90+ Vegetarian Food Stalls at Every Major Night Market in Taiwan

If you’re vegetarian or vegan, Taiwan’s night markets can be a little intimidating.

Most stalls don’t have English or vegetarian labeling, vendors may not speak English, and the crowds and long lines may prevent you from even attempting to ask. Not to mention all the meat everywhere!

That’s why I’ve decided to prepare this list of vegetarian and vegan food stalls at every major night market in Taiwan. I’ve personally tried almost every time item that I’ll introduce.

I’ll indicate ones that I’m almost certain are vegan, but in most cases, I suggest that you ask the vendor to be sure. Here’s how to say you are vegetarian or vegan in Taiwan.

Click the Chinese names for locations on GoogleMaps. Also don’t miss my guide to the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Taipei!

Taiwan has an all-vegetarian pop-up night market called Little Vegetarian Night Market (素食小夜市). Follow their page for upcoming event locations!

Shilin Night Market, Taipei

Shilin Night Market is Tapei’s biggest and most famous but also most touristy night market. Still, it has a surprisingly decent array of vegetarian foods, not to mention the super cute 3D tiger!

See my recommended walking route in Shilin Night Market, the best night markets in Taipei, and my Taipei city guide for more info.

• Prince Cheese Potato (王子起司馬鈴薯) Right at the southern entrance to the night market (access from Jiantan MRT station), this shop douses baked potatoes in fake cheese sauce and your choice of toppings (vegetarian options). 

• Wu Family’s Fried Tofu (吳家豆干, sign there says “士林素食辣豆乾專賣鋪” VEGAN) I absolutely loved the dried tofu (豆乾 or dougan, or vegetarian jerky) from this elderly Taiwanese woman’s stall (sometimes there’s a man, some people say he’s not so friendly). She gives free samples before you buy. A huge bag only costs TWD 100 and you can mix types. Running since 1974!

• Xing Fa Tong Shaved Ice (辛發亭冰品名店, VEGAN options) A traditional shaved ice shop on Anping Lover’s Street, which is decorated with neon hearts and love murals. The alley was once known for its brothels.

• Good Friend Cold Noodles (朋友涼麵, VEGAN) This shop has even won a Michelin Bib Gourmand award for its delicious cold noodles with sesame sauce.

• Wang Ji’s Green Herbal Drinks (王記青草茶, VEGAN) Traditional green herbal tea (青草茶 or qing cao cha) and other Taiwanese herbal teas served hot or iced. Running for 50+ years.

• Jiaxiang Cold Noodles & Stinky Tofu (辛發亭冰品名店, VEGAN) More cold sesame noodles plus all-vegetarian stinky tofu (stinky tofu isn’t always vegetarian, as meat is sometimes used to kickstart fermentation). Right in the heart of the night market by Cixian Temple.

• Barbecued King Oyster Mushrooms (燒烤杏鮑菇, VEGAN) New and super popular grilled king oyster stall.

• 234 Korean Cuisine (二三四韓式料理) Bungeoppang, which are the Korean version of taiyaki (Japanese fish-shaped cakes) stuffed with red bean, custard, cream cheese, and other sweet or savory options.

• Deep Fried Milk (炸鮮奶) More like a deep fried chunk of creamy batter, but delicious nonetheless. Some also have deep fried whole oreos.

Raohe Night Market, Taipei

Raohe is often considered the best night market in terms of food. Luckily vegetarians and vegans have plenty of choices, too.

Also see my guide to Raohe Night Market.

• Master An’s Fire & Ice Pineapple Buns (安師傅冰火菠蘿) Freshly baked buns with the texture of pineapple skin (not pineapple flavored) and stuffed with butter or ice cream.

• Miss Wang’s QQ Chilled Balls (王小姐QQ涼圓 VEGAN) Little gooey balls with translucent skin and stuffed with red bean or mung bean, served cool.

• Xiagang Mingpeng Stinky Tofu (下港名彭臭豆腐 VEGAN) Popular stinky tofu vendor, but you need to ask for their vegetarian version (素的臭豆腐)

• Stinky Tofu Fries (妖怪臭薯條 VEGAN OPTIONS) A new innovation: French-fry shaped slices of stinky tofu. These actually aren’t stinky at all (perfect as a stepping stone to trying the real thing!) Vegetarian or vegan depending on the sauce you choose.

