Traditional markets in Taiwan are aggregations of a variety of different types of vendors. The defining feature of traditional markets is vendors who sell fresh and processed produce and meat. Intermingled with these vendors are other vendors selling a wide variety of items ranging from specialty food items to common household items to clothing and shoes to tools. The term 'traditional market' may refer to a single, enclosed area or to a general aggregation of vendors along the roads of a given area. These areas also commonly include restaurants and beverage shops. Many people in Taiwan purchase their food daily daily at traditional markets.
Address: 台中市西區向上路一段218巷 Ln. 218, Sec. 1, Xiangshang Rd., West Dist., Taichung City
There is a parking lot about 100m from the intersection of Zhongmei and Xianshang Roads. Of course you can park a scooter just about anywhere, but the streets, lanes and alleys are small and jam packed.
洪紅茶冰 (Hong Iced Black Tea) is on Zhongmei Road about 25 meters from Xianshang Road. This is a small cart with has a red sign and yellow letters that say 洪紅茶冰 (Hong Iced Black Tea). They only sell iced black tea, so all you have to do is tell them how many you want and what size-大,中,小 (da, zhong, xiao). A small is 10NT, a medium is 15 NT, and a large is 20 NT. 向上水餃 (Xianshang Dumplings) is on Zhongmei Road about 100m from Xianshang Road next to a small alley. It’s a small stand with a white sign with red letters that say 向上水餃 (Xiang Shang Dumplings). There are also two larger signs that are red with white letters that say the same thing. They sell boiled dumplings with pork filling for 2NT each. You just ask for how many you want. You can get these to go, or you can sit at a table in a small area behind the stand. Also, you can buy uncooked dumplings to bring home. Just tell them how many you want ‘冷凍’ (ren dong), which means uncooked. The oldest, original part of the market is a covered walkway on Zhongmei Road about 100m from Xianshang Road. There are many different types of vendors in here, but none of them are especially unique or interesting. In sum, they pretty much sell stuff you can buy just about anywhere. There is probably no article of Taiwanese food you couldn’t find here. Walking through here gives you a real idea of what an old Chinese marketplace must have been like. At the intersection of 向上北路 (Xianshang Bei Road) and 向上北路224巷 (Xianshang Bei Road Lane 224 ), there are two vendors that have some of the lowest prices in the area for fruits and vegetables. The fruit vendor is on Xianshang Bei Road to the left of the entrance of the covered market area, and the vegetable vendor is about 25m down Lane 224 on your left. Both of these places sell by the piece or by weight. You may see hand written signs that say things like 4把50元or 4顆100元 which means how many of something you get for how much money. 專賣澎湖空運海產 (Specialty Vendor of Peng hu Air Freight Seafood) On Lane 224 inside the covered area of the market, there is a small seafood vendor. This vendor has a white sign with blue and red writing on it. The name on the sign says 專賣澎湖空運海產 (Specialty Vendor of Peng hu Air Freight Seafood). It is about 50m down the lane on your right. As with most seafood vendors, you buy by weight. Under a green awning at the corner of 向上北路 (Xianshang Bei Road) and 華美路 (Huamei Road) there is a restaurant with no name. They have a red sign with white letters that gives the names and prices of the food. One good thing to try here is 魯肉飯 (Lou Rou Fan) which is soy sauce-marinated ground pork over rice. One bowl costs 25 NT. On Huamei Road about 25m form Xianshang Road, there is a small restaurant that sells 4 things - 肉燥飯 (Rou Zao Fan) is 20 NT, 魷魚肉羹麵/飯/米粉/冬粉 (Youyu Rou Geng Mian/ Fan/ Mi Fen/ Dong Fen) is 30 NT. This is a kind of thick soup served over your choice of different types of noodles or rice. 魷魚肉羹 (Youyu Rou Geng) is 30 NT and 乾麵 (Gan Mian) is 20 NT. There is a large sign with a picture of rose on it high above the street with the name of the place on it. Over the cooking area at the front of the restaurant, there is a yellow sign with the names of the dishes on it. You have to tell them what you want, and they will ask you 內用外帶 (Nei Yong Wai Dai) which means “for here or go.” The seating area is small, and second place dose a lot of business. This place does a lot of business because the food is delicious and cheap. If you want 內用 (Nei Yong), you may have to wait a while. You should be happy with whatever you ask for. On Xianshang Bei Road a short distance away from the market, there is a restaurant an the left side of the street as you approach 美村路 (Meicun Road). This is a place that sells 清蒸肉圓 (steamed ba wan) in a special, delicious sauce. They have a large, white sign that says 狀元 (Chuang Yuen) in green and 清蒸肉圓 (Ching Jen Rou Yuan), which roughly translates as ‘top student’ steamed glutinous rice flour dumplings. Though the name is a bit self explanatory, it may be helpful to know that these are large, gloopy, semi - transparent dumplings with pork filling. Most places sell ba wan fried, but this is one of the few in Taichung that sells them steamed. Just ask for一份 (Yi Fen) and you get one serving of 2 ba wan. They also have a full menu of standard Chinese fare. 阿川鵝肉 (A Chan E Rou) At the intersection of 美村路一段 (Meicun Road) and 中美街224巷 (Zhongmei Street Lane 224) there is a restaurant that sells 鵝肉 (goose) They have a large sign that says 阿川鵝肉 (A Chan E Rou) in white with a picture of goose on it. They sell by weight. They will ask you which part of goose you want.
