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Best Food in Xinshi (2026)
Xinshi Night Market on Zhongzheng Road is the heart of local street food, open daily from 5 PM to midnight. Must-try stalls include Ah-Mei Oyster Omelet (NT$70) and Grilledβ¦ π Xinshi Night Market
Xinshi Night Market on Zhongzheng Road is the heart of local street food, open daily from 5 PM to midnight. Must-try stalls include Ah-Mei Oyster Omelet (NT$70) and Grilled Squid King (NT$100). Come hungry and bring cash, as most vendors don't accept cards.
π₯ Traditional Breakfast Spots
Start your day at Yonghe Soy Milk King on Minsheng Road, open from 5:30 AM to 11 AM, where you can get fresh soy milk (NT$25) and youtiao (NT$20). Another favorite is Grandma's Dan Bing Cart near Xinshi Station, serving egg crepes from 6 AM until sold out around 10 AM. Expect to spend under NT$100 for a full breakfast.
π Local Rice Dishes
For a taste of Xinshi's famous turkey rice, head to Jia Yi Turkey Rice on Zhongshan Road, open 10 AM to 8 PM, with small bowls at NT$35 and large at NT$60. Another gem is Old Street Braised Pork Rice on Xinshi Old Street, where a bowl costs NT$45 and comes with a free bowl of soup. Both places are casual and often crowded during lunch hours.
π§ Sweet Treats and Desserts
Cool down with shaved ice at Xue Zhi Wu on Zhongzheng Road, open 11 AM to 10 PM, where a bowl of mango ice is NT$80 and toppings like grass jelly are NT$10 each. For traditional cakes, visit Ah-San Traditional Bakery on Minsheng Road, selling pineapple cakes (NT$35 each) and sun cakes (NT$30 each) from 9 AM to 9 PM. These make great souvenirs.
π Noodle Shops to Try
Xinshi has a strong noodle game, starting with Lao Zhang Beef Noodle Soup on Zhonghua Road, open 11 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 8 PM, with beef noodles at NT$120. For a lighter option, try Ah-Hui Vermicelli on Xinshi Street, serving oyster vermicelli (NT$60) from 10 AM to 7 PM. Both spots are local institutions, so expect a short wait.
π’ Evening Snacks and Grills
After 8 PM, the area around Xinshi Train Station comes alive with grilled skewers and fried chicken. Popular stands include Brother Qiang's Grilled Skewers on Zhongxiao Road, where skewers range from NT$30 to NT$50, and Crispy Chicken King on Fuxing Road, selling large fried chicken pieces for NT$70. Most stalls operate until 1 AM, perfect for a late-night bite.
π₯€ Drinks and Bubble Tea
Quench your thirst at Boba Time on Zhongzheng Road, open 10 AM to 10 PM, with classic milk tea at NT$45 and pearl toppings for NT$10 extra. For something refreshing, try Fresh Fruit Stand on Minsheng Road, offering freshly squeezed sugarcane juice (NT$40) and winter melon tea (NT$30) from 8 AM to 8 PM. Many shops let you adjust ice and sugar levels.
π° Budget and Payment Tips
Street food in Xinshi is very affordable, with most snacks between NT$30 and NT$100, and a full meal at a casual restaurant rarely exceeding NT$200. Bring cash in small bills, as many stalls and smaller eateries do not accept credit cards or mobile payments. For the best value, visit during lunch specials from 11 AM to 1 PM, when many shops offer discounts.
appreciate the effort putting this together, must've taken a while to nail down all the hours. one thing the guide gets right but for the wrong reason: Xue Zhi Wu. everyone goes for the mango ice but the real move is the traditional four-topping bowl (NT$55) with grass jelly, taro balls, and mung beans. mango ice is seasonal anyway, usually only solid June to August, rest of the year it's frozen chunks.
also worth flagging, cash is king but 7-11 and Family Mart both do cashless now so if you're stuck without bills you can grab a drink and get change there. Zhongzheng Road has like three of them within walking distance of the night market.
fwiw the beef noodle at Lao Zhang is legit but the line at 11am opening is mostly office workers, if you go at 1:30 you walk right in and they haven't run out of the good tendon cuts yet.
the guide's hours are mostly right but nobody ever mentions how much of this town shuts on Lunar New Year week. i made the mistake of planning a food crawl during it one year and half the stalls on Zhongzheng were dark, only the chains stayed open
on the breakfast front, Yonghe is fine but if you want the real local thing walk two blocks past it to the tiny cart by the morning market, no sign just a blue tarp. they do salty soy milk with youtiao for like NT$35 and it blows the chain version away. closes by 8:30 tho so dont sleep in
one more thing, Brother Qiang's skewers are good but theyre cash only and the line after 10pm is rough. i usually hit the smaller stand near the station exit instead, similar price and you actually get your food before midnight
everyone covered the food spots well so ill add the one thing that actually trips people up: seating. most of these places have like 4 tables and no concept of a solo diner, so if ur by urself at Jia Yi or Lao Zhang during peak you'll either wait forever or get seated with strangers. i just get everything to-go now and eat at the little park by Xinshi Station, way less stress.
also nobody mentioned the fish soup place tucked behind the morning market, no english sign but they do milkfish soup for NT$90 and it's the best thing in town imo. opens like 6am, gone by noon.
one correction on the night market: the oyster omelet at Ah-Mei is good but the cart two stalls down doing the same thing is NT$10 cheaper and the lady remembers regulars, worth the switch
3 Days in Xinshi: Itinerary 2026
Xinshi is a compact city, so you can cover its highlights in three days without rushing. The metro system is efficient, with a single ride costing 2 to 5 yuan dependβ¦ πΊοΈ Overview and Transport Tips
Xinshi is a compact city, so you can cover its highlights in three days without rushing. The metro system is efficient, with a single ride costing 2 to 5 yuan depending on distance, and buses charge a flat 2 yuan. Taxis start at 8 yuan for the first 3 kilometers, but traffic can be heavy during rush hours from 7:30 to 9:00 AM and 5:30 to 7:00 PM. For most of this itinerary, you'll average 15 to 30 minutes between neighborhoods by metro or bus.
