Besides seeing historical temples, contemporary art centres and outdoor art installations, you must also visit one of the many Kaohsiung night markets.
And there are many! If you have limited time in Kaohsiung, I highly recommend visiting these five night markets (in the order I listed) for their accessibility, variety of food, and atmosphere. After all, a trip to Taiwan wouldn’t be the same without trying the food at a local night market!
In this post, I highlighted all the famous food stalls and must-try food at each of these night markets. Keep reading and find out what to eat and where to find delicious night market foods in Kaohsiung.
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Kaohsiung Night Market: what you need to know
Before you travel to Kaohsiung, take a look at my post on everything you need to know before going to Taiwan. I included a lot of travel information, including how to get around Taiwan, how to get a SIM card and other travel tips. Also, you can learn more about the city and all the wonderful things to do in Kaohsiung City before you start planning your itinerary.
Here are a few additional tips for eating at a Kaohsiung night market:
- Night market vendors only accept cash.
- Some food vendors have a sitting area. Otherwise, almost all night market foods are for take-away only.
- Check the hours of operation. Some vendors close on a certain day, and others are open every day.
- Look for the longest queues. Usually it means the food is good and is worth waiting for.
- Don’t be afraid of the language barrier! If there is something you want to try, go for it! Taiwanese people are very helpful and friendly.
- Note: some of these restaurants do not have an English name. I described it as much as possible and included the Chinese name of the restaurant.
Best Night Markets in Kaohsiung: Summary
There are numerous night markets in Kaohsiung, but the night markets I am highlighting in this post are all very unique in their own right and are worth visiting. Plus, the variety of Taiwanese food is some of the best I’ve seen throughout my travels in Taiwan.
Click on the link below and it will take you directly to the specific section.
So without further ado, here are my top 5 favourite Kaohsiung Night Markets:
- Ruifeng Night Market 瑞豐夜市
- Liuhe Night Market 六合觀光夜市
- Ziquang Night Market 自強夜市 or Linya Night Market 苓雅市場
- Yanchengpu (Pier 2) Night Market 鹽埕埔(駁二)小夜市
- Guanghua Night Market 光華觀光夜市
5 Kaohsiung Night Markets + What to Eat
1. Ruifeng Night Market
Ruifeng Night Market 瑞豐夜市, or Rueifong Night Market, is the largest, busiest and best night market in Kaohsiung. The large outdoor market takes up the entire northwest corner of Yucheng Rd and Nanping Rd and has been around for over 20 years.
The market is arranged in a grid, with aisles running parallel to one another. However, some aisles might feel a bit cramped, especially during the weekend crowds, as there are over 300 food stalls serving Taiwanese snacks and Western food. Some food vendors even have dining areas for food like noodle soup and hotpot.
Besides food, Ruifeng Market has a toys-and-games area like the ones you would find at a carnival. Games like ring toss, shooting balloons, and so many more. And you do a bit of shopping; there are many vendors selling all types of knick-knacks.
Address: 804 Yucheng Road, Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City | Hours: 5pm-12am; closed Mondays & Wednesdays
How to get to Ruifeng Night Market: take MRT to Kaohsiung Arena Station (R14) and take Exit 1 and walk 3 minutes west on Yucheng Rd.
What to eat at Ruifeng Night Market
As mentioned, there are over 300 stalls at Ruifeng. The majority of them are on the east side of the market, and some vendors with seating are on the west side. As a solo traveller, I’m more drawn to the standalone food stalls where I can try a few things. Here are some yummy foods I found at Ruifeng:
- Angel Fried Chicken 天使雞排 (3pm-12am) – always a long queue for their large fried chicken steak.
- Lee Chi Green Onion 李記蔥抓餅 (6pm-1:30am) – try one of their fluffy scallion pancakes. I had the egg and cheese, and it was delicious!
- Bayi Penang Char Kway Teow 峇邑檳城炒粿條 (6pm-12am; closed Sundays) – probably the best food stall in Ruifeng. The Malaysian fried noodle has the best “wok hei” (smoky flavours from the wok)
- Gao Yue Thai Moon Shrimp Cakes 高月傳說泰式月亮蝦餅 (6-11pm) – not Taiwanese food, but I couldn’t resist fried shrimp cakes.
- Okinawa Crispy Fried Giant Squid 沖繩酥炸大魷魚 (6pm-12am) – get a number and ask for a small or large order of fried squid
- Milk Tea 鑫川鴛鴦奶茶 (6pm-12am) – always a long queue for this milk tea stall located at the southeast corner of the night market
2. Liuhe Night Market
Liuhe Night Market 六合觀光夜市, or Liuhe Tourist Night Market, is a centrally located night market popular with tourists. During the day, Liuhe 2nd Rd is a functioning road, but at night it is blocked off and becomes a pedestrian-friendly night market.
Liuhe market dates back to the 1940s, making it one of the oldest night markets in Kaohsiung. Today, there are over 130 food stalls lining both sides of the street. Most are standalone food stalls, while some have some seating around the food cart.
Even though the prices tend to be higher (but still cheap), the open-air market is worth visiting. Plus, the area has many excellent accommodations, making visiting the night market even more accessible.