• Authentic French Churros (法國道地吉拿棒) European-style churros with variety of coating options.

• Mochi Baby (麻糬寶寶 VEGAN) Tiny and very traditional Taiwanese mochi stall that has even obtained Michelin status. They’re slightly cool, coated in peanut powder, and best eaten right away.

• Po Lam Kopitiam (寶林咖啡館饒河店 (VEGAN options) Malaysian vegetarian restaurant with snacks like fried bananas, vegetarian fish skin, vegetarian fried chicken, and full meals like laksa and vegetarian goose bento. It’s at the quieter western end of the nighter market.

Nanjichang Night Market, Taipei

Nanjichang is the least touristy of Taipei’s major night markets, plus vegetarians will be spoiled for choices there. Some stalls are closed on Mondays. Find more info and a map in my guide to Nanjichang Night Market.

• Azong’s Vegetarian Vermicelli Noodles (阿宗素食麵線, VEGAN) Just before the night market’s northern entrance, this shop does a vegetarian version of the popular Taiwanese dish meesua (麵線), or thick vermicelli soup. Open till 7. There’s also a small vegetarian buffet next door.

• Badong Yuanzi Soup (八棟圓仔湯, VEGAN) Just inside the night market, with very traditional hot or chilled Taiwanese dessert soups and black sesame-filled tangyuan (湯圓) dishes.

• Vegetarian Happiness (蔬食樂, VEGAN) A simple vegetarian noodle shop down a side lane, open till 9.

• Stinky Boss Branch 2 (臭老闆現蒸臭豆腐-二店 and first location here VEGAN), meat-free stewed version of stinky tofu with pickled veggies and fresh basil. It’s Michelin approved – this is some of the best stinky tofu I’ve ever had!

• Roll Roll Village Ice Cream Wraps (捲捲村) Very popular ice cream wraps with peanut brittle shavings and cilantro, but with a unique twist: their signature version uses a huge block of tiramisu ice cream and a rediculous amount of the peanut shavings.

• Crispy Mushroom Tempura (卍鮮菇道鹽酥天婦羅, VEGAN) More than the name suggests, this is a 100% meat-free deep fried foods stalls with dozens of different items. Their signature item is the mixed wild mushrooms (綜合野菇). There can be a long wait (I waited 45 minutes after ordering!)

• He Jia’s Steamed Stinky Tofu (禾甲蒸臭豆腐, VEGAN) This seems to be a copycat of Stinky boss, with stinky tofu prepared exactly the same way, and also without meat in the sauce.

• Unnamed Clay Oven Roll (無名推車燒餅) Here’s another Michelin-recognized stall, and its name is literally “Unnamed”. They do a variety of traditional pastries prepared on the spot on a small grill. The line is usually long but you’ll get your pastries straight off the grill, piping hot. Don’t order the one with pork.

• Nanjichang Taro King (南機場芋頭大王, VEGAN) A traditional shaved ice shop especially known for its taro dishes.

• Guan Noodles Vegetarian House (管麵素食麵館) A simple vegetarian noodle shop at the southern end of the night market, with noodles, soups, stinky tofu, and several sides. Open till 9 PM.

Ningxia Night Market, Taipei

Ningxia is a narrow aisle of vendors, and thus usually super crowded, running down the middle Ningxia street. Most of the spots I’ll recommend below are actually brick and mortar shops on either side of the street, so they’ll be easier to access. Find more info in my guide to Ningxia Night Market.

• Go with the Flow Vegetarian Food (隨緣素食, VEGAN) A small vegetarian noodle shop down a small lane just before the southern end of the night market. Open till 10 PM.

• Childhood Papaya Milk (童年木瓜牛奶) Classic papaya milk, one of the first stalls when you enter the aisle of vendors.

• Ganji Dessert Shop (甘記燒仙草刨冰甜點, VEGAN options) On the left (western) side of the street (brick and mortar shops), you’ll find several dessert shops in a row including this one and the following two.

