Tainan is the best city in Taiwan for trying Taiwanese food. Besides all the amazing food you can find in local restaurants in Tainan, there are many things to eat at a Tainan night market.
And in Tainan, there are six night markets that are worth visiting. I found a wide variety of food including street food where you can eat while wandering around, and food vendors with proper seating areas serving grilled seafood and stir-fry dishes.
If you want to get a preview of what you can eat at a Tainan night market, then keep reading. In this post, I included all the information about the six night markets in Tainan, how to get there and what type of food you can find at each night market.
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Tainan Night Market: what you need to know
Before you visit a Tainan night market, take a look at my post on all my best tips for travelling to Taiwan alone. I included information on getting a Taiwan SIM card, transportation around the country, and more.
Here are a few additional tips for visiting a Tainan night market:
- Night market food vendors only accept cash.
- Some food vendors have a sitting area. Otherwise, almost all night market foods are for take-away only.
- Look for the long 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.
- Check the hours of operation when you are going to night markets in Tainan. The markets are not open every day and each night market has its own schedule. Here is a handy Tainan Night Market schedule:
| Day of the Week | Tainan Night Market Schedule |
|---|---|
| Monday | Dadong Night Market |
| Tuesday | Dadong Night Market, Xiaobei Night Market |
| Wednesday | Wusheng Night Market |
| Thursday | Garden Night Market, Xin Yonghua Night Market, Da Yi Night Market |
| Friday | Dadong Night Market, Wusheng Night Market, Xiaobei Night Market, Da Yi Night Market |
| Saturday | Garden Night Market, Wusheng Night Market, Da Yi Night Market |
| Sunday | Garden Night Market, Xin Yonghua Night Market, Da Yi Night Market |
Summary: Best Night Markets in Tainan City
All the best night markets are in Tainan are outside of the core of the city. You will likely have to take a bus, ride a Youbike or order an Uber to one of these night markets. And to top it off, they do not open every day of the week.
But the good news is that many food vendors appear in one or more night markets. So if you missed a specific food vendor at one night market, you could see it at another night market on another night.
This means don’t need to stay an entire week in Tainan and visit all the night markets. I recommend visiting two to three and you can get a general idea of the type of food offered at a Tainan night market.
So without further ado, here is the list of the best Tainan Night Markets. Click on the link and it will take you directly to the specific section.
- Garden Night Market 花園夜市
- Dadong Night Market 大東夜市
- Wusheng Night Market 武聖夜市
- Xiaobei Night Market 小北觀光夜市
- Xin Yonghua Night Market 新永華夜市
- Da Yi Night Market 大益夜市
6 Tainan Night Markets + What to Eat
1. Garden Night Market 花園夜市
Also known as the Tainan Flower Night Market, the Garden Night Market is the busiest and largest night market in Tainan. It is so popular that it was once ranked 12th in Facebook’s top check-in locations.
Since its opening in 1999, Garden Night Market in Tainan has grown and it has over 400 vendors today. When you visit the night market, you will see four zones: food, fashion, general goods and entertainment. It is a bit dizzying navigating all the rows of food stalls and games, but this is the best place to experience a Taiwanese night market.
Address: No. 533, Section 3, Hai’an Rd, North District, Tainan City | Hours: 5pm-12am; open Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays
How to get to Garden Night Market: take Bus 0 Right (which is a bus that runs on a loop clockwise around Tainan city centre) and alight at Garden Night Market bus stop, then walk north for 2 minutes and cross Hai’an Rd.
What to eat at Garden Night Market
There are many rows of food vendors at Garden Night Market. Walk each aisle and find something you want to try. Or look for these popular (and busy) food vendors:
- Huang Family Grilled Oysters & Clams 黃家烤蚵仔烤蛤仔 – grilled Taiwanese snapper for NT$250, grilled female sweet fish, grilled oysters, clams, snails, shrimps
- Singaporean Laksa 新加坡邋撒麵 – been around since 1999. Choose beef, pork or seafood noodles and sit down and wait for your laksa.
