Taipei: Dihua Food Tour with 12+ Tastings & Drinks

Summary

Sample Taipei’s street food flavors on Dihua & Ningxia night market tour

You’ll wander Taipei’s historic Dihua Street with a small group, tasting over 12 local foods from chewy pig’s blood cake to fresh gua bao buns. Sip herbal tea at bustling markets, share laughs with your guide and fellow travelers, and finish among the glowing stalls of Ningxia Night Market—leaving full and maybe just a little bit braver about what you’ll try next.

What’s the experience like?

“Try this — just don’t ask what’s in it yet,” our guide Li grinned, holding out a sticky square of pig’s blood cake. I hesitated (the name didn’t help), but the smell was oddly sweet and smoky. Turns out, it’s chewy and kind of comforting? I liked it more than I thought I would. We’d only been on Dihua Street for ten minutes, but already the air was thick with incense from an old apothecary and the chatter of shopkeepers selling dried plums and herbs. It felt like stepping into someone else’s memories.

We wandered past red-brick storefronts while Li pointed out which stalls had been run by the same families for generations. At Yongle Market, we squeezed between grandmas bargaining for fabric and kids licking gua bao sauce off their fingers. The bao was pillowy soft, stuffed with pork that tasted like it had been simmering forever. Someone handed me a cup of grass tea — bitter at first sip, then strangely refreshing. Li laughed when I tried to say “thank you” in Mandarin; probably butchered it.

There was a quick stop at Xia Hai City God Temple — people lighting incense sticks in total silence except for the soft clink of coins in the offering box. The smell hung in my hair all evening. Later, on Liangzhou Street (which is quieter and kind of hidden), we tried chicken rolls that were crispy outside and juicy inside. I could’ve eaten three more but saved room for what came next.

Ningxia Night Market hit me like a wall of sound and color — neon lights buzzing, oil sizzling, vendors shouting over each other about scallion pancakes or sweet potato balls hot from the fryer. I lost track of how many snacks we tried (definitely more than twelve). My hands were greasy by the end but honestly? That’s how you know you did Taipei right. I still think about that view down the market lane — steam rising under lanterns — whenever someone mentions Taiwanese food.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Dihua and Taipei food markets

• Walk Dihua Street historic district
• Taste pig’s blood cake and braised pork rice
• Drink traditional herbal grass tea
• Visit Yongle Market and sample baos
• Try seasonal fruits at Yongle Market
• Stop at Taipei Xia Hai City God Temple
• Taste gua bao on Liangzhou Street
• Eat Taiwanese chicken roll at Cisheng Temple
• Explore Ningxia Night Market snacks
• Sample scallion pancakes and sweet potato balls

Top questions

How many dishes do you try on this Taipei food tour?

The tour includes tastings of at least 12 different local Taiwanese foods and snacks.

Is this food tour suitable for vegetarians or those with dietary restrictions?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with celiac or halal dietary needs due to cross-contamination risk.

Does the Taipei food tour include drinks?

Yes, drinks such as herbal grass tea are included along with food tastings.

Are children or infants allowed on this Taipei food tour?

Yes, infants and small children can join; strollers are welcome and service animals are allowed.

Is the Dihua Street food tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and transportation options on this tour are wheelchair accessible.

Do you visit any temples during this Taipei food experience?

Yes, there is a stop at Xia Hai City God Temple during the tour.

Where does this Taipei food tour start?

The experience begins in the historic Dihua district in central Taipei.

What markets do you visit on this Taipei street food tour?

The itinerary includes Yongle Market and Ningxia Night Market among others.

What’s included

Your evening includes a friendly English-speaking local guide leading you through Dihua Street and nearby markets, behind-the-scenes access to family-run stalls, over 12 authentic Taiwanese tastings plus drinks like herbal tea—all easily accessible by public transport or wheelchair if needed.