Guide to Yongkang Street, Taipei – Eat, See & Coffee Guide

Tucked away between the districts of Daan and Ximen, behind Dongmen station, lies one of Taipei’s coolest streets. Don’t just take my word for it – in 2022, TimeOut officially named Yongkang Street the 4th coolest street in the world, making it the number one coolest in Asia. You could easily walk past Yongkang Street and completely miss it, but that would be a huge mistake.

Lined with award-winning restaurants such as Yongkang Beef noodle and Din Tai Fung, specialty coffee shops, cute bakeries and trendy boutiques. During my 3 months in Taipei, I found myself drawn back to Yongkang repeatedly, my list of must-visit restaurants and cafes continuously growing. Yongkang’s tranquil streets invite you to wander – just remember to pack your camera, a book for the coffee shops and a big appetite.

This blog post are some of the best things to do in Yongkang, along with where to eat and the top cafes to get your caffeine fix.

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you

How To Get To Yongkang Street

The closest metro to Yongkang Street is Dongmen Station, this is on the red and yellow line, with exit 4 leading you to the top of Yongkang Street. Alternatively, if you are interested in exploring Daan Park, you could get off the MRT one stop further, at Daan Park Station (red line only) and enjoy a scenic 15-minute walk to Yongkang Street.

Make sure you have an EasyCard for convenient payment. You can purchase this in advance and collect at the airport, or purchase from any MRT ticket machine.

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Best Time To Visit Yongkang Street

For the best experience, visit Yongkang Street between Tuesday and Friday, as many establishments are closed on Monday in Taipei. These days will ensure you’ll avoid the weekend crowds and enjoy significantly shorter wait times at popular restaurants. While weekends can still be enjoyable, be prepared for packed streets and longer queues at the popular cafes and restaurants.

If you would prefer to join a group, this walking food tour takes you round the best local food spots on Yongkang Street.

What To Do On Yong Kang Street

1. Yongkang Park

A pocket-sized leafy park in the heart of Yongkang. Surrounded by restaurants it’s the perfect pit stop to figure out where you are going to eat next. There’s a small playground too – though after trying all the local delicacies, you might be too food-comatose to join the kids.

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2. Daan Forest Park

Technically not in Yongkang, it is very close and would be a shame to miss while you are in the area.

Daan Park is a large 64 acre city park. It is the biggest park in Taipei, acting as the city’s lung for residents to escape and get some fresh air. What Central Park is to New York, Daan Park is to Taipei. It is a beautiful park to walk around with a large pond which acts as a great spot for bird watching with storks, egrots, herons and Taiwanese Barbet, to name a few. Come here in the afternoon to see lines of photographers trying to catch a shot.

If bird watching isn’t your thing, check out the roller skate rink, where both kids and adults try to remember how to skate. And if you’re lucky, you’ll catch the resident saxophonist.

3. Rongjin Gorgeous Time (榮錦時代)

Rongjin Gorgeous Time offers a small slice of Japan in the heart of Taipei. Originally a warehouse for a Japanese company called ‘Rongjin’ during the colonial period (1895-1945), this historic site now houses Japanese-style cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops. During the weekends local artists set up stalls with hand made products.

One standout spot is Kyomachi Yamamotoya, a Kyoto-style restaurant renowned for its authentic Japanese cuisine. Their menu features classic dishes prepared with traditional techniques.

4. Holy Family Catholic Church (天主教聖家堂)

Call it my Irish upbringing, but I can’t help but feel contractually obligated to visit any Catholic Church I spot abroad. This one one happens to be Taiwan’s largest. With a catholic population of 271,000, there are 678 Catholic Churches in the country.

Inside expect the find the usual Catholic Greatest Hits: stained glass, confession boxes, and enough candles to pray for your entire town, unfortunately I couldn’t spot the red wine!

I dropped a few coins in the box and lit a candle – keeping my celestial insurance policy up to date, you know how it is?

5. Taipei Grand Mosque (臺北清真寺)

Just a stone’s throw from the church is Taiwan’s oldest and largest mosque. Feeling pretty in touch with my spirituality after my prior 2 minute visit to the church, I planned to enter the mosque, however I did not have a headscarf so my plans were quickly derailed. Although I did not enter, the architecture alone is worth the visit.

If you visit on Friday, there is a small halal food bazaar in the front. Something I am sure muslim tourists in Taipei will be grateful for.