Address: Liuhe 2nd Road (between Zili 2nd Rd and Zhongshan 1st Rd), Xinxing District, Kaohsiung City | Hours: 4:30pm-2am
How to get to Liuhe Night Market: take MRT to Formosa Boulevard Station (R10) and take Exit 11 and you will arrive at the east end of the night market.
Famous food at Liuhe Night Market
I really like the selection of food at Liuhe Night Market. And because the market is blocked-off, i.e. no scooters and cars driving by, I feel more at ease. Here are some food stalls that are worth visiting:
- Seafood Porridge 六合夜市海產粥 (5pm-1am Sunday to Friday; 7pm-1am Saturdays) – try seafood porridge, stir fry clams and other seafood
- Taiwanese Hotdog 盛奕大腸包小腸 (6pm-1am; closed Tuesdays) – the bun is actually made with glutinous (sticky) rice
- Fried Fish Thick Soup 土魠魚羹 (6:30pm-12am) – choose the fish soup with or without noodles
- Meatballs 楊家肉圓 (6:30pm-1am; closed Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays) – the steamed meatballs and meatball soup are both very popular
- Barbecue skewers 烤肉之家 (5pm-1:30am) – pick the skewers and the chef will grill them for you
- Papaya Milk 鄭老牌木瓜牛奶 (5pm-1am) – has been around since 1965. They make fresh fruit juices, but papaya milk is the most popular choice
3. Ziquang Night Market or Linya Night Market
Ziquang Night Market 自強夜市, sometimes called Linya Night Market 苓雅市場 (because it’s on Linya 2nd Road), is a small, super-popular night market with locals. Food carts line most of Linya 2nd Rd, and part of Ziqiang 3rd Rd is also covered.
Many local restaurants and food stalls open during the day too. But becareful when you walk around Ziquang market. The road is not blocked off so pedestrians and motorcycles share the same road. It can get a bit chaotic but the food is excellent and is cheaper than other night markets.
Address: Lingya 2nd Rd (between Chenggong 1st Rd and Wenwu 3rd St), Lingya District, Kaohsiung City | Hours: 5pm-1am
How to get to Ziquang Night Market: take MRT to Sanduo Shopping District Station (R8) and take Exit 7, and walk 12 minutes (north on Zhongshan 2nd Rd, turn left on Lingya 2nd Rd)
What to eat at Ziquang Night Market
Most people going to Ziquang go straight to the braised pork rice stall or Chinese white sugar cake food cart. But there are other things to eat too.
- Braised Pork Rice 御魯發 南豐魯肉飯 (9am-11:30pm; closed Wednesdays) – the longest queue at the market. Get braised pork with rice, minced pork rice and meatball soup to go or dine in
- Fried Pork Rice 大山排骨飯 (10:30am-8pm) – locals love the large fried pork rice
- Vegetarian Restaurant 自強夜市養生素食 (5-10:30pm Mondays & Tuesdays; 5-10:30pm Wednesdays, Fridays to Sundays; closed Thursdays) – many vegetables to choose from. A busy spot with locals
- Chef Shao’s Soup Dumplings 邵師傅創意湯包 (11am-7:30pm; closed Saturdays & Sundays) – the little shop has many types of soup dumplings. I tried the pan-fried classic dumpling – wow, it was so tasty, and the skin is super thin!
- Zhen Xiang Ming Tea 蓁香茗茶 (8am-9pm) – I found this tea stall on Instagram. Wasn’t sure at first, but decided to try. One of the best bubble teas I’ve ever had!
- Chinese white sugar cake 老牌白糖粿 (2:30-8:20pm) – the most popular standalone food stall, and they sell only one thing: fried dough made with rice flour and sugar. It tastes mildly sweet and has a mochi texture. If there is only one thing you want to try at Ziquang Market, this is it!
4. Yanchengpu (Pier 2) Night Market
Yanchengpu (Pier 2) Night Market 鹽埕埔(駁二)小夜市 is a small night market located on Jianguo 4th Rd, between Gongyuan 2nd Rd and Jianguo 4th Rd, in Yancheng District. The market is pedestrian-friendly as the area is blocked off, so cars and scooters cannot drive through.
However, the market only opens on Saturdays, but the food selection at the night market is quite good. I found some food at Yanchengpu market that I haven’t seen anywhere else.
And I like how the Yanchengpu Night Market is not as busy as the others (which I like) and is less known among tourists. But if you are seeing tourist sites like Pier-2 Art Centre or Cijin Island on a Saturday, pop over to this market and experience one of the best local night markets in Kaohsiung.
Address: No. 57, Jianguo 4th Rd, Yancheng District, Kaohsiung City | Hours: 5:30-10:30pm Saturdays only
How to get to Yanchenpu Pier 2 Night Market: take MRT to Hamasen Station (01) or LRT to Hamasen Station (C14), and walk 8 minutes (north on Gushan 1st Rd, turn right on Gongyuan 2nd Rd, then right on Jianguo 4th Rd)
What to eat at Yanchengpu (Pier 2) Night Market
I didn’t find some of these food stalls on Google Maps, but I included them on my list because I think they’re worth trying.
