In Taipei, anyone willing to wake up early for breakfast is usually serious about food. Li Ji Soy Milk is the kind of place where one visit is enough to understand why people come back every day.

Freshly baked flatbread, crisp fried dough sticks, steamed dumplings, and hot soy milk arrive at the table, and the day begins properly. It is not on Taiyuan Road or Huayin Street, but for many longtime Taipei residents, this is where the day truly starts. After breakfast, taking the MRT back toward Beimen naturally connects eating, moving, and walking into a very Taipei-like rhythm.

Sometimes, detouring a little just for food is what stays with you the longest.

Midday is the busiest time around the area behind Taipei Main Station. Shop owners, wholesalers, and longtime regulars all appear at once. The lines you see here are not for photos. People are simply hungry.

Fu Zhen Pork Rib Noodle Soup is a reliable favorite for many. The pork ribs are generous, the broth is light and comforting, and the meal leaves you satisfied. It may never go viral, but decades of steady customers speak for themselves.

For something different, Sanduo House Baba Zui is one of the few spots loved by both locals and online reviewers. Fresh sashimi, rich miso soup, and excellent value make it worth the wait. Once sold out, the shop closes, so timing matters.

In the afternoon, not every shop has a line, but a few will always make you stop.

Huang Fulong Crispy Scallion Pancakes is the kind of stall you meant to walk past, until the aroma pulls you in. Pan-fried to order, crispy outside and soft inside, it is ideal for eating as you walk. The line moves slowly, but the timing feels just right.

As evening approaches, queues in this area become very specific. Not all day long, but tied to a single batch at a certain moment. Fuyuan Pepper Buns are a perfect example. When a fresh batch comes out of the oven, people suddenly gather, drawn by the heat and the scent of pepper. Miss that moment, and the street quickly feels calm again.

This is the kind of timing only longtime Taipei locals truly understand.

As night falls, the streets around Beimen take on a different mood. If there is room for another round of eating, the easiest choice is to walk toward Ningxia Night Market.

Ningxia is not a tourist-oriented night market. It is where many Taipei locals actually come for dinner or late-night food. There are not many stalls, but each one is focused, and it is easy to eat more than planned.

Liu Yu Zai is often the first stop, with taro balls that are crisp outside and soft inside. Yuanhuanbian Oyster Omelet offers a classic, dependable taste, with people always waiting by the griddle. For something warm and filling, Fang Jia Chicken Rice and its soups are a regular choice for many.

If there is still space, the aroma of Li Zhang Bo Stinky Tofu is hard to ignore. End the night with a bowl of tofu pudding from Douhua Zhuang, and the day feels complete.

Walking from Beimen to Ningxia Night Market is not just about changing where you eat. It is a gradual transition from daytime rhythms into the night. By the time you reach this point, no extra plans are needed. Let the flavors linger, and Taipei reveals itself.

Li Ji Soy Milk

Address: No. 292, Chang’an West Road, Datong District, Taipei

Recommended: Flatbread, fried dough sticks, hot soy milk

Note: A classic local breakfast spot. Arrive early for the full menu, then take the MRT back toward Beimen.

Fu Zhen Pork Rib Noodle Soup

Address: No. 42-13, Huayin Street, Datong District, Taipei

Recommended: Pork rib noodle soup, pork rib soup

Note: A dependable lunchtime favorite for locals.

Sanduo House Baba Zui

Address: No. 19, Taiyuan Road, Datong District, Taipei

Recommended: Sashimi rice bowls, miso soup

Note: Lines form as soon as it opens. Closes when sold out.

Huang Fulong Crispy Scallion Pancakes

Address: Sidewalk in front of Sanduo House, Taiyuan Road

Recommended: Original scallion pancake, egg version

Note: Often stopped by the aroma. Perfect for eating while walking.

Fuyuan Pepper Buns

Address: No. 42-19, Huayin Street, Datong District, Taipei

Recommended: Freshly baked pepper buns

Note: A time-based queue. Crowds gather right when buns come out of the oven.

Ningxia Night Market

Address: Ningxia Road, Datong District, Taipei

Note: A night market where locals actually eat dinner and late-night meals.

Must-eat stalls at the night market

Liu Yu Zai

Fried taro balls, crispy taro

Yuanhuanbian Oyster Omelet

Oyster omelet, pan-fried milkfish belly

Fang Jia Chicken Rice

Chicken rice, offal soup

Li Zhang Bo Stinky Tofu

Stinky tofu

Douhua Zhuang

Peanut tofu pudding, mixed tofu pudding