// TAIPEI 台北 // SONGSHAN 松山 //
rao he night market
饒河夜市
the correct answer to best tourist night market in taipei
Over the decades, the night markets of Taipei have ebbed and flowed. Some grew larger. Some shrunk over time. Some moved. Some got renovated to the point of unrecognizability. Some gained popularity, some got overtaken by tourists, some became less appealing over time. In the grand landscape of Taipei night markets, Rao He Night Market has aged quite well. It’s been consistently lively, and despite the increasing influx of tourists, it’s been a consistently solid night market, particularly for food.
Since its beginnings in the 80s, Rao He Night Market has grown to be one of the most iconic night markets in the city, loved by both tourists and locals, capturing the bustle and vibrant energy of a night market with classic and trendy stalls crammed in together in cohesive chaos. Named after the street it occupies, Rao He Night Market began as a traditional produce market back during the Japanese colonial era before it became a night market destination.
Like many night markets, it is anchored around a historic temple. Ci You Temple is a Matsu temple that is over two centuries old, and the first thing you see when you exit the Songshan MRT station. It’s a grand sight, the intricate carvings and architectural embellishments make for a dramatic scene adjacent to the neon lit, lantern adorned main entrance of the night market itself.
Spanning over 600 meters and packed with over 100 vendors, Rao He Night Market is just the right amount of chaos you want in a night market. The bright lights and punchy scents and energetic sounds overwhelm all your senses in the best way. It looks, sounds, smells, feels like a post card perfect night market. The vendors are neatly lined up with tables and chairs clustered in the middle, and on any decent night the street is just crowded enough for you to have to slow down your pace but not so crowded you’ll feel stuck in traffic entirely.
The best way to experience the market is with a pocket full of cash and a patient grazing appetite. You’ll want to gauge which vendors to hit, get a good variety, choose places that have a line but maybe wait for the line to die down a bit and check out what else is around. Grab a snack while you wander. Rao He is most known for the famous pepper buns stand (savory pork and pepper filled buns that are baked in a tandoori-like oven) and for the herbal pork rib soup (simmered with lots of Chinese medicinal herbs and a particularly popular choice on cold nights), but the market has a great variety of options. You’ll find all your classics — fried chicken, braised foods, sweet potato balls, oyster omelettes, grilled skewers, candied fruit — but there are also plenty of more creative innovations, and at least a few appearances of whatever is the current trendy snack in the street food scene.
sometimes they have open air performances across from the temple, making for a particularly festive environment
Compared to some other famed night markets, Rao He isn’t too big to be overwhelming, while the scene starts to blend together after a while, it’s pretty much impossible to get lost (it’s all one street). It’s heavy on the food, but there are some other vendors and shops for souvenirs, toys and clothes (although if you’re looking to shop for cheap clothes you should go to the wholesale clothing district Wufenpu which isn’t too far away).
Rao He Night Market is as much a meal as it is an activity as it is a cultural experience, and whether for tourists or locals, remains a well-loved choice for a reason.
the details
| Address | Raohe St, Songshan District, Taipei City |
| Tripadvisor | https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g13808515-d561371-Reviews-Raohe_Street_Night_Market-Xinyi_District_Taipei.html |
| Hours | generally a good amount of vendors are set up by 4:30 or 5 PM and most start to close up by 12:00 AM, though it can be later on weekends |
| Price | $-$$, night market prices are never too bad, but given its location, it is higher than markets in the outskirts of town or other cities |
| Aesthetic | traditional, neon light filled and lantern adorned, everything you’d want a night market to look like |
good to know
Go here for: a classic night market experience, a fun dinner you have to work for, a late night snack or post-dinner activity
Order this: definitely get the pepper buns, it’s worth the wait (but maybe grab another snack nearby so you can eat while you wait)
Amount of time to spend: 1-2 hours is a solid amount of time, it’s not too big but you’ll want to take your time
When to come: earlier in the evening means less crowds, crowds usually peak around 7-10pm, and then slows down by 11ish but the vendors also start to close up so earlier is better
Getting here: take the green line to Songshan Station, use exit 5.
Other things to note: generally pretty tourist friendly, a lot of places have English translations and when in doubt, just point
Last visited: October 2019
Last updated: October 2022