Jianguo Market (建國市場) - Opening hours:
Address: 台中市東區建國路 224 號 No.224, Jianguo Rd., East Dist., Taichung City
Jianguo market is at the corner of 建國路 (JianguoRoad) and 八德街 (Bade Street) near the main train station. The market runs for about two blocks along Bade Street, and there are also many vendors along the side streets off of Bade Street. This is the biggest traditional market in Taichung. Aside from being a market for everyday shoppers, it is also a wholesale market, supplying other traditional markets and restaurants in Taichung. Look for signs that say 寄車 (Ji Che), which are for pay parking. These usually charge 30NT per hour. You can also park your car or motorcycle at the intersection of 八德街 (Bade Street) and 復興路四段 (Fuxing Road Section 4). Someone will clip a ticket onto your car or motorcycle, and you can then go to any convenience store to pay the parking fee. The fee is printed on the ticket. Inside the market building at the corner of Jianguo and Bade Street there is a warren of small vendors selling everything from household items to frog’s legs.
蘋果專賣店 (Specialty Vendor of Apples) On 八德街 (Bade Street) about 500m from the bridge at Fuxing Road, there is a stand with red canvas and white letters that say 蘋果專賣店 (Specialty Vendor of Apple). They sell apples based on the sizes of the apples. For example, you can get 3 large apples for 100NT, or 13 smaller apples for the same price. You can buy the apples in a bag or they will place them in a gift box. 雪農產行(Shiue Agricultural Production) On 新民街 (Xinmin Street) about 30m from 南京路 (Nanjing Road), there is a sign with red and green letters that say 雪農產行(Shiue Agricultural Production). They sell a variety of vegetables. You may see handwritten signs that say things like 一把10元, 一斤30元, 一粒5元 or 一條10元, which means how many of something you get for how much money. 三郎水果行 (San Lang Fruit Vendor) This is a popular fruit vendor on 武德街 (Wude Street) about 20m from 八德街 (Bade Street). It’s always the most crowded fruit vendor at this market. They sell just about any kind of fruit you can imagine. The stand has a red canvas awning with green letters that say 三郎水果行 (San Lang Fruit Vendor). They sell fruit by weight or by the piece. 萬家香 (Wan Jia Shiang) There is a store called 萬家香 (Wan Jia Shiang) at 建國路228號 (228 Jianguo Road). This store has a red sign and white letters. It sells cured meat, pork sausage and liver sausage. Their most popular product is ham. 阿鄉 (A Shiang) Many blogs recommend a small restaurant, that’s right inside the large market building at the corner of Jianguo and Bade Street. There is a small sign on the wall in front of the restaurant that says 阿鄉 (A Shiang) 1987. It is open daily from 7am till 2pm, and it is closed on Mondays. They sell 雞腿飯 (ji tui fan - chicken leg with rice), 排骨飯 (pai gu fan – pork filet with rice) and 爌肉飯 (kuang rou fan – pork belly with rice). On the blogs we read, people say their meals are very delicious, so even though it is small and dingy, it is worth a try. When you order a meal like ji tui fan (chicken leg with rice), you have to select three side dishes from the display case. You can just point at what you want. The prices are on the wall behind the counter. Ji tui fan, for example, costs 70NT. 聖芸 (Sheng Yun) vegetarian restaurant is at 建國路197號 (197 Jianguo Road). It has a white sign and red letters. It is open from 6:30am to 1:30pm. They sell many kinds of noodles, soups and a tasty kind of ground pork with rice. The most popular soup is jute soup because while jute soup generally tastes bitter, the soup here does not.