Where To Eat On Yongkang Street, Taipei

Tian Jin Onion Pancake (天津蔥抓餅)

Tian Jin Onion Pancake is arguably the most famous scallion/onion pancake stall in Taipei. Usually there are very long queues where you will have to wait 20 – 30 minutes. Luckily, the day I visited there was just a handful of people in front of me.

Scallion Pancakes are thick crispy flaky pancakes, the dough has been stuffed with scallions and the insanely delicious 13 spice. It’s aromatic, filling and cheap, with prices starting at NT$30 ($0.92 / £0.72 / €0.87). I really enjoy watching the chefs smush and squidge the pancakes into shape. The texture is similar to a roti and just as addictive.

You can order a plain pancake, pancakes with egg, ham, basil and cheese etc. I got a plain pancake which came with a sticky, almost sweet sauce. It was the perfect street snack to keep me going while I explored Yongkang Street.

Yongkang Beef Noodles

This casual and local beef noodle restaurant has been around since 1963. Awarded a Michelin star in 2020 and often ranked the best beef noodles in the city, it was a no brainer I was going to visit here.

I tried the spicy beef noodle broth which was rich but actually not that spicy, I have my suspicions they dull the spices to suit the influx of tourists, there were also no extra spices on the table to add to it. The noodles had a nice firm texture and the beef was super soft. We ordered their small size which had 4 chunks of beef and was enough for 2 people to share. Beyond their famous beef noodles, there are many other Taiwanese dishes on the menu such as braised pork rice, dumplings and steamed hog intestines. We also ordered the chili wontons which were delicious.

Although they weren’t my favourite beef noodles I had in Taipei, they were still tasty (check out Bandao beef noodle which were my no.1) and worth a visit while exploring restaurants on Yongkang Street.

Mata Tofu Pudding

This is one dish I expected to dislike, but I ended up absolutely loving it! Made from brown sugar, soy milk and water, tofu pudding is a sweet and refreshing dessert, a welcome companion when dealing with Taipei’s humidity.

Toppings include peanut crisp, red bean, tapioca pearls, and brown sugar. I choose Tapioca Pearls with peanut crisp, it felt like a treat but I was not left feeling bloated or that usual pang of guilt that most other desserts leave me with.

The space is very small, with just enough room for four customers to sit down but you can always get it to go and eat in Yongkang Park. I visited during a weekday and found it a peaceful spot to eat.

Mata Tofu has 4 locations in Taipei, Yongkang Street is their flagship with the others in Ningxia Nightmarket, Zhongshan and Building A11 The Breeze.

The Cinnamon Tree (肉桂樹)

What is that smell? Like a sniffer dog, I let my nose lead the way, following a sweet cinnamon aroma, I ended up outside the culprit, The Cinnamon Tree (肉桂樹). This is a small hole in the wall bakery serving a selection of cinnamon flavour pastries, such as a cinnamon roll, cinnamon brioche bun and cinnamon churros.

I had already eaten A LOT by the time I stumbled by The Cinnamon Tree, although my heart wanted a cinnamon roll my arteries were screaming at me to order something a bit more modest. So I reluctantly went with a small but equally delicious cinnamon toast which had marshmallow in the middle. The owner heated it for me, resulting in a deliciously gooey treat.

KaKaZan Ice Club

Cosy and trendy gelato shop, I have not had gelato this good since the last time I was in Italy. This gelato shop comes with a gigantic green flag, the gelato is stored in steel lidded containers! This is a sign of high quality gelato, and ensures it is always kept it at the correct temperatures. If you see gelato in plastic tubs, my advice is to leave.

The gelato at KaKaZan Ice Club is delicious, the flavours are subtle and not too sweet. Flavours include pistachio, chocolate, mango, guava, and beer was the special flavour the day we visited. They have a delicious looking Affogato (coffee and ice cream) too!

THANH KY

If there is a Vietnamese restaurant close to me, you bet I am checking it out. Located beside the popular Tian Jian Scallion Pancake Stand is Thanh Ky, who specialise in pho.

There are many different flavours like the classic beef and chicken pho, and the not so classic curry beef pho, sate beef pho and laksa curry pho. Along with pho there are some Thai dishes, all of which can be ordered via a QR code on the table.

If you only visit one bakery on Yongkang Street, this little bakery is the one. Open since 1950, it is run my a friendly elderly couple who bake all the goods themselves.

You can find traditional Taiwanese cakes here like mooncakes and pineapple cakes, all of which have no preservatives.

