Growing up in Taipei during the ’90s, Shilin Night Market wasn’t just a tourist hotspot – it was my playground. Back then, before the tourist buses and Instagram crowds, Shilin was pure, unfiltered Taiwanese food culture at its finest.
After two decades of eating my way through every alley and corner of this sprawling food paradise, I’ve witnessed its evolution from a local haunt to an international sensation. Some things have changed – new vendors have moved in, bringing fresh interpretations of street food classics. But what hasn’t changed is the soul of Shilin Night Market: that intoxicating mix of sizzling sounds, enticing aromas, and the warmth of vendors who still remember their regulars.
In this guide, I’m taking you through my personal picks of Shilin’s absolute best eats – from the legendary stalls that have been serving the same perfected recipes for generations to exciting newcomers who are breathing new life into traditional favorites. Consider this your insider’s roadmap to the very best of Shilin Night Market.
Restaurants
Not everyone wants to stand and juggle multiple street snacks while dodging crowds, and that’s perfectly fine – sometimes you just want to sit down and enjoy a proper meal in comfort. Luckily, Shilin Night Market isn’t just about street food stalls; it’s home to several beloved restaurants where you can take a breather, rest your feet, and savor some of Taipei’s most delicious dishes in a more relaxed setting. From decades-old noodle houses to popular lunch spots, here are my top picks for proper sit-down meals in Shilin.
Swordsman Bistro 大俠請留步
Source: Uber Eats, Swordsman Bistro FB Page
Swordsman Bistro is a cozy restaurant that blends Taiwanese flavors with Japanese izakaya style, all set in a space decorated with ancient Chinese elements. Their most famous dish is the Truffle Sesame Oil Chicken Rice ($220), where tender chicken meets the rich aroma of sesame oil and truffle, creating a unique twist on this Taiwanese comfort food.
The menu features plenty of drinking snacks like fried and braised dishes that go perfectly with their wide selection of Taiwanese beers and creative cocktails. The restaurant’s specialty chicken also comes in two flavors – spicy and tangy – and it’s so good you’ll want to order extra rice to soak up every last bit of sauce. It’s a great spot for both casual dinners and group gatherings, offering the comfort of a sit-down restaurant while maintaining the lively atmosphere that Shilin is known for.
Golden Fortune Crispy Roast Duck 金馥記脆皮烤鴨
Source: Uber Eats
Golden Fortune Crispy Roast Duck has been a famous name in Taipei’s food scene for over 30 years, opening its doors in 1993 and even winning the championship in a roast duck competition.
What makes their duck special is their secret marinade of 10-20 Chinese herbs and spices, followed by blanching and coating with natural malt sugar vinegar before being traditionally roasted over charcoal. A whole duck costs 830 NT$ while half a duck is 470 NT$, and each order comes complete with thin pancakes, sauce, sliced duck meat, and stir-fried duck bones. The skin is perfectly crispy while the meat stays tender and juicy, and it’s so popular that you’ll need to call ahead to reserve your duck if you want to avoid the long lines.
Villager Dim Sum Kitchen 村民食堂
Source: villager.com.tw, TVBS
Villager Dim Sum Kitchen is a popular all-you-can-eat restaurant bringing Hong Kong-style dim sum to Shilin, with a generous 120-minute dining window for each visit. They serve over 80 different freshly made dim sum dishes, from classic siu mai and custard buns to rice noodle rolls, all made to order so they arrive piping hot at your table.
Beyond traditional dim sum, they also offer Cantonese BBQ meats, stir-fried dishes, soups, and even fancy desserts like mango pomelo sago and Häagen-Dazs ice cream. While it’s pricier than typical dim sum places, the great service, high-quality ingredients and endless variety make it a great spot for dim sum lovers who want to try everything without worrying about the bill. You can find other high end all-you-can-eats in Taipei 101.
Dourakuyatai Ramen 道樂拉麵
Source: Dourakuyatai Ramen FB Page
Dourakuyatai Ramen stands out in Shilin Night Market with its nostalgic Japanese-style decor, complete with cute figurines and decorations that make it a popular spot for photos. The restaurant offers various ramen flavors and uses a self-service payment system, with the awesome perk of one free noodle refill per bowl.
