Guide to 10 Top Food Places at Longshan Temple Station Blue Line Taipei 龍山寺 美食

Guide to 10 Top Food Places at Longshan Temple Station Blue Line Taipei 龍山寺美食

One good thing about Taipei is almost everywhere is connected by the subway / metro system (known as MRT). So, exploring Taipei is easy. Just check into an hotel near to any MRT station and go everywhere by subway.

I am exploring Taipei by MRT stations - getting off the stations and discover good places to eat, see, do and buy things on foot.

In this post, I focus on the area within 20 minutes walking distance or up to 2 blocks from Longshan Temple station (Blue Line).

Longshan Temple is in the bustling Wanhua District of Taipei. The temple built in 1738 during the Qing dynasty honours Guanyin and other deities including Mazu and Guan Yu.

Precious vintage video of Longshan Temple during the Japanese era in 1937. We can see images of the street vendors outside the temple

Longshan Temple is a spiritual heart of Taipei, so many street vendors congregate to sell their food to devotees. Some of the food stalls or shops today are four generations old, going back to the days of push carts outside the temple.

Let's go spend the day at Longshan Temple and its surrounding area.

Yuanzu Pepper Cakes 福州元祖胡椒餅 Grounded and sliced pork seasoned with pepper and scallion filled Foochow pepper buns baked in tandoor style charcoal fired oven - a must eat when visiting Taipei. Yuanzu 元祖 is a hole in the wall alley stall which is one of the most popular with locals and tourists alike. Just a short 5 minute walk from Longsgan Temple MRT station.

Address: #5號, Alley 2, Lane 89, Section 3, Heping W Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Longshan Temple station Exit 3

Tel: +886 2 2308 3075

Hours: 11:30am - 5:30pm

艋舺螺螄粉桂林米粉 Guangxi Cuisine serves Liuzhou snail noodle. Smooth springy round rice noodle served in a rich umami and spice loaded soup made with river snails, pork bone, cardamon, star anise, chenpi (dried tangerine peel), etc. Choice of pork, pork intestine, beef, beef intestine toppings. Eaten with bamboo shoot, fried bean curd skin, chili sauce & oil, peanut, pickled vegetables, greens, white vinegar (optional), etc. The uninitiated might find the unfamiliar aroma off-putting. Not exactly Taiwanese cuisine but locals are taking to the taste and smell, and packing into the little restaurant.

Address: #175, Guangzhou St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple

Tel: +886 2 2306 1636

Hours: 11am - 9pm

歐仔麵線 (上午) is a humble street side push cart stall serving nostalgic flavour Taiwanese oyster & pork intestine mee sua noodle. Second generation, over 50 year old stall. Relatively low media profile, so it is less touristed. Most customers are local regulars. Hyperlocal kerbside dining (meaning no indoor seats), so it is not for everyone but I love it.

Address: #302號, Section 1, Xiyuan Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Longshang Temple

Hours: 8:30am - 12 noon (Mon off). Be early as stall closes once the food is sold out

陳記腸蚵專業麵線 okay... Chen Ji 陳記 is the other oyster mee sua noodle place near to Longshan Temple station. While 歐仔麵線 works the morning shift, Chen Ji stays open till 7:30pm in the evening. The two stalls sell basically the same dish but Chen Ji has proper indoor seating. So, we can try both - 歐仔麵線 in the morning, followed by Chen Ji 陳記 later in the day. Tell us which one you prefer.

Address: #166號和平西路三段 Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple station

Tel: +886 2 2304 1979

Hours: 6:30am - 7:30pm

Xinfu Market or U-mkt 新富町文化市場 first opened in 1935 during the Japanese era as a traditional neighbourhood fish and meat market. When new, bigger markets opened, Xinfu Market fell behind and became decrepit for a couple of decades. The historic building reopened in 2017 after three years of refurbishment into today's hipster hangout. The name U-mkt came from the horseshoe shape of the building. Visitors come here to enjoy a light meal and coffee as well as get a glimpse of the atmosphere from a bygone era.

Address: #70號, Sanshui St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple

Tel: +886 2 2308 1092

Hours: 10am - 6pm (Mon off)

Wang’s Broth 小王煮瓜 is a typical lu rou fan (stewed pork over rice) shop ubiquitous in Taipei. It serves a good stewed pork rice but what sets it apart is the pickled cucumber and pork soup which Wang's Broth provides to complement the rice and side dishes like stewed cabbage, tofu, eggs, etc.

Address: #153號 Huaxi St, 17之4號攤位, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple

Tel: +886 2 2370 7118

Hours: 9:30am - 8pm (Tues off)

While visiting Wang's Broth, take a walk around Huaxi Street Tourist Night Market 華西街觀光夜市. Huaxi Street Night Market doesn't have the vibes and energy of the more popular night market such as Roche. Huaxi night market has "Tourist" in its name but it is one of the most quaint and un-touristy of night markets in Taipei. There are some food stalls which you can walk around and see what catches your fancy. Their main clientele are the workers and customers of the spas, massage parlours, karaoke bars and such, catering to middle aged locals. Tourists once came here for snake and bile dishes (hence the nickname "Snake Alley") but these have since been banned. You may still stumble upon one or two operating under the radar 😉

Yi Jia Zi 一甲子餐飲 serves simple staples of stewed pork over rice, stewed pork belly in a bun and fishball soup all done the quintessentially Taiwanese way. Everything must order 🤭 Cannot leave Taiwan without trying these dishes and Yijiazi 一甲子餐飲 is one of the best places in Taipei to get them. But, be ready for long queues and eating at the corridor (there's no indoor seating).