- Sister Wu’s Stone Cake 吳家大姐石頭餅 (5:30-10:30pm) – I tried the classic peanut and black sesame stone cake. It looks like a crepe folded in half but has a crunchy texture
- Zhu Tailang Takoyaki 朱太郎章魚小丸子 (?) – a variety of takoyaki (octopus balls) including the fried quail eggs
- Braised food (?) – there are two food stalls selling braised food (cooked in a light soy sauce broth). They have many vegetables, fish cakes, and many duck parts. Grab a bag, put whatever you want to eat in it, and then they weigh it. I bought a small bag (maybe the size of my hand), and it cost NT$110
- Dafu Town 大虎茶堂 (6-11pm) – they specialize in tofu dessert and milk tea
5. Guanghua Night Market
Guanghua Night Market 光華觀光夜市 is a local market on Guanghua 2nd Rd between Sanduo 2nd Rd and Guangxi Rd. Nearly 60 years ago, food stalls gathered around the Guanghua Theatre and eventually moved towards Guanhua 2nd Rd, and that’s how the popular night market started.
On each side of the road, there is a row of food carts on the edge of the road. And behind them, some restaurants have a sitting area where you can enjoy your meal. Together, there are over 100 food stalls serving the best Taiwanese food, including stewed pork ribs, eel noodles and stinky tofu hot pot.
The road is not blocked off, which means it is a drive-up night market and not particularly pedestrian-friendly. But the prices seem to be cheaper than other night markets.
Address: No. 339, Guanghua 2nd Rd, Cianjhen District, Kaohsiung City | Hours: 5pm-1am
How to get to Guanghua Night Market: take bus 11, 70, 72, 100 or GR1. These buses will take you directly to Sanduo 2nd Rd Intersection which is the north end of the night market
Must-eat food at Guanghua Night Market
- Zongyao Braised Pork Ribs 宗藥燉排骨 (5pm-12am) – they specialize in ginseng herbal soup with pork ribs, minced pork rice or chicken rice
- Dongshan Duck Head 東山鴨頭 (5-11:30pm; closed Wednesdays) – various duck parts, including head and innards, are braised and then fried. The food stall has one of the longest queues at the market
- Hot Pot 鍋兵鍋將 (4:30-11:25pm) – a popular hot pot restaurant featuring stinky tofu
- Eel Noodles 倪家現宰鱔魚 (5-11:30pm; closed Tuesdays) – there are several eel restaurants at the market and this one had the biggest crowd. They cook eel in various ways
Other Night Markets in Kaohsiung
Besides these five night markets highlight mentioned above, there are many more night markets in Kaohsiung.
I kind of liked Jhongsiao Night Market 忠孝夜市, Xingzhong Night Market 興中夜市 and Sanmin Street Night Market 三民街夜市. They are all pretty small and the market is not blocked off i.e. many cars and scooter drive by. It looks like they are local markets that people from the neighbourhood visit. Visit these night markets if you have been to the other five.
If you visit Liuhe Night Market and finish early, you can wander over to Nanhua Tourist Night Market 南華觀光商圈 and see a handful of food stalls that make up the market. There is also a covered pedestrian walking street with many shops. But otherwise, I would skip this night market because there aren’t many food stalls but there are a few shops selling clothing and other knick knacks.
Which Kaohsiung night market are you visiting?
I am so sure there are many more night markets in Kaohsiung that I haven’t discovered. And from what I noticed, they are usually small, neighbourhood markets that cater to the local community.
If you are staying in Kaohsiung for awhile, definitely search for the hidden gems. Otherwise, I would stick to these five night markets (and in the order I listed) so you can get the most out of your time in Kaohsiung.
So, let me know what you think of these Kaohsiung night markets. Or if you found other good eats within the markets that are not part of this list.
Ready to plan your trip to Kaohsiung? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner
* Book accommodation: find the best Kaohsiung accommodations on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance, collect it upon arrival, and set up your mobile phone before arriving at your destination. Or find out how and where to get a SIM Card in Taiwan.
* Join tours: check Klook or Get Your Guide for the best tours in Kaohsiung.
Thank you for reading my Kaohsiung night market guide
I have many posts on Taiwan and you might also like these other posts on solo travel in Taiwan:
Introduction to Taiwan
- Things to know before visiting Taiwan
- How and where to buy a Taiwan prepaid SIM card
- How to spend 3 weeks in Taiwan
- 22 must-eat food in Taiwan
- Top 10 must-try Taiwan 7-11 Food
Southern Taiwan posts
- Best things to do in Chiayi Taiwan
- How to travel from Chiayi to Alishan
- Alishan 2-day solo itinerary
- Things to do in Tainan as a solo traveller
- Where to stay in Tainan: Best Areas & Hotel Reviews
- Tainan Food Guide: What & Where to Eat
- 6 Best night markets in Tainan
- Best Things to do alone in Kaohsiung
- Where to stay in Kaohsiung: Best Areas & Hotel Reviews
- Kaohsiung Food Guide: What and Where to Eat
- Qishan Old Street in Kaohsiung City
- Kenting Travel Guide: things to do
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Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!
