What is chou doufu (stinky tofu) and how is it ordered?

Chou doufu (臭豆腐, literally stinky tofu) is fermented tofu deep-fried until crispy outside and soft inside. It has a strong smell that is characteristic of Taiwanese night markets. At the stall, you order by quantity — usually a small plate (一份, yī fèn) is the standard serving. It is served with a sweet-sour Taiwanese pickled cabbage and sometimes chili sauce on top. If you are sensitive to strong smells, you may want to try it at the end of a meal. The taste is significantly milder than the smell suggests.

How do you order bubble tea (zhenzhu naicha) in Taiwan?

At a Taiwanese bubble tea stall, you typically specify: the tea base (black tea, green tea, oolong, taro), the milk type (milk tea, fresh milk, or oat milk), the sweetness level (100%, 70%, 50%, 30%, or 0% sugar), and the ice level (normal ice, less ice, no ice). Many stalls have an order form where you check boxes, or a staff member will ask you these questions in sequence. The standard order for a first-timer is pearl milk tea (珍珠奶茶, zhēnzhū nǎichá) at 70% sugar, normal ice.

← Guides By Ray Lei Published 2026-11-14

How to order at a Taiwan night market: stinky tofu, oyster omelette, bubble tea

Q: How do you order at a Taiwan night market stall?

Most Taiwan night market stalls work one of two ways. At counter stalls, you approach, point to what you want or state your order, pay immediately, and wait for your food. At table-service stalls (more common for cooked dishes like oyster omelette or braised pork rice), you sit down and a staff member takes your order. Some popular stalls use a numbered ticket or buzzer system: you order and pay, receive a number, and wait nearby until your number is called. The phrase 'zhège' (this one) with pointing covers most counter ordering.

Q: What is lu rou fan and how is it ordered?

Lu rou fan (滷肉飯) is braised pork rice — finely minced fatty pork braised in soy sauce, rice wine, and five-spice, served over steamed white rice in a small bowl. It is one of the most iconic Taiwanese comfort foods. At a night market stall, you can order it alone or with a braised egg (滷蛋, lǔ dàn) and a side of pickled daikon. Say 'yī wǎn lǔ ròu fàn' (一碗滷肉飯) for one bowl. It is typically inexpensive and is often used as a base alongside other dishes.

Q: Is payment at Taiwan night markets cash or cashless?

Traditional night market stalls are predominantly cash-based. New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) in small bills — 100 and 50 NTD notes — is most practical. Many larger or modernized stalls, particularly at Shilin and Raohe markets in Taipei, now accept LINE Pay, Apple Pay, or credit cards. Bubble tea chains and food courts within or adjacent to night markets almost always accept card and mobile payment. For small single-item stalls, carry cash.

Approach a counter stall and point or use zhège (this one). Pay immediately, then wait. At table stalls sit down and a server comes to you. Most stalls accept only cash (New Taiwan Dollar). The order at bubble tea stalls follows a fixed sequence: tea type, sweetness, ice level.

How Taiwan night markets are organized

A Taiwan night market (夜市, yèshì) is a dense collection of food stalls operating from roughly 5 or 6 pm until midnight or later. Each stall sells one primary item — braised pork rice, stinky tofu, oyster omelette, grilled squid, bubble tea, or shaved ice. Because each stall specializes, the quality tends to be high and prices are very low by any standard.

Navigation is by walking. There are no reservations, no printed menus handed to you at the entrance. You walk, observe, smell, and choose. When a stall looks interesting, join the line or walk to the counter. If the stall serves cooked dishes at a table, sit down and wait for a staff member. The majority of transactions take under two minutes from ordering to receiving your food.

Classic Taiwan night market dishes

Dish	Chinese name	What it is	How to order
Braised pork rice	滷肉飯 (lǔ ròu fàn)	Minced fatty pork braised in soy sauce over white rice	Counter; say "yī wǎn" (one bowl)
Oyster omelette	蚵仔煎 (ô-á-chian)	Egg and oyster omelette with sweet potato starch and red sauce	Sit down; table service
Stinky tofu	臭豆腐 (chòu dòufu)	Deep-fried fermented tofu, crispy outside, soft inside	Counter; order one portion (一份)
Pearl milk tea	珍珠奶茶 (zhēnzhū nǎichá)	Black tea with milk and chewy tapioca pearls	Counter; specify sweetness and ice level
Scallion pancake	蔥油餅 (cōng yóu bǐng)	Flaky griddle-fried flatbread with scallions, often with egg	Counter; specify egg or no egg
Grilled squid	烤魷魚 (kǎo yóuyú)	Whole squid or squid strips grilled on a skewer with sauce	Counter; point and hold up fingers for quantity
Pork pepper bun	胡椒餅 (hújiāo bǐng)	Baked bun stuffed with spiced pork and scallion	Counter; pay and take a number
Shaved ice	刨冰 (bào bīng)	Shaved ice with toppings: red bean, mango, condensed milk	Counter or table; choose toppings by pointing or number
Taiwanese sausage	香腸 (xiāngcháng)	Grilled sweet pork sausage, often served with garlic	Counter; point and hold up number of skewers
Taro balls in sweet soup	芋圓 (yù yuán)	Chewy taro and sweet potato balls in warm or cold sweet broth	Counter; specify warm (熱) or cold (冷)
Deep-fried chicken	鹽酥雞 (yán sū jī)	Bite-sized fried chicken pieces with basil and chili	Counter; choose from tray of items, pay by weight or count
Pineapple cake	鳳梨酥 (fènglí sū)	Buttery pastry with pineapple jam filling	At bakery or souvenir stalls; sold by box or individually

