🅿️ You’re living in or visiting Bali, and craving something different from your usual nasi campur and smoothie bowls 🍜🌴. Taiwan keeps popping up in your TikTok feed with sizzling night markets and bubble tea towers—but where do you even start?
🅰️ With so many food stalls, cities, and local names you can’t pronounce, it’s easy to feel lost 😵💫. You don’t want to land in Taipei and spend hours trying to figure out where the real street food gems are—or worse, end up in tourist traps selling overpriced snacks that don’t hit the spot.
🆂 The great news is, Taiwan is one of Asia’s top foodie paradises—and for travelers from Bali, it’s just a short, budget-friendly flight away. From grilled pepper buns in Raohe Night Market to deep-fried giant chicken cutlets in Kaohsiung, there’s a tasty adventure waiting in every alley!
🆃 “I flew from Denpasar to Taipei with zero food plans,” laughs Fajar, an Indonesian food vlogger based in Ubud. “But within 30 minutes of landing, I was slurping beef noodle soup at a backstreet stall near Ximending. And don’t even get me started on the pineapple cakes—I brought back five boxes for my neighbors!”
🅴 Whether you’re visiting Taipei, Tainan, or Taichung, Taiwan’s street food scenes are packed with unforgettable bites. Think stinky tofu that actually tastes amazing, chewy mochi-on-a-stick, and late-night oyster omelets under glowing lanterns. It’s spicy, sweet, savory, and so addictive you’ll forget your hotel buffet exists 😋🔥
🅰️ Ready to eat your way through Taiwan like a local? Let’s dive into the top night markets, signature dishes, and street snacks that every Bali-based traveler should try! ✈️🍢🧋
Table of Contents
- Taiwan’s Must-Visit Night Markets for Bali Foodies 🍢
- Top Taiwanese Street Snacks Every Traveler Should Try 🧋
- Budget Breakdown: Cost of a Taiwan Food Tour from Bali 💸
- Real Story #1: “I Blew 1,000 NT$ at Shilin—and Loved Every Bite” 😋
- Flight & Visa Hacks: Smooth Bali ✈️ Taiwan Travel Tips 🛂
- Quick Mandarin & Etiquette Guide for Night-Market Newbies 🗣️
- Halal & Allergy-Safe Eating Tips for Indonesian Travelers 🕌
- FAQs for Bali-Based Travelers Exploring Taiwan Street Food ❓
Taiwan’s Must-Visit Night Markets for Bali Foodies 🍢
Taiwan’s night-market scene is like a giant buffet that never closes—and each city adds its own flavour. Start in Taipei’s Shilin Night Market, the country’s biggest, where neon lights guide you to giant fried-chicken cutlets, pepper-crusted buns, and arcade game alleys.
Hop on the metro to Raohe Street Night Market for fragrant pork ribs stewed in herbal soup and Insta-ready rainbow mochi. Down south, Tainan Garden Night Market spreads more than 400 stalls across an open field every Thu–Sun night; chase coffin bread (seafood chowder inside toast) while a DJ spins K-pop.
Finally, Kaohsiung’s Liuhe Night Market pairs palm trees with sizzling squid skewers and pineapple juice served in the fruit. 🚇 A high-speed-rail pass lets you sample all four in one long weekend, making this the ultimate Taiwan food tour from Bali itinerary.
Top Taiwanese Street Snacks Every Traveler Should Try 🧋
First bite? Beef noodle soup—slow-braised brisket in five-spice broth topped with tangy pickled greens. Next, brave stinky tofu (臭豆腐): it smells wild but tastes like crispy cheese once drizzled with garlic sauce.
Grab a paper bag of 胡椒餅 pepper pork buns at Raohe; juicy filling explodes, so lean forward! Bubble-tea fans must order brown-sugar boba milk 🧋—pearls caramelised until chewy and warm. For dessert, hunt mango shaved ice piled higher than a surfboard and showered in condensed milk 🥭.
Still hungry? Pick up small-sausage-in-big-sausage—sticky rice stuffed with garlicky pork—and O-ah-jen oyster omelette slicked with sweet chilli glaze. Each snack costs NT$30–90, so even a student budget covers ten dishes a night. Pro tip: pace yourself with sugar-free winter-melon tea between oily treats.
Budget Breakdown: Cost of a Taiwan Food Tour from Bali 💸
A return low-cost flight Denpasar (DPS) → Taipei (TPE) starts around USD 140 when booked three months ahead. Add a Taiwan High-Speed Rail three-day pass (USD 75) to leap between Taipei, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.
Dorm beds in Ximen run USD 12–18; capsule hotels with skyline windows cost USD 25–35. Street-food spend averages NT$500/day (~IDR 250 k) for eight to ten snacks plus bubble-tea refills. Throw in a local SIM (NT$300), EasyCard top-up (NT$400), and souvenirs like pineapple cakes or cute soy-sauce keychains.