Second Market (第二市場) - Opening hours:6:30am~3:00pm
Address: 台中市中區三民路2 段87 號 No.87, Sec. 2, Sanmin Rd., Central Dist., Taichung City
At Second Market all of the vendors are under a roof. There is a map of the layout of the market at each entrance. Second Market assigns numbers to all of the vendors. In the descriptions of selected vendors below, the ‘vendor number’ is the number assigned to the vendor by the market authority. The numbers include the Chinese characters 臨 (lin) and 內 (nei). For example, if a vendor’s number is 臨175, there will be black letters on the vendor’s stand.
菜頭粿王糯米腸 (Radish Cake Wong Sticky Rice Sausage) is at 三民路二段87號 (87 Sanmin Rd, Sec.2). It is a small vendor’s stand. It has a yellow sign with red letters that say 菜頭粿王糯米腸 (Radish Cake Wong Sticky Rice Sausage). It also has black letters that say 臨175 on it. It has another white sign with red letters that say 菜頭粿+米腸+蛋 55, which means radish cake plus sticky rice sausage plus egg cost 55NT. Just say 一份菜頭粿+米腸+蛋 (yi fen tsai tou guei jia mi chang jia dan). They also sell 甜不辣 (tempura), 大腸 (pork intestines), and soup. It is open from 7am to 6pm. You can get this to go, or you can eat it at tables. 三代福州意麵 (Three Generations Fuzhou Yee Mien) Just across the street from this vendor, there is a white sign with red letters that say 三代福州意麵 (Three Generations Fuzhou Yee Mien) and blue letters that say 餛飩‧福州魚丸‧排骨 (won ton, fu jou fish balls, pai gu). It is open 8:30am to 4:30pm. This is a small restaurant that sells many kinds of noodle dishes, 糯米腸 (sticky rice sausage), 滷味 (soya-mixed meat) and soup. You can order 一碗乾意麵 (yi wan gan yee mien). One bowl costs 40NT. When you order something, they will ask 內用外帶? (Nei yong wai dai?), which means, ‘for here or to go?’ There are many tables inside where you can sit. You can also buy uncooked won ton to bring home. A box of won ton costs 120NT. Also, you can buy a bottle of their special sauce 麻醬 (ma jiang). One bottle costs 150NT. Their number is 內153. 楊田肉舖 (Yang Tian Meat Vendor) Near the hexangular pillar in the center of the market, there is a white sign with black letters that say 專賣黑豬肉 (Specialty Vendor of Black Pork). It also has red letters that say 楊田肉舖 (Yang Tian Meat Vendor) with their telephone number on it. It has a white board with blue letters that say 今日肉價 (today’s prices). There is also a sign that says TFP (Taiwan Fresh Pig) on a black pig’s body. This is a quality mark for pork in Taiwan. It is closed on Mondays. They sell 里肌肉 (li ji rou – pig’s back), 五花肉 (wu hua rou – pig’s belly) and 胛心肉 (jia shin rou – near the pig’s front of feet). This meat vendor is the most popular one at Second Market. You can choose which meat you want and look at the white board to check the price. 三寶剉冰 (Shan Bau Shaved Ice) is on 三民路二段第二市場三之一 (Sanmin Rd, Sec.2, Second Market Third of First). It has a banner with dark red letters that say 第二市場三寶剉冰 (Second Market Shan Bau Shaved Ice) and blue letters that say 各式剉冰 (many kinds of shaved ice). They sell 剉冰 (shaved ice), 咖啡 (coffee), 柳橙汁 (orange juice), 檸檬汁 (lemon juice), 木瓜牛奶 (papaya with milk) and 酪梨牛奶 (avocado with milk). The shaved ice is served in bowls and mixed with various ingredients. One good thing to try here is 一碗綜合剉冰 (yi wan zong he cuo bing). This is a bowl of shaved ice served with red beans, peanuts, pearl barley, and sweet beans. One bowl costs 40NT. 李海魯肉飯 (Lee Hai Braised Pork Rice) Their vendor number is 內 98. It has a yellow sign with red letters that say 李海魯肉飯 (Lee Hai Braised Pork Rice). It is open from 5pm to 5am. A small is 45NT and a large is 55NT. You can say 一碗大的魯肉飯 (yi wan da de lou rou fan), which is braised pork served over rice. You can get this to go, or sit at tables. 