Address: #79號, Kangding Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Walk 2 blocks from Longshan Temple station 😄

Tel: +886 2 2311 5241

Hours: 9am - 7pm (Sun off)

Zhouji Meat Porridge 周記肉粥店, this is a no dress up comfort staple. Savoury sweet brothy soupy grainy rice porridge eaten with blanched, deep fried and stir-fried sides such as pork belly, offal, as well as bamboo shoot, julienned ginger, etc. They also have squid, chicken, and even shark as side dishes. The porridge is like "pao fan" 泡饭. The deep fried pork (they call it 红烧肉 here) is a must order. Humble shop, spartan furnishing, quick, efficient but friendly service. No frills, just eat well, enjoy the flavours and go 😄 I love it.

Address: #104號, Guangzhou St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple station

Tel: +886 2 2302 5588

Hours: 6am - 4pm

川業肉圓 Chuan-yeh's signature 紅糟肉圓 is huge meat balls wrapped with rice blended with red rice lees (hong zao). Founded in 1910, the heritage shop serves savoury sweet slightly tangy soft pork and rice ball bathed in a savoury sweet gooey red yeast sauce. A comfort dish here, I've not seen in Singapore or Malaysia.

Address: #165號1樓, Wanhua District, Guangzhou St, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple

Tel: +886 2 2308 1641

Hours: 10am - 9pm

誠記原汁排骨湯 serves watery clear soup with fall-off-the-bone tender meaty pork rib and soft radish. Naturally porcine sweet with radish sweetness. Add condiments like soy sauce and chili sauce to taste. They have option for pork balls. For carbs, they have steamed rice with shredded carrot and dried krill for added savoury flavour. Free soup top-ups provided.

Address: #247號, Xichang St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10852

Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple

Tel: +886 2 2302 7959

Hours: 24/7 (round the clock)

36 Rice Cake Dessert 三六食粑原36圓仔店粿店 is a fourth generation shop serving hand kneaded and rolled glutinous rice ball sweet desserts in sugary soup. They have a signature savoury sweet cheese filled rice ball. They also have traditional peanut and red bean soup.

Address: #92號, Sanshui St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple

Tel: +886 2 2306 3765

Hours: 8:30am - 9:30pm

Original under the Xiyuan bridge sesame seed fried dough sticks 原西園橋下燒餅油條. Join locals to queue and enjoy a breakfast of soya bean milk with fried dough stick (you char kway), charcoal baked biscuit (with egg filling), egg roll, egg pancake, glutinous rice roll, etc. Enjoy savoury soy bean milk with savoury soy sauces, chili oil, and you char kway. All humble carb heavy staples which locals eat to kick start their day. If you like to go local, this place will provide you hyperlocal experiences and memories.

Address: #242, Section 1, Xiyuan Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple

Tel: +886 2 2336 7230

Hours: 6:30am - 11am (Sun off)

Lung Tu Shaved Ice Specialist 龍都冰菓專業家 founded in 1920 is the oldest ice dessert shop in Taipei, if not Taiwan. The ingredients are fresh, put together well, not overly sweet, and the shaved ice is melt-in-the-mouth smooth, not the gritty type. They also have papaya milk 木瓜牛乳, a nostalgic drink from our first trips to Taiwan in the 1980s.

Address: #192號和平西路三段, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple

Tel: +886 2 2308 2227

Hours: 11:30am - 10pm (Weds off)

萬大碳烤燒餅店 Wanda Bakery serves seemingly simple scallion cakes which are crisp, season seed crusted outside and loaded with generous amounts of aromatic fresh scallion inside. The baked cakes are known as 蟹殼黃 or literally "crab shell roe" because of its shape like a crab. The winning formula, besides the fresh scallion and freshly kneaded yeast dough, lies in the secret blend of lard and spices which give the crispy buns a layered lardy savoury flavour. Perhaps there is crab roe but it is a secret recipe 🤭

Address: #124, Wanda Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple

Tel: +886 2 2336 6063

Hours: 9:30am - 8pm (Sun off)

萬華林建發仙草冰燒仙草 Wanhua Grass Jelly is a traditional refreshing dessert eaten either hot or with ice. This is a well loved shop with over 50 years in the business. Come here for dessert and chill out for a while between meals, sightseeing or shopping. It's nothing like a modern cafe but a throwback to a more laidback Taipei of over 50 years ago.

Address: #138號, Bangka Blvd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple

Tel: +886 2 2302 9044

Hours: 10am - 7pm

名廚什錦麵舘 Celebrity Chef Assorted Noodles is famous for their signature noodle stewed with lard in a rich seafood, pork, old hen and vegetable broth then loaded with lots of mixed seafood and meat toppings.

They also serve a popular thick fried pork chop which is crisp outside, juicy inside.

Address: #52號, Xingning St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple

Tel: +886 2 2308 0313

Hours: 11:10 am - 2:30 pm | 5pm - 8 pm (Mon off)

廣州街夜市脆皮蚵仔煎 Guangzhou Street kerbside stall serves crispy base oyster omelette. The oysters are cooked on top of a crispy batter base, blanketed with eggs, topped with leafy greens, then flipped over to cook briefly in the well oiled flat pan before serving. The oyster omelette is served slathered with a thick smothering savoury sweet sauce.

They also have crispy omelette with shrimp.

Address: #224號, Guangzhou St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT: Longshan Temple station

Tel: +886 9 2090 1958

Hours: 5:30pm - 12 midnight

Have I left out anything that I should not miss in the Longshan Temple area? Please let me know in the comments. I will do my best to go try it 🙏