ποΈ Day 1 Morning: Old Town
Start your day at Xinshi Old Town, anchored by the 600-year-old Drum Tower on Zhongshan Road. Arrive by 8:30 AM to walk the quiet stone alleys before tour groups appear. The Xinshi Museum, just off the main square, opens at 9:00 AM and charges 20 yuan for entry. From the city center, take Metro Line 1 to Old Town Station, exit B, which takes about 12 minutes.
π Day 1 Afternoon: Local Flavors
For lunch, head to the Old Town Food Street on Renmin Road, where stalls serve Xinshi's signature beef noodle soup for around 15 yuan. After eating, walk 10 minutes to the Riverside Park to digest and enjoy views of the Xinshi River. At 2:00 PM, visit the Xinshi Artisan Workshop at 45 Heping Street to watch traditional silk weaving; entry is free but donations are welcome. The area is walkable, so no transport is needed between these spots.
π Day 1 Evening: Night Market
As the sun sets, make your way to the Xinshi Night Market on Wenhua Road, which runs from 6:00 PM to midnight. Try the grilled squid skewers for 10 yuan and the sweet rice cakes for 5 yuan. The market is a 15-minute walk from Riverside Park, or you can take bus 12 from the park entrance. Live folk music often plays near the central fountain from 8:00 PM onward.
ποΈ Day 2 Morning: West Lake
Spend your second morning at West Lake, Xinshi's largest park, located 5 kilometers west of the city center. Take Metro Line 2 to West Lake Station, which takes 20 minutes from Old Town. Rent a paddle boat for 40 yuan per hour or simply stroll the 3-kilometer loop trail. The lotus ponds are in full bloom from June to August, and the best photo spot is the Moon Bridge at the north end.
π½οΈ Day 2 Afternoon: Tea and Crafts
After working up an appetite, have lunch at the West Lake Teahouse, which serves set meals with local green tea for 35 yuan. Then take bus 5 for 15 minutes to the Ceramics District on Kiln Road, where you can browse galleries and even try a 1-hour pottery class for 80 yuan. Most shops open at 10:00 AM and close at 6:00 PM. The district is compact, so you can explore it all on foot.
π Day 2 Evening: Cultural Show
In the evening, catch the Xinshi Folk Performance at the Grand Theater on Jianguo Avenue. Shows start at 7:30 PM and tickets range from 80 to 200 yuan; book online a day ahead. From the Ceramics District, take a taxi for about 15 minutes (roughly 15 yuan) or bus 8 for 25 minutes. The performance lasts 90 minutes and features traditional dance and shadow puppetry.
ποΈ Day 3 Morning: Modern Xinshi
Your final day explores the modern side of Xinshi. Start at the Central Business District, easily reached by Metro Line 3 to CBD Station (10 minutes from the city center). Visit the Xinshi Tower observation deck on the 50th floor for panoramic views; tickets cost 50 yuan and it opens at 9:00 AM. Then walk 5 minutes to the Xinshi Shopping Mall for some souvenir shopping.
π² Day 3 Afternoon: Farewell Meal
For your last lunch, try the Xinshi Hotpot House at 88 Tuanjie Road, a local favorite since 1998. A meal for two costs around 120 yuan, and they open at 11:00 AM. After eating, take bus 22 for 20 minutes to the Xinshi Railway Station if you're departing, or to the Long-Distance Bus Station. Allow at least 45 minutes before your train or bus to clear security.
Solid write-up, covers the main beats well. One thing I'd add on Day 2: if you're at West Lake on a weekend, the paddle boats sell out by 10 AM, so either go early or just do the loop trail, the north end near Moon Bridge is honestly the better view anyway. Also the Ceramics District is mostly closed on Mondays, which the guide doesn't mention, I got burned by that last spring. For the hotpot on Tuanjie Road, book ahead if you're going after 6 PM, the wait can hit an hour on Fridays.
The itinerary is well put together, and I'd second most of it. One thing I'd adjust is Day 3 morning: the Xinshi Tower observation deck is great, but if you're there on a weekday before 10 AM the queue for the elevator can eat 40 minutes, so either go right at 9 or push it to after lunch. Also worth knowing that the CBD Station exit closest to the tower is exit C, not the main one, saves you a 10-minute walk around the block. For the farewell hotpot, the Tuanjie Road branch is the original but there's a smaller one near the railway station that's less crowded if you're tight on time before your train.
appreciate the detail here, especially the transport fares, those match what i pay. one thing the guide skips on Day 2 is the teahouse timing. West Lake Teahouse stops serving the 35 yuan set meals at 1:30pm sharp, after that its just snacks and tea, so don't roll in at 2 expecting lunch. also if u go during lotus season the Moon Bridge gets packed with photographers by 7am, the quiet window is actually early morning not sunset like most people assume.