山河魯肉飯 (Shan Ho Braised Pork Rice) Another good place to get braised pork dishes here is 山河魯肉飯 (Shan Ho Braised Pork Rice). Their vendor number is 內 103. It has a red sign with yellow letters that say 第二市場山河魯肉飯 (Second Market Shan Ho Braised pork rice). There is also another large sign that is red with white letters that say the same thing. It is open from 4am to 2:30pm. You can ask for 一碗魯肉飯 (yi wan lou rou fan), which is braised pork served over rice . One bowl costs 45NT. It has two dinning areas, so you can eat it there or get it to go. Both 李海魯肉飯 (Lee Hai Braised Pork Rice) and 山河魯肉飯 (Shan Ho Braised Pork Rice) are famous for their delicious braised pork rice. 茂川肉丸 (Mao Chuan Meat Balls) is outside the market at 中正路225號 (225 Zhongzheng Rd). It has an orange sign with red letters that say茂川肉丸 (Mao Chuan Meat Balls) and black letters that say 原丁山肉圓 (Yuen Ding Shan Meat Balls). Their vendor number is A01. There is also another large sign that is red with white letters that say the same thing. They sell 意麵 (yee mien), 餛飩麵 (won ton noodles), 肉丸 (meat balls) and soup. This is a small restaurant that has an air conditioned dining area. 顏記肉包 (Yan Ji Meat buns) is at 三民路二段103號 (103 Sanmin Rd, Sec.2). It has a yellow sign that says 顏記三代老店餛飩湯 (Yan Ji San Dai Lao Dian Hun Dun Tang ) in red, 肉包正第二市場 (Rou Bao Zheng Di Er Shi Chang) in blue and A17 in black. There is another sign with orange and green letters that say the same thing on the glass. They only sell two things － 肉包 (meat buns) and 餛飩湯 (won ton soup). A typical order here is 一顆肉包和一碗餛飩湯 (yi ke rou bao han yi wan huen duen tang) which means one meat bun and a bowl of won ton soup. Each Meat bun costs 30NT and won ton soup costs 40NT. You can eat there or get it to go.
Third Market (第三市場) - Opening hours:
Address: 台中市南區臺中路 90 號 No.90, Taichung Rd., South Dist., Taichung City
Third Market runs for about one block on Heping Road and for a couple of blocks in either direction where Heping Road intersects with Minyi Street. The area has a covering of colorful plastic streamers stretched between the buildings over the streets. 蔡紅豆餅 (Tsai Red Bean Cake) is on Heping St right at the market entrance. This is a small cart. It has a purple sign with yellow letters and red letters that say蔡紅豆餅 (tsai hung dou bing). It sells 紅豆餅 (red bean cake), 奶油餅 (butter cake), and 蘿蔔絲 (radish silk cake). You can ask for 一個紅豆餅 (yi ge hung dou bing) to get a red bean cake. Each cake costs 7NT and three cost 20NT. 廣記肉鬆專門店 (Guang Ji Fried Pork Fiber Specialty Shop) is at和平街13號 (13 Heping Street). The opening hours are 9am to 8pm. It has a white sign with red and blue letters with the name of the shop on it. It has been in business for 70 years. They sell 肉乾 (dried meat), 香腸 (sausage) and 肉鬆 (shredded pork). 肉鬆 (roo sung) costs 300NT per 300 grams. You can also buy a gift box and choose what you want to put in it. 榮記餅店 (Rong Ji Cake Shop) is at 復興路三段370巷11號 (370 Fuxing Road, Section 3, Lane 11). It has a yellow sign with dark red letters and has been in business for many years. They sell delicious cakes. 兩相好 (liang shiang hau–fried bread) costs 220NT per 600 grams, and 鹹蛋糕 (shian dan gau–salty cake) costs 150NT per 600 grams. These are two of their most delicious selections. They also sell 檸檬蛋糕 (ning meng dangau – lemon cake) 鳯梨酥 (feng li su – pineapple cake) and 老婆餅 (lau po bing – a sweet cake) by the piece for 20NT. 紅茶 (Hong Cha Cart) – There is a no-name cart that has a yellow sign with black letters that say 紅茶 (hong cha) at 民意街53號 (53 Minyi Street). They sell 紅茶冰 (iced black tea), and their opening hours are 9am to 6pm. A medium (中 – zhong) is 25NT, and a small (小 – small) is 20NT. You can say, 一杯小杯紅茶冰 (Yi bei shiau bei hong cha bing). They also sell 冬瓜茶 (dung gua cha - tea flavored with a Chinese squash) and 咖啡紅茶 (ka fei hung cha-tea flavored with coffee). Vegetable Vendor – There is a no-name vegetable vendor next to 廣記肉鬆專門店 (Guang Ji Fried Pork Fiber Specialty Shop). All the vegetables there are very fresh. When you buy any vegetable, the vendor will give you a bunch of green onions for free.