Their star dish is the Deluxe Tonkotsu Ramen, featuring a rich broth that’s been simmered for hours, paired with thin straight noodles that perfectly soak up the soup. The chashu pork slices are tender with just the right amount of marbling. Another crowd favorite is their Clam and Chicken White Soup Ramen, which combines a creamy, flavorful broth with juicy chicken chashu and plump, fresh clams.
Gangster Stir Fry 流氓熱炒
Source: mecocute.com
Gangster Stir Fry is a legendary late-night spot in Shilin that doesn’t even open until 1 AM, after most of the night market stalls have closed down. What makes it truly unique is their “restaurant” setup – they simply put tables and chairs right on the main street, creating an impromptu outdoor dining space that’s always packed with people who start lining up even before they open.
Their most popular dish is the Beef Stir-fried Noodles, which comes with a slightly spicy sauce and perfectly cooked chewy noodles that show off the chef’s expert control of the wok. Another must-try dish that showcases their cooking skills is the Stir-fried Clams – big, juicy clams packed with that essential “wok hei” (breath of the wok) flavor that makes Taiwanese street food so special.
Also checkout 12 Best Beef Noodles in Taipei + Most Accessible
Shi Lai Yun Zhuan 食來運轉
Source: Uber Eats
Shi Lai Yun Zhuan is a hidden gem tucked away in an alley near Shilin Night Market, but nearly every student in the area knows about this incredible value lunch spot. Their most basic meal set starts at just 120 NT$, and here’s the amazing part – it comes with unlimited refills of their delicious braised pork rice!
Not only that, but they also offer unlimited refills of four different drinks including milk tea and green milk tea. The owner’s motto seems to be “we’re not afraid you’ll eat too much, we’re afraid you won’t eat enough,” which explains why they’ve earned over 3,000 reviews online. While it might be hidden in an alley, it’s always packed during meal times – a testament to their incredible value and tasty food.
Street Food
Let’s be honest – when people think of Shilin Night Market, they think of the sizzling street food stalls that fill the air with mouthwatering aromas and the excited chatter of hungry crowds. These humble food stands are the heart and soul of Shilin, where generations of vendors have perfected their signature dishes, from crispy chicken cutlets the size of your face to steaming hot oyster omelets that locals line up for even on rainy nights. While new Instagram-worthy treats pop up every year, it’s these time-tested street eats that have made Shilin famous around the world.
Hot Star Large Fried Chicken 豪大大雞排
Source: change0201.blogspot.com
Hot Star Large Fried Chicken is arguably Shilin Night Market’s most iconic street food – their signature chicken cutlets are bigger than your face and have inspired countless copycats across Asia. The secret to their enduring popularity lies in their perfectly seasoned coating and unique frying technique that keeps the chicken juicy on the inside while maintaining that signature crunch that you can hear from three stalls away.
While you can now find Hot Star branches worldwide, nothing beats getting one fresh from their original stall in Shilin, where the massive chicken cutlet comes piping hot in a paper bag, dusted with their special seasoning powder, and ready to be devoured while wandering through the market.
Dai Shanghai Pan-Fried Buns 大上海生煎包
Source: dsh-food.com.tw
Shanghai Pan-Fried Buns has been serving up juicy buns in Shilin for over 60 years, and their signature pork bun costs just 17 NT$ – an incredible deal that explains the constant line of customers at their stall. Their original pork and cabbage buns are made fresh on the spot, with six or more staff members working simultaneously and five large pans going at once during peak hours just to keep up with demand.
The secret to their amazing taste lies in the details: they use fresh pork leg meat for the perfect lean-to-fat ratio, season it with salt, sugar, and pepper, and mix it with pork bone broth that’s been simmered for 4 hours. When you bite into one of their crispy-bottomed buns, the juicy filling bursts with flavor – and now they even offer a new spicy version that’s becoming just as popular as the original.
Also check out What to Eat in Tamsui: 30 Best Street Food, Restaurants and Cafe!
