Yizhong Street Night Market
一中街夜市
Address
Yizhong St, North District, Taichung City, 404
City
TaichungCentered around Taichung First Senior High School (abbreviated as Yizhong in Chinese), this night market caters heavily to students and young people, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with affordable eats and trendy shops. The market stretches along several connected streets, with food vendors occupying storefronts and the sidewalks between them. It's less sprawling than Fengjia but still offers impressive variety, from traditional snacks like grilled corn and sweet potato balls to modern bubble tea variations and Korean-influenced street food. Prices are notably lower than touristy night markets, since the primary customers are students on tight budgets. The crowd skews younger, and the energy reflects that - loud music, bright lights, groups of teenagers hanging out. Popular items include the crispy chicken steak, various skewered meats, and fruit smoothies. The market area also features clothing shops, accessory stalls, and arcade games, making it a complete evening destination. It gets incredibly busy after school hours and on weekends, but the turnover is fast and lines move quickly. For visitors wanting to experience a more local, student-oriented night market culture rather than a tourist destination, Yizhong Street delivers an authentic slice of young Taiwanese life.
Vendors & Stalls
4 vendors at this night market
Yixin Vegetarian Stinky Tofu
A rare find - vegetarian stinky tofu that captures all the pungent aroma and crispy-soft texture of traditional stinky tofu without any animal products. The tofu is fermented using a vegetarian brine, then deep-fried and served with pickled cabbage and sweet chili sauce. Perfect for vegetarians who want to experience this iconic Taiwanese street food.
Angel Chicken Fillet
The Yizhong branch of the famous Angel chicken chain serves massive chicken fillets that are bigger than your face. Each piece is marinated, breaded with special seasonings, and fried until golden and crispy. The chicken stays remarkably juicy inside despite the crispy exterior. Available with various flavor powders and spice levels.
Yongdetang Barley Milk
Operating 5-11pm on weekdays and 3-11pm on weekends, this stall consistently has long lines for their signature barley milk. Made by slowly cooking barley until soft, then blending with milk and sweetening to taste, this traditional drink is believed to have cooling properties. The creamy, nutty flavor is both nostalgic and refreshing.
Hand-Made Stinky Tofu
This stall makes their stinky tofu entirely by hand using traditional fermentation methods passed down through generations. The tofu is fermented for precisely the right amount of time to achieve maximum funk, then fried until the exterior is crispy while maintaining a soft, custardy interior. Served with pickled vegetables to balance the richness.
Foods Available Here
Bubble Tea
Bubble tea (also known as pearl milk tea, boba milk tea, boba juice or simply boba) (Chinese: 珍珠奶茶 or 波霸奶茶) is a Taiwanese tea-based drink invented in Taichung in the 1980s. Most bubble tea recipes contain a tea base mixed/shaken with fruit or milk, to which chewy tapioca balls or fruit jellies are often added. Ice-blended versions are usually mixed with fruit or syrup, resulting in a slushy consistency. There are many varieties of the drink with a wide range of ingredients. The two most popular varieties are bubble milk tea with tapioca and bubble milk green tea with tapioca.
Stinky Tofu
Stinky tofu, or chòu dòufu (臭豆腐), is a form of fermented tofu that has a strong odor. It is usually sold at night markets or roadside stands as a snack, or in lunch bars as a side dish, rather than in restaurants.\n\nStinky tofu is usually served deep-fried (often served drizzled with sauce and topped with sour pickled vegetables), grilled, or added to a Sichuan mala soup base (with solid goose blood, pickled mustard greens, and pork intestines).
Fried Chicken Cutlet
An iconic Taiwanese street food featuring a large, crispy chicken breast fillet coated in seasoned batter and deep-fried to golden perfection. Often served on a stick and seasoned with five-spice powder, salt, and pepper.
Barley Milk
A traditional Taiwanese beverage made from cooked barley blended into a smooth, creamy drink. Served hot or cold, this mildly sweet drink is valued for its health benefits and nutty flavor.
Tapioca Pearls Dessert
Chewy tapioca pearls served in sweet syrup, shaved ice, or milk tea. These translucent balls made from tapioca starch are a staple in Taiwanese desserts and bubble tea, prized for their bouncy QQ texture.