Address: 台中市西區大明街 9 號 No.9, Daming St., West Dist., Taichung City
Fifth Market begins at the corner of 大明和自立街 (Daming and Tzli Street). There is a big sign on the building at the corner that says 第五市場 (di wu shr chang), and it also says The Fifth Market in English. The market has stalls, vendors and shops along both Daming and Tzli Street, as well as on 樂群 (Luchuen Street). There are many different vendors and shops inside the building. There is a parking lot on Luchuen Street near Tzli Street. You can also park a scooter on the streets, lanes and alleys.
龍成肉舖 (Long Cheng Meat Vendor) is inside the market building near an entrance on 自立街7號 (7 Tzli Street) and 自立街9號 (9 Tzli Street). There is a stand with blue letters that say 龍成肉舖 (Long Cheng Meat Vendor). They sell meat by weight. It is very popular and their meat sells out quickly every day. There are no price signs, so you have to ask the vendor 肉一斤賣多少錢? (Rou yi jin mai duo shao cian?), which means, How much is this? 聯發製麵廠 (Lian Fa Jhih Mian Chang) is at 大明街7號 (7 Daming Street). There is a stand with a yellow sign with blue letters that say 聯發製麵廠 (Lian Fa Jhih Mian Chang). They sell uncooked noodles like 意麵 (Yi Mian) and 全麥麵 (Cyuan Mai Mian). They sell prepackaged noodles and they also sell noodles by weight. 意麵 (Yi Mian) costs 35NT for one small bag. 大方烤雞 (Da Fang Roast Chicken) is inside the market building near an entrance on Tzli Street. There is a stand with a yellow sign with red letters that say 大方烤雞 (Da Fang Roast Chicken). They sell 煙燻烤雞肉/鴨肉/鵝肉 (yan syun kao ji rou, ya rou and e rou- barbequed chicken, duck and goose). A small is serving costs 150NT and a large is 250NT. Just tell them 一份小的or一份大的 (yi fen xiao de) (yi fen da de), which means one small or one large 煙燻烤雞肉/鴨肉/鵝肉 (yan syun kao ji rou, ya rou and e rou). For example, if you want a large serving of chicken, you should say, “Yi fen da de ji rou.” Da Fang Roast Chicken is popular, and many blogs recommend it. There is a vegetable vendor with no name next to Da Fang Roast Chicken. There is a small white sign with blue letters that say GAP (Good Agriculture Practice) displayed on their stand. They sell by piece or by weight. There are no price signs, so you have to ask 怎麼賣? (Ze me mai?), which means, How much is this? And just point at want you want. 麻糬之家 (Mochi Jhih Jia) is inside the market building near an entrance on大明街9之1號 (9-1 Daming Street). There is a stand with a purple sign with white letters that say 麻糬之家 (Mochi Jhih Jia). They sell mochi, herb jelly and vegetarian gelatin. Their mochi is their most well-known item. It comes in three favors- peanut, sesame and red bean. There are signs that say 每盒10粒,一盒50元, which means you get 10 mochi for 50NT. 太空紅茶冰 (Tai Kong Iced Black Tea) is at 樂群街41-1號 (41-1 Luchuen Street). There is a cart with a white sign with small blue letters that say 太空 (Tai Kong). It also has big red letters that say 紅茶冰 (Iced Black Tea). They sell iced black tea in plastic bags and in cups. Previously in Taiwan, drinks were always sold in plastic bags, and some people still prefer to buy it this way. Also, you get more tea for the same amount of money that you pay for a cup.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Taichung
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Taichung - updated May 2024
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Taichung Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