Four nights on the island—including flights—total roughly USD 380–450, cheaper than a weekend splurge at Bali’s beach clubs. 💡 Tip: travel off-peak (Feb–Apr or Oct–Nov) to snag promo fares and cooler weather perfect for queueing at night markets.
Real Story #1: “I Blew 1,000 NT$ at Shilin—and Loved Every Bite” 😋
“I dared myself to spend a full 1,000 NT$ in one evening,” grins Putri Ayu, a 36-year-old Indonesian marketing intern from Denpasar. “First stop was the famous 炸大雞排—a chicken cutlet bigger than my face. I asked for extra spicy, of course.” 🌶️
Before she could finish, a vendor waved her over for grilled king oyster mushrooms brushed with soy butter. “Then I saw a line for cheese potato—melted cheddar overflowing like lava. People shouted ‘加辣嗎?’ and I just nodded.” By snack six (deep-fried milk cubes dusted with icing sugar) her friends on Instagram begged for calorie counts.
“The grand finale was sweet-and-sour tempura balls at a tiny cart run by an auntie who’s been frying since the 1980s,” Putri laughs. She hit the 1,000 NT$ mark after dessert tofu pudding and still walked back to her hostel. “Worth every New Taiwan dollar. My only regret? Not buying stretchy pants.” 😂
Flight & Visa Hacks: Smooth Bali ✈️ Taiwan Travel Tips 🛂
Visa-free entry for Indonesian passport holders ended in 2025, but securing an online eVisa is simple: apply seven days before departure, pay USD 50, print the approval letter. Carry onward travel proof and hostel bookings—immigration officers in Taoyuan Airport love tidy itineraries.
Choose red-eye flights to beat queues and enjoy Taipei breakfast on arrival: scallion pancakes and soy milk at 6 a.m. Airlines weigh cabin bags strictly (7 kg), so pack light, leaving room for pineapple cakes on the return.
Download the Taiwan Railways and Metro Taipei apps, and buy an EasyCard right after customs (NT$100 deposit). Need a SIM? Chunghwa’s unlimited 5-day data plan costs NT$300 and keeps Google Translate handy for menu boards.
Quick Mandarin & Etiquette Guide for Night-Market Newbies 🗣️
- 你好 (nǐ hǎo) = hello; 谢谢 (xiè xie) = thank you 🙏
- 多少钱? (duō shǎo qián?) = “How much?”—use your fingers to flash numbers if the reply is rapid-fire.
- Point, pay, then step aside; others will push gently if you block the flow.
- Trash bins sit near drink stalls; keep lanes clean. ♻️
- Most vendors use cash; a few accept contactless via EasyCard—look for the green sensor icon.
- Spicy level: 小辣 (xiǎo là) mild, 中辣 (zhōng là) medium, 大辣 (dà là) fire! 🔥
- Slurp soup loudly—it’s a compliment. But never stick chopsticks upright in food; that symbolises incense for the dead.
Learn a few phrases and you’ll earn smiles—and maybe extra toppings—from proud stall owners.
Halal & Allergy-Safe Eating Tips for Indonesian Travelers 🕌
Taipei hosts several Muslim-friendly stalls near the Grand Mosque; look for green crescent signs reading 清真 (qīng zhēn). Shilin and Raohe both feature halal chicken cutlets cooked in separate oil.
Vegetarian Buddhists also help: dishes labelled 素 avoid meat and alcohol by default—try oyster-free veggie omelets if you’re allergic to shellfish. Gluten-sensitive? Ask for 無麩質 (wú fū zhì) and stick to grilled squid or corn.
Bring a laminated card listing allergies in Mandarin; many vendors appreciate the effort and will point you to safe alternatives. And remember: Taiwan’s tap water is potable, so refill bottles freely to cool off between spicy bites.
FAQs for Bali-Based Travelers Exploring Taiwan Street Food ❓
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What’s the best season for night-market hopping?
October–April. Cooler nights mean shorter lines and juicier strawberries for fresh-cream mochi.
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Can I pay with Indonesian rupiah or US dollars?
No—convert to NT$ at Bali airport or use ATMs in Taiwan (look for the red “Plus” logo). 🏧
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Is street food safe for sensitive stomachs?
Taiwan enforces strict hygiene grades; pick stalls with steady queues and sizzling hot plates.
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Are vegetarian and vegan options common?
Yes! Try salt-pepper mushrooms, tofu skewers, or taro-ball desserts. 🌱
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How late do major markets stay open?
Taipei’s big three run till midnight; Tainan’s Garden Night Market closes around 1 a.m. on weekends.
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Do vendors speak English?
Many know basics; if not, show a photo, point, and smile—food is a universal language! 😄