• Yummy Peanut Ice Cream Wraps (雅米花生捲冰淇淋) Classic ice cream wraps with cilantro and peanut brittle shavings. The ice cream may be vegan, but you need to ask.

• Come Chai Cakes (柴進來雞蛋糕) Cute paw-shaped cakes stuffed with various sweet pastes and custards, named after a Shiba Inu called Chai.

• Ningxia Little Vegetarian Shop (寧夏素食小館, VEGAN) Another simple vegetarian noodle shop, brick and mortar shop on the west side of Ningxia road.

• Daqiaotou Xiangji Pure Sugar Mochi (大橋頭祥記純糖麻糬, VEGAN OPTIONS) In the aisle of vendors, towards the northern end, is this super delicious mochi stall. Hot mochi are served atop cold ice. Vegans should ask for no sweetened condensed milk.

Tonghua Night Market, Taipei

Tonghua Night Market (also called Linjiang Street Night Market) is near Taipei 101 and boasts the following vegetarian goodies.

Here’s my guide to Tonghua Night Market.

• Shijia Baobao (石家割包) This famous guabao (Taiwanese hamburger) stall offers a vegetarian version alongside their meat ones. A slice of veggie ham comes in a steamed bun, topped with pickled mustard greens and peanut powder. I’m not sure what ingredient makes it not vegan, but the menu indicates that it is lacto-ovo vegetarian.

• Bao Su Zhai Vegetarian Snack Bar (寶素齋素食小吃店, VEGAN) A meat-free food stall with traditional noodle dishes and small sides. Watch for the Buddhist swastika on the sign.

• Crispy Stinky Tofu (一口金酥臭豆腐) Excellent deep fried stinky tofu with pickled cabbage. You need to let them know if you are vegetarian. They will then ask if you want garlic (Buddhist vegetarians don’t eat garlic) and whether you want spicy.

• Yu Pin Yuan Fire & Ice Tangyuan (御品元冰火湯圓) This is Tonghua Night Market’s most famous shop. They do traditional tangyuan (湯圓) stuffed with black sesame or peanut. For their signature dish, a combo of the two are served on a bowl of shaved ice and doused with sweet osmanthus syrup. The flavor is subtle and they don’t put enough syrup, but you can add more yourself from the tin at the counter. Warning: these seem like they should be vegetarian, but since writing this article I found out they contain lard.

• Ice World (冰世界) A more typical array of shaved ice desserts, with limited vegan options.

• Taiwanese Handmade Fruit Ice Cream (台灣手作水果冰淇淋, VEGAN options) Cups of traditional Taiwanese ice cream with a wide range of interesting flavors. Some are dairy free but you need to ask.

• Heavenly Scent Tofu (天香豆腐, VEGAN option) This is a Michelin-awarded stinky tofu and steak restaurant (yes, weird combination). You need to find the vegetarian version of their stinky tofu on the menu, (炸)素食臭豆腐. Mark 一 (for 1) beside it in the first column for regular or second column for spicy. It is excellent.

Keelung Night Market, Keelung

Miaokou Night Market in Keelung is one of the most famous night markets in Taiwan. Located beside a port, it is unsurprisingly seafood heavy, but there are still vegetarian options. Rarely for Taiwan, every stall has its specialty written in English on the sign, which helps to identify vegetarian items.

See my Keelung Night Market guide and guide to Keelung city for more info.

• Shen Family Pao Pao Bing (沈家泡泡冰, stall #37 VEGAN options) Cups of thick, icy traditional Taiwanese ice cream. Some are dairy-free but you need to ask.

• Nutritious Sandwich (基隆廟口營養三明治, stall #58) These very unusual “nutritious” sandwiches do come with a chunk of meat, but it’s super easy to ask them not to put it. There’s nothing nutritious about it, though – it’s like a deep fried donut with sweet mayo, egg, cucumber, and tomato.

• Oil Cake and Taro Cake (基隆廟口 油粿 ▪ 芋粿, stall #66) This stall does very traditional, savory oil cake and taro cake, which are similar to white radish cakes served in Taiwanese breakfast shops. I’m not 100% sure on this one, so please confirm they are vegetarian/vegan before ordering.