Best Cafes on Yongkang Street, Taipei

Saturn Landing Turkish Coffee

Located in a quieter part of Yongkang, a coffee at Saturn Landing is a memorable experience. Walking through the doors I felt as though I was transported to Istanbul, with the cafes bright blue interiors and Turkish decorations.

Watch as your coffee is brewed in a bed of hot sand, pair it with a delicious traditional Turkish dessert like baklava or kunefe. All the pastries are made in house, the owner has spent a considerable amount of time travelling Turkey.

Jingimoo Cafe

The buzzing of a shaved ice machine was music to my ears as I walked though Jingimoo doors. I don’t mean to exaggerate but I am 99% (ok fine 10%) sure that shaved ice has kept me from internally combusting while travelling Asia. The minimalist design of the cafe is no reflection of the extravagant artisanal desserts that Jinimoo have on offer.

Serving up mountains of ice, which comes topped with creme brûlée that is toasted at your table and is packed with mochi and other surprises inside. Flavours include sesame, matcha, hojichi and raspberry + blueberry. I ordered the latter and it was one of the best shaved ice desserts I have had in Taipei.

Although the shaved ice is delicious there are other desserts on the menu that look just as good, like the tiramisu and waffles. We also ordered an affogato which was very tasty.

Please note that there is a minimum order of one item per customer, but this can include a drink, and the shaved ice is served with 2 spoons.

Irga Coffee

This is not your average cafe – it is more like a wine tasting session for coffee snobs (in the best way possible that is). The staff here geek out about beans the way sommeliers talk about vintage wines, and they’ll share their expertise whether you choose drip or iced coffee. This is a one of a kind coffee experience in Taipei, and one to add to your Taipei rainy day itienrary.

Warning: after trying their rare single-origin beans, your regular morning brew might never taste the same.

The Who Cafe

Although I did not get a chance to visit here myself, I wanted to include it on this list for anyone seeking a good cat cafe in Taipei. If you thought I was suggesting a cafe dedicated to the band The Who, I am sorry to disappoint you, this cafe only allows cats to reign over you, not love (yeah, that was bad!).

There are about 2-3 cats here, but they are very cute. The drinks come with a cat shaped foam you can also order food like noodles, panini and desserts.

Yongkang Street Shopping

Bunnyville

How could you walk by this adorable shop and not go in! I thought it might be a perfume shop but it is actually a whiskey shop. They sell a variety of quirky flavours such as coffee, Lychee, plum and pineapple along with single malt whiskey and wine. All of which are brewed in Taiwan. Prices are reasonable starting at NT$1,600 making it a nice souvenir or pick me up for post holiday blues.

Beautiful Sun

It is no secret that the weather in Taipei is unpredictable, it feels like a constant battle between hot sun rays and torrential rain. Therefore, an essential item to have on hand in Taipei is an umbrella.

Beautiful Sun has UV and rain protection umbrellas. They come in a range of different sizes and cute patterns. I purchased a min one which I take everywhere with me, it even is windproof.

Daiso

If you have visited Japan before, then you will likely have popped into a Daiso where you can find inexpensive Japanese items, often sold in bulk. It is a fun place to try some famous Japanese snacks.

梁山泊永康捌巷

This was my favourite souvenir shop on Yongkang Street, the items here were much more creative than you would usually find in souvenir shops. Small yet packed with cute little treasures. The xiaolongbao candles are so cute, you can also buy a bamboo steamer to store them in.

Is Yongkang Street Worth Visiting?

YES! This is one of the best streets in Taipe, it is trendy, fun and tranquil. Moreover, it is the perfect place to visit on a rainy day in Taipei, hopping between cosy cafes and delicious restaurants.

Why is Yongkang Street Famous?

TimeOut named it the 4th coolest street in the world, it is an assortment of some of the best restaurants and cafes in Taipei. Spending a few hours here involves eating delicious food, drinking spectacular coffee and shopping in some cool boutiques, sounds dreadful!

Yongkang is also known as the first location of the internationally a-claimed restaurant, Din Tai Fung. Although it is now a takeout only joint, you can enjoy your food in Yongkang Park.

Is Yongkang Street Too Touristy?

Although it gets very busy during the weekends, it wouldn’t be as touristy as other popular areas in Taipei, such as Zhongshan or Ximen. Prices are consistent with the rest of Taipei, and you can even snag a good deal in the boutiques.

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