- Hong Kong-style fried preserved egg – if you are adventurous, try a small or large portion of the fried “century egg”.
- Little Shanghai Crispy Chicken 小上海香酥雞 – get fried chicken pieces and/or french fries. Also available at Xiaobei Night Market and Wusheng Night Market.
- Turkish Chicken Sandwich 土耳其手工烙餅難肉捲 – chicken sandwich with lettuce, onion and a crispy bun. Also available at Wusheng Night Market.
- Shredded Sweet Potato and Taro 拔絲地瓜芋頭 – people love the fried sweet potato and taro balls, which are airy, slightly sweet and super delicious!
2. Dadong Night Market 大東夜市
Dadong Night Market is the second-largest night market in Tainan and it takes up the open space south of Sanjiao Park on Section 1 Linsen Rd in the East District. The dedicated space has over 300 food stalls and, of course, an area for shopping and carnival games.
The market is quite walkable; I find the aisles are wider than other night markets, so it doesn’t seem as busy. If you prefer a quieter night market, definitely visit Dadong Night Market, as it isn’t as crowded as Garden or Wusheng Night Market.
Address: No. 276, Section 1, Linsen Rd, East District, Tainan City | Hours: 6pm-1am; open Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays
How to get to Dadong Night Market: take Bus 0 Left (which is a bus that runs on a loop counter clockwise around Tainan city centre) and alight at Dadong Night Market bus stop, then walk across Linsen Rd.
What to eat at Dadong Night Market
I walked around Dadong Night Market once before deciding on what to eat. Then I went back to the food stalls with long queues (which means the food is good). Here are some of my top picks:
- Scallion Pancake 古曼蔥油餅 – the truck cart is the most popular food stall at Dadong. Buy a quarter, half or full portion of the famous scallion pancake.
- Meat Balls 牙歯肉圓 – delicious meat dumpling and sishen soup (Chinese herb pork stomach soup). Also at Garden Night Market.
- Sweet Fish Family 香魚世家 – charcoal grilled male sweet fish or female fish (more eggs). Also at Garden Night Market.
- Cold Tapioca Pearls 涼の圓 – a small box has about ten pieces with various sweet flavours
- White Sugar Cake 春粿面白糖粿 – a retro cart selling white sugar cake and coated with several flavours. Also at Garden Night Market.
- Fruit Jelly 金呷好球 – ball-shaped konjac jelly with different fruit flavours. Also at Garden Night Market.
- Tea 晚伍小賣所 – they sell milk tea and winter melon tea. Also at Wusheng Night Market.
3. Wusheng Night Market 武聖夜市
Wusheng Night Market is the third-largest night market in Tainan. It first opened its doors in 1984, making the night market the city’s oldest.
The night market occupies the open space between Lane 45 Wusheng Rd and Guangxian St and it is still within the West Central District. It is probably the most walkable night market (closest to the core of Tainan), especially if you are staying in the West Central District in Tainan.
It is a smaller version of Garden Night Market, but it still has 250 stalls selling food (with many vendors appearing at both night markets), clothing, and miscellaneous items. And there are plenty of carnival games too.
Address: Lane 69, Wusheng Rd, West Central District, Tainan City | Hours: 5pm-12am; open Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays
How to get to Wusheng Night Market: take Bus 3 or BL24 from the city centre and alight at Wenxian Junior High School bus stop, then walk 6 minutes towards the night market. I stayed at Kindness Day Hotel and the walk from there was only 12 minutes.
What to eat at Wusheng Night Market
There are many rows of food vendors at Wusheng Night Market and some even spill onto the main road. Walk through the busy aisles and look for these foods:
- Big Sausage Wrap Small Sausage 大腸包小腸 – grilled cooked rice in sausage-shape and meat sausage. Then add pickled cucumber and raw garlic yourself. Also at Garden Night Market.
- 2486辣脆腸 – braised food like chicken, tofu and vegetables and spicy sausage. They cut up the food so it’s in bite size. Add ginger, garlic and spice if you want more heat. They are at Xiaobei Night Market and Xin Yonghua Night Market.