Chung Chia Sheng Jian Bao 鍾家原上海生煎包
Source: Chung Chia Sheng Jian Bao FB Page
Originally part of the famous Shanghai Pan-Fried Buns operation, Zhong Family branched out to start their own stall, and many locals (including me) actually prefer their version – which has even caught the attention of Michelin inspectors (for five years in a row).
Their buns are special because they make their dough the old-fashioned way, using only flour and natural fermentation without any additives, kneading everything by hand rather than using machines, which gives each bun that perfect chewy texture and natural wheat aroma. If you’re in Shilin, try both famous bun shops and decide for yourself which one deserves the crown for the best pan-fried buns in the market!
Wellyen Hometown BBQ Chicken 家鄉碳烤雞排
Source: Hometown BBQ Chicken FB Page
Wellyen Hometown BBQ Chicken is a relative newcomer that has managed to challenge even the famous Hot Star’s dominance in Shilin’s chicken cutlet scene. What makes their chicken cutlets special is their two-step cooking process: they first deep fry the chicken, then finish it over charcoal, which adds an irresistible smoky flavor while reducing the oiliness that typically comes with fried chicken.
The final touch is a brush of their secret sauce made with Chinese herbs, creating a perfectly seasoned cutlet that’s proven so popular, you’ll find long lines at their stall every night – many locals say it’s worth the wait, and some even prefer it to the original Hot Star.
Good Friend Cold Noodles 好朋友涼麵
Source: Uber Eats
Good Friend Cold Noodles has earned their reputation in Shilin with over 600 online reviews and back-to-back Michelin Bib Gourmand recommendations in 2019 and 2020. What makes their cold noodles stand out is their unique combination of lemon and preserved mustard greens, along with a spicy sesame sauce that’s lighter and more refreshing than traditional versions. Unlike typical cold noodles that can be heavy with thick sesame paste, their special blend of sauces creates a clean, bright taste with just the right kick of heat – perfect for those hot Taipei nights when you’re craving something light but flavorful.
Also check out What to Eat at Maokong: 12 Best Tea Houses, Restaurants and Cafes
Hai You Pork Ribs 海友十全排骨
Source: yuann.tw
Hai You Pork Ribs has been comforting Shilin visitors for over 40 years with their signature soup that’s simmered with 15 different Chinese herbs. Their secret recipe, which includes red and black dates among other traditional medicinal ingredients, creates a rich, aromatic broth that’s gently sweet without the “heaty” effect that sometimes comes with herbal soups.
The pork ribs are tender and fall off the bone, while the well-balanced broth offers a perfect blend of savory and sweet notes with a pronounced herbal fragrance – it’s the kind of soul-warming dish that keeps locals coming back for “just one more bowl,” especially on chilly Taipei evenings.
Frying Milk 炸鮮奶
Source: Pop Daily, Frying Milk FB Page
Frying Milk is one of Shilin’s more unique treats that leaves first-timers wondering how it’s even possible to deep-fry liquid milk. Gained popularity in Kenting Night Market, Frying Milk’s secret lies in their precise blend of seven different premium imported cornstarch brands mixed with fresh milk to create the perfect consistency.
When these delicate rectangles hit the hot oil, they develop a light crispy coating while maintaining an incredibly soft, creamy center that quite literally melts in your mouth. It’s this contrast between the crispy exterior and the silky smooth interior that makes this traditional snack so special – imagine biting into something that’s both crunchy and impossibly creamy at the same time!
Grilled King Oyster Mushroom 燒烤杏鮑菇
Source: Grilled King Oyster Mushroom FB Page
This Grilled King Oyster Mushroom stall is one of Shilin’s must-try snacks that often has people waiting in line for over 30 minutes on weekends! They use fresh organic king oyster mushrooms and offer nine different flavors – the best part is you can choose two different flavors in one portion. Each mushroom is carefully brushed with sauce at least twice during grilling until the outer layer gets slightly charred and wrinkled, then cut into bite-sized pieces for easy eating.
