Enjoy an evening at the best-kept secret night market loved by local foodies. A truly off-the-beaten path experience, oblivious to tourists and guide books. Your hotel concierge will be surprised you’re going!
Explore the remarkable culture and ethnicity that define today’s Taiwan night markets eats. As one of the first night markets in Taipei, you’ll learn and see how today’s night markets came to be.
Nestled in the historical Daqiaotou district of Taipei, Yansan night market is your point of entry for a no-frills, old-school dining experience with an intimate group of up to just 6 travelers.
You will be rubbing shoulders with locals and sampling our favorites bites for the ultimate night market indulgence. Sample items such as slow braised beef noodle soup, freshly boiled mochi on shaved ice, the old-school smoked shark, and the unique savory tangyuan (湯圓) – loosen your belt and get ready to feast!
- Devour recipes from family stalls that have been there for generations.
- Sample shark that is bought fresh daily from the Keelung fish market and smoked with brown sugar under low heat to perfection.
- Enjoy street-side cooking by a 70 year-old chef who makes one of the city’s best oyster omelette, using a closely held family recipe.
- Witness the pulse of Taipei by people watching during the rush hour hustle and bustle from the vantage point of Taipei Bridge.
- Small group of just six guests to ensure an intimate and flexible experience with your guide and store owners.
Taipei Night Market Tour
Duration: 2 hours
Tour Style: Casual Walking for all fitness levels.
$60
ADULTS/CHILDREN
Tastings are subject to vendors’ availability. Prices do not include tax or booking fees. All sales are final and non-refundable.
- Departs Thursday from 17:30 to 19:30. Experiences happen rain or shine – Majority of the market is covered. Availability varies by season – Please check calendar.
- Starts at Daqiaotou MRT; Ends at the same place.
- Unfortunately NOT diet restriction friendly. Check out the Iconic Food Tour for a vegetarian friendly tour or email us.
- Suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
- Small group size: 1-6 people.
- 6-7 Tastings
385 REVIEWS | Rated “Excellent” by 343 Travelers
“I did both the Xinyi and Yansan Market tours with Taipei Eats. They were very different tours with little overlap in food so don’t hesitate if you are considering doing both. I was able to try so many foods I wouldn’t have found on my own and learned something about their provenance and cultural significance. And of course, it is fun to discover these new foods with other like minded visitors to Taipei.”
Awarded Tripadvisor 2019 Certificate of Excellence
What’s Included
- 6+ food and beverage tastings. Trust us – it’s enough for you to leave satisfied. Come hungry! Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
- Experienced and friendly local guide to guide you through the back alleys of Taipei.
- The opportunity to learn and see about how traditional Taiwan night markets looked like.
- Wander Yansan night market, an every-night local’s dinner spot with your own local food expert.
What are night markets?
Night markets have been around since the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 836). Taiwan night markets started increase in popularity in 1950s. Vendors focused on creating simplified versions of banquet dishes. These modified dishes became what is now known as xiaochi. Vendors are a mix between street stalls and restaurants. What started as small stall, have now developed into a mix of restaurants, food, and pop culture stalls. The night markets that have become popular among tourists are a mix of food and goods. If you really want to learn, experience, and taste a night market in it’s original form, join our Taipei night market tour and go back to the early 1900s.
Why YanSan Night Market?
This night market is our favorite because it was started for the everyday Taiwanese blue collar worker. The heart of Taiwan’s growth as a country. In the early 1900’s people who worked in the bustling Dadaocheng would stop through this market everyday before going back across the river to their homes. Back then they would use horses or walk, but presently there is the Taipei Bridge, which has become renowned for the number of scooters that flood the bridge during rush hour.
About Our Expert Guides
Your tour will be lead by one of our expert, English-speaking guides. They’re all gifted storytellers who are smart, passionate and talented and whose excitement for this country is contagious!
Have Questions? Here are the most frequently asked.
Our tours run rain or shine. It does rain quite often in Taipei, so please prepare necessary clothing and/or equipment you might need to stay dry. Don’t worry, the food taste the same! 🙂 If the Taiwan government issues an official alert shutting down businesses or we deem conditions unsafe for our guests, tours will be cancelled. This is the only situation where guests can decide whether they would like to reschedule their tours or receive a full refund.
Gratuities are not common in Taiwanese culture, however if you really enjoyed your time and want to show your guide how much you appreciate him/ her, they’ll be extremely happy!
99{7ea748cf3cd44048e18f3d4842812133efb4af85d2e0765e711f6de31d5462ea} of our guests have been happily full at the end of the tour.
If you are bringing an infant / very young child and they will not be participating in the tastings, you do not need to purchase a ticket for them. However, please do let us know if you will be attending with an infant or young child when you purchase tickets in the notes section.
If you contact us at least 14 days prior to the start of your tour, we can help you reschedule your tour. However we do not allow cancellations as we have limited space on our tours and once a ticket is sold, it cannot be filled by others.
Still have questions? Visit our full FAQ to view more questions or Contact Us.
Check Out Our Day Tours
Iconic Food Tour
Our original Iconic food tour takes you on an authentic culinary and visual journey. We’ll sample classic Taiwanese dishes from both award winning chefs and in-the-know local’s restaurants.
4 hours | 10+ tastings | $75 USD
Old School Food Tour
Discover the historical side of Taipei. Sample traditional Taiwanese recipes handed down over generations and walk through a district rich in cultural and architectural history.
3 hours | 12+ tastings | $85 USD