Navigate small alleys of a district typically associated with sleek shopping malls, convention centers, and Taipei 101. Excite your taste buds with classic Taiwanese flavors created from award winning chefs to local mom and pop restaurants.
The tour begins at a bustling traditional market; from seasonal fruits to Taiwanese favorite style of QQ mochi, you’ll taste the best the market has to offer. We then wind through back alleys in search of local favorites; from refreshing cold sesame noodles and pork belly stuffed Taiwanese burgers – and onto the more adventurous stinky tofu and betel nut!
Witness modern Taiwanese day to day life, then fly-by Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall for a taste of Taiwan’s past – all topped off with old-school Taiwanese icy treat caps. Sound enticing?
- Explore Xinyi district’s lengthiest and busiest wet market, where locals visit on a daily basis for the freshest ingredients.
- Savor the best Taiwanese burger (刈包 – gua bao) the city has to offer. Taste for yourself why her gua bao has won multiple awards!
- Learn and sample stinky tofu fermented the old fashioned way at a unique stinky tofu specialty restaurant.
- Taste the creations of one of Taiwan’s famous beverages – boba – Taiwan’s favorite, chewiest way to consume tea.
- Walk through SYS Memorial Hall, enjoy views of the memorial that was completed in 1972 and an excellent Taipei 101 photo-op.
Xinyi District Backstreets Food
Duration: 4 hours
Tour Style: Casual walking for all fitness levels.
$75
ADULTS
(14+ yrs)
$50
CHILDREN
(7–14 yrs)
Tastings are subject to vendors’ availability. Prices do not include tax or booking fees. All sales are final and non-refundable.
385 REVIEWS | Rated “Excellent” by 343 Travelers
“My favourite thing about this tour is that as a big food researcher, I already had many places on my list to visit. But this tour ventures to places I would never find (mum and pop operations) in an area that the tourist path will not take you. “
Awarded Tripadvisor 2019 Certificate of Excellence
What’s Included
- Walk through new and old Taipei. See how Taipei’s landscape and architecture has changed over the past 50 years.
- Taiwan’s most famous dishes, stinky tofu will be sampled at “the stinkiest place under the sky”.
- The chance to learn about what is Taiwanese food and the melting pot of cultures that it’s influenced from.
- All tasty tastings and beverages, and a very nice guide. 🙂
About Xinyi District
Anchored by a slew of massive shopping malls and the towering Taipei 101, the Xinyi District is Taipei’s most cosmopolitan district. The presence of the Taipei City Hall and the World Trade Center, as well as many corporate offices, make Xinyi Taipei’s de facto financial center. As a center of nightlife, Xinyi’s sleek buildings are home to scores of clubs, lounges and a wide variety of both fine dining restaurants and chain restaurants. The name of the game is “new”: the offerings of the area constantly.
However, Xinyi also has quieter corners, away from the tourist crowds radiating from Taipei 101. The alleys around Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall teem with independent boutiques, cafes and eateries; while other sections (including the area our tour covers) has retained an old-school charm – with vendors and customers going about their business the way they have for decades, unfazed by the commercial bustle occurring just minutes away.
Traditional Taiwan Wet Market
A visit to one of Taiwan’s traditional “wet” markets can be both shocking and invigorating for the senses. Noisy, crowded and overwhelmingly lively, the wet market has long been a source of traditional street eats that far outstrip the tastes of the more touristy night markets. Although most markets are busiest in the morning, some go on until well into the afternoon. It is at Taiwan’s traditional markets that one can nab the best deals on local vegetables, free-range meat, and a mind-boggling selection of cooked foods. The markets are called “wet” due to the ever-damp floors, hosed down frequently. The vendors are largely independent, and transactions are mainly done through cash. Bargaining is not only allowed, but encouraged. Discerning housewives sift through piles of fruit with quick precision.
Once a vital part of Taiwanese domestic life, wet markets are now fading with the rise of supermarket chains and fast-food options. Combined with longer working hours and changed family dynamics, the practice of an early morning or late afternoon shopping stroll thorugh the neighborhood market is rapidly dwindling. On the Taipei Eats Xinyi food tour, we’ll take you through one of Taipei City’s lengthiest and busiest traditional markets, still drawing a healthy number of local shoppers each day.
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 Other Tours
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.
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Taipei Night Market Tour
The local foodie’s night market. A truly off-the-beaten path experience, oblivious to tourists and guide books. Your hotel concierge will be surprised you’re going!
2 hours | 6-7 tastings | $60 USD