When it comes to food in Ximending, it is not only about trendy spots with long lines. Many flavors here live deep in the memories of long-time Taipei residents. One such place is “Taipei Dong Yi Pork Chop,” which began as a cinema snack bar and has since become a nostalgic Chinese-style Western restaurant. Marble tables, rotating light fixtures, rice served with pork chop. Dining here feels less like a meal and more like a return to a classic era of style.

Another unforgettable taste is “star fruit soup.” Sweet and sour, soothing and refreshing, this local drink still simmers at long-standing star fruit juice stalls, carrying memories of summer afternoons from many childhoods.

Equally iconic is “Snow King Ice Cream,” founded in 1947. With more than seventy flavors ranging from wasabi and pork knuckle to peanut, osmanthus, and coriander, it challenges the palate while delighting the playful spirit. A bold and unforgettable surprise of summer.

Walking through Emei Street and Hanzhong Street, the air is filled with shifting aromas. Grilled sausages, takoyaki, saltwater chicken, and hand-shaken drinks form the background rhythm of everyday life in Ximending. International street foods such as Korean fried chicken, Japanese gyoza, and Thai milk tea have long taken root here, turning the district into a crossroads of global flavors.

You will also notice long-established shops reappearing in renewed forms. “Fong Da Coffee,” founded in the 1950s, retains its black-and-white tiles and wooden windows while serving latte art and carefully brewed specialty coffee. It is a place that feels both familiar and surprising.

Hidden dessert shops and curated café spaces tucked into side streets transform everyday ingredients into stories. Here, eating becomes more than nourishment. It becomes an experience shaped by emotion and design.

Before leaving, consider taking something with you. Pack a few signature duck wings or duck tongues from “Lao Tian Lu Braised Delicacies,” or stop by the Eslite branch of “Sugar & Spice” for a box of nougat that is rich yet balanced. These are not merely souvenirs, but ways of carrying the taste of the city back home.

Taipei Dong Yi Pork Chop (Main Branch)

Address: 2F, No. 61, Yanping S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City

Recommended: Pork Chop Rice, Starfruit Drink

Note: A classic Chinese Western-style restaurant with marble tables and rotating light fixtures. Originally a cinema snack bar, it holds a shared dining memory for many Taipei locals.

Snow King Ice Cream

Address: 2F, No. 65, Sec. 1, Wuchang St., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City

Recommended: Wasabi Ice Cream, Osmanthus Ice Cream, Peanut Ice Cream

Note: Established in 1947 and offering over 70 flavors, from classic to adventurous. One of Ximending’s most distinctive long-standing dessert shops.

Fong Da Coffee

Address: No. 42, Chengdu Rd., Wanhua Dist., Taipei City

Recommended: Thick Toast, Coffee, Hand-Brewed Single-Origin Coffee

Note: Founded in 1956, this café preserves its vintage black-and-white tiles and wooden windows while serving modern coffee. A new expression of an old soul.

Lao Tian Lu Braised Delicacies

Address: No. 55, Sec. 2, Wuchang St., Wanhua Dist., Taipei City

Recommended: Duck Tongues, Duck Wings (Vacuum-Sealed Available)

Note: An iconic nighttime flavor of Ximending. Perfect for enjoying on the go or packing to take home.

Sugar & Spice – Ximending Eslite Branch

Address: 1F, No. 5, Sec. 2, Wuchang St., Wanhua Dist., Taipei City (Eslite Spectrum Ximen)

Recommended: Nougat

Note: Sweet yet balanced, with clean packaging. A popular Ximending souvenir ideal for sharing.