How to order at counter stalls

Counter stalls are the most common night market format. Walk up, make eye contact with the vendor, and point to what you want. Use these phrases:

Zhège (这个) — this one
Yī gè / liǎng gè (一个 / 两个) — one / two
Yī fèn (一份) — one serving / one portion
Duōshǎo qián? (多少钱？) — how much?

Pay when you order. You may receive a buzzer or a number card. Wait nearby; when your number is called or the buzzer sounds, return to collect your food.

How to order bubble tea in Taiwan

Bubble tea stalls in Taiwan follow a standard ordering sequence. Many stalls have printed order slips on the counter; you mark your choices. The sequence is:

Drink type: Pearl milk tea (珍珠奶茶), taro milk tea (芋頭奶茶), green tea (綠茶), oolong (烏龍), or one of many signature drinks
Size: Medium (中) or large (大)
Sweetness: 100% (全糖), 70% (七分糖), 50% (半糖), 30% (少糖), 0% (無糖)
Ice: Normal ice (正常冰), less ice (少冰), no ice (去冰), warm (溫), hot (熱)
Toppings: Tapioca pearls (珍珠), grass jelly (仙草), pudding (布丁), coconut jelly (椰果) — usually at an extra charge

If you are unsure, say the name of the drink you want and hold up one finger. The staff will ask the remaining questions. A common first order: zhēnzhū nǎichá, bàn táng, shǎo bīng (pearl milk tea, 50% sugar, less ice).

Useful Mandarin phrases for night market ordering

Phrase (Pinyin)	Characters	Meaning
Zhège	這個	This one
Yī gè / liǎng gè	一個 / 兩個	One / two
Duōshǎo qián?	多少錢？	How much?
Bù là	不辣	Not spicy
Jiā dàn	加蛋	Add egg
Bù yào jiā dàn	不要加蛋	No egg
Qù bīng	去冰	No ice (beverages)
Xiè xiè	謝謝	Thank you

Frequently asked questions

How do you order at a Taiwan night market stall?

At counter stalls, approach, point or say zhège (this one), indicate quantity by holding up fingers, and pay immediately. At table-service stalls, sit and wait for a server. Some stalls issue a number; wait nearby until called. English is not required — pointing and gesturing work for the majority of food transactions at night market stalls.

What is chou doufu and how is it ordered?

Chou doufu (臭豆腐) is deep-fried fermented tofu. It has a strong fermented smell that is characteristic of night markets. Order at the counter by saying yī fèn (one portion). It arrives with pickled cabbage and sometimes chili sauce. The flavor is much more mild than the smell; it is crispy outside and soft inside.

How do you order bubble tea in Taiwan?

Specify the tea type, sweetness level (100%, 70%, 50%, 30%, or 0% sugar), and ice level (normal, less, or none). Many stalls have checkboxes on a printed order form. If you are unsure, say zhēnzhū nǎichá, bàn táng, shǎo bīng — pearl milk tea, 50% sugar, less ice — which is a common and approachable starting order.

What is lu rou fan and how is it ordered?

Lu rou fan (滷肉飯) is braised minced pork rice — fatty pork minced and braised in a soy-sauce-based sauce served over steamed rice. Order one bowl by saying yī wǎn lǔ ròu fàn. Add a braised egg (滷蛋) on the side if available. It is one of Taiwan's most iconic comfort foods and widely available at night markets and casual restaurants.

Is payment at Taiwan night markets cash or cashless?

Most traditional stalls are cash only. Bring New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) in 100 and 50 NTD notes. Larger stalls and bubble tea chains at or near markets like Shilin often accept LINE Pay, Apple Pay, and credit cards. For general reliability across all stall types, carry enough cash to cover several items before entering.