- Guava – many Taiwanese night markets sell cut fruit. I found one that sells only guava and it comes with a savoury sauce. Can’t explain the taste of the sauce but it goes well with the guava.
- Water caltrops 蒸氣菱角土豆 – also known as bat nuts or devil pods. These black horn-shaped food tastes like chestnut and is grown in Tainan’s Guantian District.
4. Xiaobei Night Market 小北觀光夜市
Located in the North District, Xiaobei Night Market is actually two markets in one.
The south market is called Xiaobei Tourist Market on Google Maps. It is a small covered market with sit-down restaurants, with opening hours independent of the night market. It is a small market, but it has some of the most unusual food selections. At the back of the restaurants are shops selling clothing, shoes, and all kinds of knick-knacks.
The north market is called Xiaobei Night Market or Xiaobei Xin Chenggong Night Market and it is a typical Tainan night market with food vendors, other vendors selling clothing and other things and carnival games in an open space.
Address: No. 2, Lane 171, Section 4, Ximen Road, North District, Tainan City | Hours: 5pm-12am; open Tuesdays & Fridays
How to get to Xiaobei Night Market: take Bus 7, 11 or 21 from Tainan city centre and alight at Xiaobei Bazaar bus stop. After the visit to the south covered market, walk 8 minutes north to north open market.
What to eat at Xiaobei Night Market
At Xiaobei Tourist Market (the south covered market), look for these food specialities:
- Lao Li Meat King 老李螺肉大王 (4:30-11:30pm; closed Thursdays) – a restaurant specializing stir-fried snail and stir-fried beef. Order at the table then pay when you finish.
- Eel Noodles 郭家莊 (5:30-11pm; closed Saturdays & Sundays) – try stir-fried eel with or without noodles. Or try the squid with or without noodles.
- Tongzi Rice Cake 筒仔米糕 (3-8pm Tuesday to Friday & 11am-8pm Saturdays & Sundays) – they only have three things on the menu: glutinous rice steamed in bamboo tube, oyster omelette and sishen soup (Chinese herb pork stomach soup).
- Snake Meat Shop 郭家蛇肉店 (3-9:30pm) – if you dare, try the thick soup made with snake (it tastes like chicken).
If you want street food and try many several things in one night, visit New Xiaobei Chenggong Night Market (north market) and find some of these food stalls:
- Ah Yao’s Original Cake 阿堯師老正牌雞蛋糕 – soft and pillowy round cakes with custard, red bean, and other fillings.
- Braised Food 木櫥滷味 – pick and choose what braised food you want to try.
- Charcoal Grill Chicken Steak 統大碳烤香雞排 – popular food vendor selling grilled chicken steak. Also seen at other Tainan night markets.
- Scallion Pancake 何佳佳葱油餅 – you can find the food vendor with the same name at other Tainan night markets and Kaohsiung night markets.
- Middle Eastern Style Shawarma 中東口味沙威瑪 – grilled chicken shawarma in bun. Also at Garden Night Market and Xin Yonghua Night Market.
5. Xin Yonghua Night Market 新永華夜市
Xin Yonghua Night Market is in Anping District and is one of the newer night markets in Tainan. The small night market occupies the open space at Huaping Rd and Junping Rd. So if you prefer a less crowded night market, this is a good one to check out.
Even though it was a small night market, it still has excellent selection traditional Taiwanese food and local Tainan specialty. And like other night markets, there are also carnival games like darts and pinball games.
Address: No. 7, Huaping Rd, Anping District, Tainan City | Hours: 5-11:30pm; open Thursdays & Saturdays
How to get to Xin Yonghua Night Market: Bus 19 and 77 travels from the Tainan city centre towards Anping. Alight at Jiankang 2nd St Intersection and walk 2 minutes.
What to eat at Xin Yonghua Night Market
There are many typical Taiwanese street food like oyster omelettes, scallion pancake and fried chicken. But there are also few of these night market foods:
- Popiah 薛記喜樹春捲 – Taiwanese spring roll with fillings like meat, oysters and sweet potato
- BBQ Skewers 燒烤 – lots of meat and vegetable skewers. Pick a few, put in basket, pay and they will barbecue the skewers for you. Also at Xiaobei Night Market.