The original pepper flavor paired with their fresh-squeezed organic lemon flavor is an unbeatable combination – the original gets a perfect dusting of black pepper, while the tanginess of fresh lemon juice brings out the mushroom’s natural sweetness. Even non-vegetarians line up for this addictively juicy and flavorful street snack!
SUPER Potato Tower 旋風馬鈴薯
Source: SUPER Potato Towe FB Page
SUPER Potato Tower is a newer addition to Shilin’s street food scene, but they’re quickly becoming a crowd favorite with their unique spiral-cut potatoes on a stick. Before frying, each potato is carefully spiral-cut and dipped in a special coating mixture, then you get to choose two different seasonings from their selection (though you can stick to one if you prefer!).
The magic happens when these tornados hit the hot oil – they come out with a perfectly crispy exterior while keeping the inside tender and potato-y. My favorite seasoning choices are classic salt, wasabi, and seaweed, and the best part is eating them fresh and piping hot when they’re at their crunchiest. Once you’ve tried these fresh-fried spiral potatoes, those bagged potato chips from the store just won’t hit the same spot!
Guan’s Sausage in Sausage 冠大腸包小腸
Source: Food Panda
Guan’s Sausage in Sausage combines two of Taiwan’s favorite street foods: traditional Taiwanese pork sausage wrapped in a crispy glutinous rice sausage casing. Their pork sausages have the perfect lean-to-fat ratio, while the rice sausage exterior offers a delightful contrast between the crispy outer layer and chewy rice interior.
They offer eight different flavors, with kimchi and their signature garlic-scallion being the most popular choices. What’s clever about their design is that each bite-sized piece is perfectly proportioned so you get an even distribution of flavors in every mouthful. They’ve even figured out a neat twist-and-squeeze serving method that keeps your hands clean while enjoying this messy-but-delicious street food favorite!
Shilin Stir-Fried Lamb 士林生炒羊肉
Source: Pop Daily, content.plus1today,tw
Shilin Stir-Fried Lamb specializes in just one dish – but they’ve perfected it to such a degree that they don’t need to serve anything else (though rice, radish soup, drinks, and beer come as sides). The star of the show is their lamb, which you can order with varying levels of spiciness from mild to extra hot.
What makes their lamb truly special is their secret sauce – it’s not your typical satay sauce, but rather a unique house-made blend that tastes like a sweet peanutty satay sauce that pairs perfectly with the tender lamb. The meat itself is incredibly tender and free from any gamey taste that sometimes puts people off lamb, and the rich sauce has just the right intensity to complement but not overpower the natural flavor of the meat.
Zhong Cheng Hao Oyster Omelet 忠誠號蚵仔煎
Source: Food Panda
Zhong Cheng Hao Oyster Omelet, known for their perfect balance of ingredients, serves up one of Shilin’s best versions of this classic Taiwanese street food. Their oyster omelet features a thin, crispy batter that reminds many of authentic Tainan-style preparation, generously loaded with fresh vegetables and plump oysters that bring that perfect briny flavor in every bite.
But the real star here might actually be their Stir-Fried Squid – thick slices of fresh squid that are perfectly chewy and tender, swimming in a richly flavored sauce that keeps customers coming back. Many locals consider the squid dish a must-order item that showcases the stall’s commitment to fresh seafood and expert wok skills. They also have one of the best braised pork rice in Taipei!
Auntie’s Salt Water Chicken 阿姨鹹水雞
Source: Auntie’s Salt Water Chicken Fb Page
Auntie’s Salt Water Chicken stands out in Shilin Market with their incredible selection of over 50 different ingredients to mix and match with your marinated chicken. What makes this stall special is their generous portions and Auntie’s habit of throwing in bonus ingredients – don’t be surprised if you find extra potato slices, edamame, dried tofu, or bamboo shoots that you didn’t even order in your bag.
Each bag comes packed full of your chosen ingredients soaked in their flavorful marinade, and locals love the value because of these surprise additions. It’s this kind of generosity, combined with consistently good flavoring, that keeps customers coming back to what many consider the market’s best salt water chicken stall.