• Vegetarian Aiyu Jelly, Wintermelon Tea, Lotus Root Juice (廟口愛玉 stall #45, VEGAN) This stall is labeled vegetarian, so you’re safe.

• Vegetarian 8 Treasures Glass Noodles (素食八寶冬粉, VEGAN) A very traditiona all-vegetarian stall with a few chairs. Besides the signature eight treasure noodles (八寶冬粉), they also have dang gui soup (當歸湯, a kind of herbal soup, pictured above) and sticky rice rolls (糯米卷 or nuomi juan, also pictured above), a vegetarian version of the chicken rolls sold in the same night market.

Feng Chia Night Market, Taichung

Taichung’s largest and most famous night market has several vegetarian choices, but they’re a little spread out. Get ready to do some walking!

See my guide to Feng Chia Night Market, other night markets in Taichung, and guide to Taichung city.

• Ming Lun Dan Bing (明倫蛋餅 and second location here) A popular spot for egg crepes (蛋餅 or danbing). These are usually a breakfast shop item, but here they are thicker and served like a wrap in a paper bag.

• Taiwan King Spicy Noodles (大王麻辣乾麵, VEGAN option) This noodle shop takes spicy to the extreme. You can choose from 5 levels of spiciness. If you go for the second hottest or the hottest and manage to finish, they’ll take your photo and put it on the wall. I did second hottest and later regretted it (it’s really that spicy!) There’s a vegetarian (vegan) option.

• Little 8 Tri-Color Sweet Potato Balls (小8三色地瓜球, VEGAN) Little chewy sweet potato balls seen in every night market, but these ones are tri-colored.

• Yixin Vegetarian Stinky Tofu (一心素食臭豆腐, VEGAN) Here you enjoy stinky tofu with no concern that they used meat to make the sauce. They also have vegetarian meesua (麵線 or mianxian, or thick vermicelli soup), which is always delicious.

• Classic Flavor Baitangguo (古早味白糖粿, VEGAN) Just next to the above, this stall does traditional rice cakes (白糖粿 or baitangguo) coated in sweet powers, including original (sugar), black sesame, peanut, or purple sweet potato.

• Uncle Being Grilled Corn (炳叔烤玉米逢甲總店, VEGAN option) The best grilled corn I’ve ever had. Make sure to ask for the vegetarian version. Bit of a trek to get there.

Garden, Ta-Tung, & Wusheng Night Markets, Tainan

Tainan’s night markets are unique in that each is held on a different night of the week. Many of the same vendors move around between them. Because the vendors have multiple locations and always seem to be moving, I didn’t put locations for this section.

See my Tainan night markets guide to find out which night market is held on which night of the week, and my Tainan city guide here.

• Hyun’s Souffle Pancakes (炫の日式舒芙蕾鬆餅專賣): French-style souffle with various toppings like oreo, caramel, white chocolate flakes, and pearls. I spotted it at Garden & Ta-Tung night markets

• Frozen Heart Fried ice Cream (凍心炸冰淇淋) Toasted sandwiches with ice cream inside, spotted at Garden Night Market.

• Tuk Tuk Cha Cha Thai Tea (龜龜毛毛泰國奶茶, VEGAN options): Thai iced tea served from a real Thai tuk-tuk.

• 無敵BANANA: Authentic Thai-style banana pancakes, with the choice of sweetened condensed milk, chocolate syrup, brown sugar syrup or honey. Spotted at Garden, Ta-Tung & Wusheng.

• Taiwan Sweet Potato Balls (台灣地瓜球) Super popular, always at the northwestern entrance of Ta-Tung night market.

• Outousang Mulberry Garlic Dried Tofu (歐とう桑蒜香烏龍豆干) Spotted at Ta-Tung & Zhongxiao Rd. Night Market (another night market in Taichung).

Liuhe Night Market, Kaohsiung

Liuhe Night Market is the night market most tourists visit in Kaohsiung due to its central location. It is relatively small, spaced out, and pleasantly traffic free. There are a handful of vegetarian options.

See my guide to other night markets in Kaohsiung and guide to Kaohsiung city.

