65 NTD
10. Liu Yu Zi
When people think about the Ningxia Night Market, they often picture this stall in their mind.
Another past Michelin Star food stand offering two kinds of fried taro balls; one is regular and the other has egg yolk with floss in it.
This floss is not what you’re thinking, it’s their word for dried meat/fish flakes. It’s quite popular to have on top of dishes and within pastries in Taiwan.
The minimum order is two balls and they are dense, so I recommend splitting them with a friend or two!
Cost: $25 – $35 NTD/taro ball
11. Fang Jia Chicken Rice (方家雞肉飯)
Equally as delicious as it’s Braised Pork Rice cousin, Chicken Rice is a famous dish from a city called Chiayi (pronounced jia – ee) and outside of Chiayi it’s hard to come by.
Luckily, this Michelin Star stall has got it and plenty of other options to order as well.
I recommend ordering the chicken rice, braised tofu, and the green onion omelette.
Cost: $35 – $55 NTD/dish
12. Peanut Ice Cream Roll
I cannot recommend this dessert enough, it’s my absolute FAVORITE.
The first time I tried it, I was a little unsure of how the flavors would go together, but the second it hit my taste buds I was absolutely flabbergasted.
I never would have imagined candied peanuts, taro ice cream, and cilantro in a tortilla-type thing to taste SO good, but it does.
It’s perfection and you must try it.
Cost: $50 NTD
13. Lin Ji Spicy Stinky Tofu
You will smell it before you see it, the one and only, stinky tofu. Lin Ji Spicy Stinky Tofu offers more than just stinky tofu and it’s all authentic Taiwanese cuisine, so if you fancy more to eat or are curious about the other dishes – order them!
First timer’s trying stinky tofu – go for the fried stinky tofu. If you’d like a little more adventure in your life, try the stinky tofu soup!
Cost: $50 – $90 NTD/dish
14. Sweet Potato Balls
Also called QQ balls, you’ll see them in every night market and I would get them nearly every time I went.
You just can’t go wrong with these bad boys! They are crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside.
They also offer various powdered toppings to put on them such as plum, seaweed, chocolate, matcha, or brown sugar. Highly recommend!
Cost: $35 – $50
15. Candied Strawberries + Tomatoes
You will see these not only at night markets, but also on the streets, in tourist-y areas, etc.
It is strawberries, tomatoes, and occasionally other fruit lined up on a skewer which is then dipped in boiled sugar that hardens.
If you have a sweet tooth like me, you can’t go wrong with these either. I tried the tomatoes once which I thought was nice if you want something that’s not insanely sweet.
However, my personal opinion is to go with the strawberries.
Cost: $35 – $55/skewer
16. Tong Nain Papaya Milk
Everyone who likes papaya, absolutely LOVES this stand – so definitely come here if you’re into papaya.
It’s fresh papaya blended with milk and usually sugar syrup. If you’re not a fan of papaya like me, you’re in luck!
They serve many other kinds of smoothies. The one that surprised me the most was the avocado milk, it was delicious!
They also offer banana, mango, watermelon, and ovaltine (chocolate) milk.
Cost: $60 – $100 NTD/drink
17. Lian Beverage Shop
Right at the entrance, it’s booth number 001. If you want to cool off with a delicious, fresh drink – look no further.
They have variations of lemon, sugarcane, yakult, and star fruit juices and milk.
It’s one of the most highly rated juice stands and they offer small – large size cups so you can get multiple, if you want to try more than one flavor!
Cost: $20 – $50/drink
18. Bingzan
This shop is technically not in the night market, but it’s only an 8 minute walk away and you don’t want to miss it.
When I first moved to Taiwan, one of my Taiwanese friends brought me here and after four years of eating my way through Taipei, it still reigns as the number one spot for Mango Sweet Ice.
Mango Sweet Ice is an unbelievably tasty dessert that I can’t believe is not globally known yet. It’s a very soft, shaved ice (not like the kind you get in the US at all) that is sweet with freshly sliced mango topped with condensed milk. Oof.
It’s unbeatable. I cannot recommend this shop enough – it’s open mid April to end of October (fresh mangoes only). So if you come in the winter/spring time you’re out of luck.
However, I’m not heartless so if you still want to try it a close second would be Smoothie House near the Dongman MRT Station.
I hope this guide makes you feel 100% prepped and ready to stuff your face at the Ningxia Night Market.
Have you been there and tried all the delicious options? Are there others you would add to the list? Let me know which ones were your favorites in the comments below!
happy trails ♥
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