Aye Hey’s Thin Noodles 阿輝麵線
Source: Aye Hey’s Thin Noodles Fb Page
Aye Hey’s Thin Noodles, another Michelin-recommended stall in Shilin, has mastered the art of cooking vermicelli to that perfect consistency – never mushy, but maintaining just the right amount of chewiness in their silky smooth noodles. Their signature bowl comes with a sweet, aromatic broth that’s satisfying without being too heavy, and while their traditional vermicelli is fantastic, don’t miss out on their other specialties.
Their Tung-An Rice Cake is generously portioned and elevated by their secret sauce, but the real hidden gem here is their fresh oyster platter – these aren’t your typical small oysters, but big, plump ones that are amazing when paired with their house-made garlic paste and thick soy sauce.
Drinks and Dessert
While Shilin Night Market is famous for its savory street foods, its drink and dessert scene is equally impressive, offering everything from traditional Taiwanese refreshments to modern Instagram-worthy creations. Here you’ll find decades-old bubble tea shops serving perfectly chewy pearls alongside innovative newcomers crafting naturally colored boba, plus an array of cooling treats like bubble ice, Taiwanese shaved ice, and traditional herbal teas that provide sweet relief from Taipei’s heat.
Wang Ji’s Frog Egg Drink 王記青蛙下蛋
Source: web.hocom.tw
Wang Ji’s “Frog Egg Drink” is a uniquely Taiwanese beverage that’s become a Shilin Night Market classic – don’t worry, no actual frogs are involved! The name comes from the appearance of the chewy tapioca pearls which, when combined with slippery aiyu jelly from Alishan in the drink, look like frog eggs floating in water. This refreshing drink operates with an old-school honor system where customers make their own change from coins left on the counter, a charming tradition that reflects the shop’s long history and trust in their customers.
Ka Nong San 咔儂桑
Source: Ka Nong San FB Page
Ka Nong San brings authentic Thai street snacks to Shilin Night Market, specializing in Thai-style imagawayaki คุณขนม (similar to Japanese dorayaki) and Thai milk tea. The owner, who spent three years in Thailand, recreates these beloved snacks exactly as they’re served on Bangkok’s streets, offering both sweet and savory flavors of the stuffed pancake-like treats. One of their popular items is the coconut sticky rice pancake, and locals especially love the savory versions filled with egg and hot dog – just like how they’re enjoyed in Thailand.
Deer’s Flower Cake 小鹿梅花糕
Source: Deer’s Flower Cake FB Page
Deer’s Flower Cake brought the viral Chinese social media sensation “mei hua gao” (plum blossom cake) to Taiwan, becoming the first shop to introduce these photogenic treats to the local market. Each cake is made to order and topped with a colorful array of ingredients like small tangyuan (rice balls), corn kernels, nuts, sesame seeds, and red dates, while the inside can be filled with your choice of red bean, taro, or black sesame paste. Despite being relatively new to Shilin Night Market, these beautiful 50NT cakes quickly became a sensation, with crowds so large they even made the local news!
Snow Flower Ice 花藏雪
Source: Snow Flower Ice FB Page
Snow Flower Ice offers a modern and spacious retreat from the bustling night market, serving up Instagram-worthy Taiwanese shaved ice desserts that are as beautiful as they are delicious.
Their signature Uji Matcha shaved ice comes with chewy mochi balls and perfectly cooked red beans, accompanied by condensed milk on the side that you can drizzle to your heart’s content. Beyond their regular menu items, they’re especially famous for their seasonal offerings like strawberry and mango shaved ice creations that have made them a hit with social media influencers and dessert lovers alike. The famous Ximending area has plenty of shops like this that attracts younger audiences.
Yi Li Paopao Ice 以利泡泡冰
Source: Uber Eats
Yi Li Paopao Ice specializes in a unique Taiwanese frozen dessert called “paopao ice” or “bubble ice” that originated from Keelung Night Market. Imagine a cross between shaved ice and ice cream, where finely shaved ice is vigorously mixed with various flavors until it reaches a uniquely fluffy, creamy texture.