• Zheng’s Old Brand Papaya Milk (鄭老牌木瓜牛奶) Very popular and long running papaya milk stand at the entrance to the night market.

• Iced Tanghulu (冰糖葫蘆, VEGAN) Sticks of candied fruit and tomatoes served cold.

• Really Good Flavor Vegetarian Food (真好味素食, VEGAN) Vegetarian noodles, soups, guabao (Taiwanese hamburger), tube rice pudding (筒仔米糕), and other traditional dishes.

• Lin Family’s Iced 8 Treasures (林家八寶冰, VEGAN options) Traditional Taiwanese shaved ice desserts. Vegans should avoid the ones with sweetened condensed milk.

• Iced Lemon Aiyu (檸檬愛玉冰, VEGAN) A refreshing, lemony jelly dessert served in a bowl to stay or cup to go.

• Liuhe Ace Traditional Tofu Pudding (六合王牌傳統豆花, VEGAN) Classic Taiwanese tofu pudding (豆花 or douhua) desserts.

Ruifeng Night Market, Kaohsiung

Compared to Liuhe, Ruifeng Night Market is larger and more local, but also takes a little more time to get to. It is closer to Lotus Pond and Zuoying HSR station. I didn’t find any vegetarian-specific food stalls at this one, and overall vegan/vegetarian options were a little limited.

• Wen’s Fresh Milk Mochi (文鮮奶麻糬): Some of the best mochi I’ve ever taste. The balls are practically liquid and melt in your mouth, with various topping options. But rather unusually, they are made with milk.

• He Jia Jia Green Onion Cakes (何佳佳蔥油餅, VEGAN but ask) Huge green onion cakes (order half or full one) with flavors like white pepper, wasabi, plum, spicy, and curry. I have not confirmed whether this spot uses lard in their recipe. No eggs are added like at most green onion cake stalls.

• Xinchuang Mandarin Duck Milk Tea (鑫川鴛鴦奶茶): Super creamy milk tea. Each cup is made with a newly opened fresh bottle of milk (as opposed to milk powder used at many milk tea spots). They also do the same with iced coffees.

• Classic Pineapple Fruit Tea (瑞豐經典鳳梨水果茶, VEGAN) A traditional fruit tea made from boiled pineapple chunks.

Kenting Night Market, Kenting

Kenting Night Market is unique in Taiwan in that it has beach party vibes. There are at least a dozen cocktail stalls (alcohol is vegan, right?), often playing loud electronic music. Some vendors can even be seen in beach attire. Here are some vegetarian treats I found there (also see my Kenting Night Market guide, Kenting National Park guide, and where to stay in Kenting for more info).

• A Sheng’s Grilled Corn (阿勝石頭鄉烤珍珠玉米, VEGAN) This is one of the night market’s most famous and longest-running stalls. You choose a corn, pay by weight, and he grills it up.

• Kenting Night Market Fried Milk (墾丁大街爍炸鮮奶) There are multiple stands in this night market selling deep fried milk. This is just one of them.

• Colorful Sweet Potato Balls (阿部玖肆彩色地瓜球, VEGAN) This stall does all kinds of vibrantly colored fried sweet potato balls, including Pokemon and other cartoon themed ones. There’s a range of powder toppings to choose from. It’s not on GoogleMaps, but I spotted it at the western end of the night market, on south side of the street.

• Le Pelican Gelato (貝力岡法式冰淇淋) Tasty gelato, perfect for beach holiday feels.

• Pizza Swell (波波窯烤手工披薩) Wood-fired pizza truck with vegetarian options and cocktails, found among a group of food and cocktail trucks at the eastern end of the night market.

• Sweet Canteen (甘味食堂, VEGAN options) All-vegetarian restaurant in Hengchun (15-minute drive from Kenting Night Market) that has dragon fruit wraps with dragon fruit yogurt sauce & veggie meat. They also have vegetarian soups, noodles, dumplings, and more.

Dongdamen Night Market, Hualien

Hualien’s largest night market is especially known for its aboriginal foods, which usually means boar meat. Watch for another aboriginal specialty, tubes of bamboo filled with sticky rice (竹筒飯), but ask first because some have little bits of meat, while others use mushrooms and/or tofu and should be vegan.