- Stinky Tofu 滿溢臭豆腐 – a long queue for this popular food stand
- Cold Noodles 黃家涼麵 – cold yellow noodles with vegetable and meat
- Salted Grill Fish 海口人鹽烤台灣鯛 – try the salted grill Taiwanese snapper at this night market or at Wusheng Night Market.
- Sushi 和津壽司 – sushi to go. Pick and choose what you want to eat.
6. Da Yi Night Market 大益夜市
Da Yi Night Market is a small night market located in the East District of Tainan. Many food vendors operate in the gated area at the northeast corner of Pingshi Rd and Zhonghua E Rd. There is also an area with carnival games, jumping castles, and bumper cars for kids.
I wasn’t expecting to see another night market in Tainan besides the five already mentioned. But I went to Taiwan Spinning (T.S.) Mall, I saw the bright lights diagonally across the road and decided to check it out. The night market seemed a bit sparse; perhaps it is new?! I think by the time you find this post, the night market will be a bit more organized, with more vendors in the open area.
Address: No. 1, Pingshi Rd, East District, Tainan City | Hours: 5pm-12am; open Thursday to Sunday
How to get to Da Yi Night Market: Bus 902 starts east of Tainan Station and stops at the northeast corner of the main intersection at the night market. Or take Bus 77 from city centre and alight in front of T.S. Mall and walk over.
What to eat at Da Yi Night Market
The layout of the night market is kind of sparse (when I went) but I did find some awesome food gems:
- Hualien Fried Egg Scallion Pancake 花蓮炸蛋蔥油餅 – a take on the traditional scallion pancake but the Hualien version has an oozy egg yolk inside. A popular food in Hualien and at this night market too.
- Grilled Fish 海味鯛民 – there are actually two stalls making grilled sea bass and salt baked snapper and shrimps. Not sure of the name of the other vendor, but they both have big stalls and seating area.
- Fried Big Squid 酥炸大魷魚 – they sell grilled giant squid on skewer only
- Big Sausage Small Sausage 紅妃香腸大腸 – grilled cooked rice in sausage-shape, meat sausage and topped with pickled cucumber and raw garlic.
- Colourful Sweet Potato Balls 阿部玖肆 彩色地瓜球 – deep-fried sweet potato balls that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They have different colours but when I was there they only had one option.
- Johnny Accessory + Bar 強尼戴舖 飾品皇冠專賣店 ＆ 2F酒吧 – pretty cool to have a bar at a night market. It is the only one at Da Yi Night Market.
Which Tainan night market are you including in your itinerary?
I hope you go to at least two or even three night markets in Tainan to get a feel of the night market atmosphere. After all, night markets are essential to every Taiwanese city.
I thought Garden Night Market and Wusheng Night Market were both a bit hectic. Perhaps there were too many food stalls, or I was hangry. Ha! But if you like the busy vibe and want to see a large night market in Taiwan, choose one.
Dadong Night Market is a good-sized night market with a good food selection. It didn’t feel as hectic as Garden or Wusheng. I think it is the best night market in Tainan.
I really enjoyed Xin Yonghua Night Market because it is a smaller night market with a manageable crowd and excellent food selection. Xiaobei Night Market has a unique selection of food. And Da Yi Night Market was a total surprise as I didn’t expect to see another night market in the city.
Whatever you choose, I am sure you will have a fabulous experience. Enjoy!
Ready to plan your trip to Tainan? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner
* Book accommodation: find the best Tainan 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 around Tainan.
Thank you for reading my Tainan 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
- Things to do alone in Kaohsiung
- Where to stay in Kaohsiung: Best Areas & Hotel Reviews
- Kaohsiung Food Guide: What and Where to Eat
- 5 Best night markets in Kaohsiung
- Qishan Old Street in Kaohsiung City
- Kenting Travel Guide: Getting there & 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!