At their stall, you can still watch the staff using traditional large wooden pestles to pound and mix the ice, a crucial step that creates their signature bouncy texture. With ten different flavors to choose from (including their famous peanut flavor that tastes naturally nutty without being overly sweet) and the option to mix two flavors in one bowl, each generously-sized serving offers the perfect balance of sweetness and refreshment.
Wang Ji Herbal Tea 王記青草茶
Source: ifoodie.tw, mibaoma.tw
Wang Ji Herbal Tea, a 50-year-old establishment in Shilin Night Market, specializes in traditional Chinese herbal tea (青草茶, qing cao cha) – a cooling beverage made from a blend of local medicinal herbs and grass jelly. Their signature drink can be ordered unsweetened or lightly sweetened, making it a refreshing and healthier alternative to sugary bubble teas. This traditional herbal drink is believed to help “clear heat” from the body according to Chinese medicine principles, and Wang Ji’s version has kept locals and tourists coming back for half a century.
Not far from Shilin Night Market is the wonderful Beitou area with great hot springs and amazing traditional foods, as well as Yangmingshan’s scenic hiking trails and aboriginal dishes.
Chill Out Moment 頃刻間
Source: carture.com.tw
Chill Out Moment offers a delightful blend of nostalgia and refreshment at Shilin Night Market, featuring a unique combination of a bubble tea shop and retro gaming arcade. Their signature item is a creamy mung bean milk drink, made the traditional way, but they also serve up other classic flavors like taro milk and brown sugar pearl milk tea. The shop’s playful decor features adorable mung bean mascots and vintage gaming characters on the walls, making it a popular hangout spot where even local firefighters from across the street stop by daily for their beverage fix.
Then Espresso 藍儂說
Source: Then Espresso FB Page
Then Espresso is a cozy takeaway coffee shop in Taipei that serves up artisanal espresso drinks with just a few seats out front for those who want to linger. Their signature brown sugar latte comes with a generous dusting of brown sugar powder on top, creating a uniquely dramatic presentation that looks almost like fluffy pork floss. Beyond their excellent coffee drinks, which rotate between two house blends (a bold “Blues” and a lighter “Jazz” roast), they also offer a range of non-coffee options like fresh milk tea and matcha lattes for those seeking alternatives.
If you love authentic coffee shops like this, you will love the creative coffee and tea houses in Dadaocheng.
Milk Tea Mama 奶茶媽媽
Source: Uber Eats
Milk Tea Mama has been serving their legendary bubble tea in Taipei for over 40 years, making them one of the most beloved drink stands in the area. Their signature pearl milk tea is made with a special blend using real milk rather than non-dairy creamer, creating what many locals consider the perfect balance of flavors. For something more refreshing, their salted lemon drinks offer a unique sweet-sour-salty combination that keeps customers coming back, along with their classic grass jelly desserts.
Tea 21 魚池貳壹
Source: Tea 21 FB Page
Tea 21 brings an artisanal twist to Taiwan’s famous bubble tea by pairing premium Sun Moon Lake black tea with their signature naturally colored tapioca pearls. Located in Shilin Night Market, they use high-quality tea from Yuchi Township, an area renowned for its perfect tea-growing conditions at 800 meters elevation. Their signature drinks feature innovative pearls in flavors like mango, matcha, and brown sugar, while maintaining the authentic taste of their premium black tea (particularly their No. 18 and No. 21 varieties) without any artificial additives.
Shilin Night Market is an amazing place where you can try both old and new Taiwanese food. You’ll find famous shops that have been cooking the same tasty dishes for over 50 years, right next to cool new places bringing trendy foods and drinks to Taiwan. Whether you want to try classic night market foods like fried chicken and oyster omelets, or take photos of pretty desserts for social media, Shilin has something for everyone. It’s a place where Taiwan’s food traditions live on while welcoming fresh and exciting ideas – making it a must-visit spot for anyone who loves good food!
Love our food posts? we have more in our Local’s Food Guide Series. Like one near Longshan Temple and one near Chiang Kai-shek Memorial hall. Eat and visit attractions at the same time with our best recommendations!