See more info in my guide to Hualien. Also note, Dongdamen is still open post Hualien Earthquake, but much quieter than usual. See my guide to things that are still open in Hualien since the earthquake.

• The Only Vegetarian Food in Dongdamen (東大門唯一風味素食, VEGAN) How’s that for a name to attract vegetarians (even though it’s not true)? They do vegetarian wontons (dry or in soup), vegetarian braised pork rice, and delicious soups that come in bamboo tubes.

• Good Luck Sour Plum Soup (缸缸好酸梅湯, VEGAN options) Traditional sour plum drink, herbal tea (青草茶), tea eggs, and stewed tofu.

• Exploding Green Onion Cakes (炸彈蔥油餅, VEGAN option) super oily kind with egg that exploded in the oil. Vegans can order without the egg.

• Dongmaiju Grilled Corn (東麥局 烤玉米, VEGAN option) Grilled corn, but you need to ask for the vegetarian one.

• Pa Pa Charlie’s Fusion Naan Pizza (查理巴巴創意饢披薩) Pizza on naan bread with vegetarian options.

• Kaiyunwu QQ Sweet Potato Balls (開運屋QQ蛋地瓜球, VEGAN) Deep fried sweet potato balls.

• Yida Shaved Ice Desserts (億大雪花冰) The usual selection of shaved ice and snowflake ice (雪花冰), but most are dairy-based. They may have a few vegan options if you ask.

• Mashed Potato Omelet (強蛋餅) Egg pancakes (蛋餅 or danbing) with several vegetarian options. There are some types you don’t usually see at breakfast shops, such as the mashed potato and cheese danbing.

Luodong Night Market, Yilan

Luodong Night Market is the best night market in Yilan. Yilan county is famous for its green onion cakes, which are usually vegetarian (heads up: some contain lard). So I was surprised to find that a lot of the ones in this night market are actually pocket-styles ones stuffed with meat. So watch out for that!

This night market is a square shape with a park in the middle. See my recommended walking route through Luodong Night Market for more info and my general guide to Yilan for planning your visit.

• Shunhao Vegetarian Food (順好素食, VEGAN) All-vegetarian shop with a few chairs, in the middle of the busiest part of the night market. I loved their braised veggie meat rice (素肉飯), which came with with chunks of tofu, veggie meat, peanuts, goji berries, corn, and wood ear mushrooms. They also have noodle soup (素湯麵) and stew (素食羹).

• Little Bing’s Peanut Brittle Ice Cream Wraps (小丙花生捲冰淇淋). The usual peanut cilantro ice cream wraps. May be vegan – just ask.

• Ajie’s Hong Kong-Style Pancakes (阿傑港式薄餅) Poofy pancakes with various fillings.

• Stinky French Fries (臭薯條公園路店, VEGAN options) The same stinky tofu “fries” I described in Raohe Night Market. Vegetarian or vegan depending on the sauce you choose.

• Shaved Ice and Cold Drinks Stop (冰雪冷飲部) A large and popular shaved and snowflake ice shop. Most have dairy.

• Wei Jie Heart Tapioca Dessert (魏姐包心粉圓 公園一店 and second location here, VEGAN options) Stuffed heart tapioca (包心粉圓) are little gooey balls stuffed with red bean. At this shop, they are served hot, which contrasts nicely with the iced desserts they come with.

• Buytomgray (白糖粿販賣所, VEGAN) Just one block outside the night market, this stall does traditional rice cakes (白糖粿 or baitangguo) coated in sweet powders including the usual peanut (花生) and black sesame (芝麻) but also more unusual plum powder (梅子) and cinnamon (肉桂) (see pic below).

Heads up that green onion cakes are a specialty of Yilan, but a lot of the ones you’ll see at Luodong Night Market (like the spiral shaped ones) contain little bits of pork. And even ones that seem vegetarian, like the typical flat round ones served with ice (option) – the ones you can see all over Taiwan – are sometimes fried in lard.

Unfortunately, I didn’t find any green onion cakes at Luodong Night Market which were meat and lard free.