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Best Things to Eat at Danshui Old Street (Tamsui Old Street, 淡水老街)

October 12, 2019

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The Old Street of Danshui (Tamsui Old Street, 淡水老街) is one of the best places to visit in Taipei. It is conveniently located at the end of the Tamsui-Xinyi Line (淡水信儀線) and is within walking distance from the MRT station. In this installment of our Taiwan Travel Guide Series, we bring you the best things to eat at Danshui Old Street.

Similar to the night markets in Taiwan, there’s so much good food at Danshui Old Street, you will be spoiled for choice. In this article, we list down the best things to eat at Danshui. Read on for more.

Danshui Old Street Entrance — The beginning of Danshui Old Street

Top Things to Eat at Danshui Old Street (Tamsui Old Street, 淡水老街)

Contents in this Article

1 Top Things to Eat at Danshui Old Street (Tamsui Old Street, 淡水老街)

Fried Seafood – Best Things to eat at Danshui

Danshui is located next to the sea, so there are many stalls selling seafood here. There’s a huge variety available – ranging from fried squid, fried shrimps, squid balls, fried cuttlefish and fish tempura. There’s also fried chicken and my favourite fried King Oyster Mushrooms for those who do not fancy seafood. Our top recommendations are the fried squid and fried cuttlefish.

Fried Seafood in Danshui — Fried Seafood stalls are everywhere in Danshui. Be sure to look around and check out prices first

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There’s lot of things to do and see at Danshui. For a day of family fun or some romantic time together, why not try a horse-riding experience at Danshui beach. You’ll not only learn how to interact with the horses, but also to ride it and watch a sunset on horseback!

Fried Seafood at Danshui Old Street — They come in different sizes, and you can even choose to buy a cup of assorted fried seafood if you cannot make up your mind which one to try

Fried cuttlefish at Danshui — Fried cuttlefish are highly recommended. They can be cut into small pieces to make it easier for eating and sharing

Fried squid at Danshui, Taipei — Fried Squids are also a must-try at Danshui

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Fried Seafood Stalls to Try at Danshui Old Street

Many of the seafood stalls at the entrance of Danshui Old Street will be trying their best to get your business before you even step further into the street. We advise taking a stroll down the street until you find a stall with good prices. The ones at the beginning of the street can be overwhelmingly expensive. The stalls that we recommend are 花枝燒 and 花枝道.

Recommended fried seafood stall at Danshui — One of the stalls that we tried was 花枝燒 located somewhere in the middle of the length of the street facing the waterfront. We bought an assorted box and it was great

Assorted Fried seafood in Danshui, Taipei — Our assorted fried seafood

Fried cuttlefish stall at Danshui, Taipei — Another stall that we tried was 花枝道. They are located somewhere near the end of the street facing the waterfront and is one of the biggest stalls around

Fried cuttlefish at Danshui, Taipei — Condiments are available for self-service. We highly recommend the seaweed powder, plum powder and for those who likes spiciness, put in the chilli powder as well

Fresh seafood at Danshui, Taipei — Seafood cooked other ways other than fried are also available

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Jumbo Ice Cream and Turkish Ice Cream

Jumbo ice creams, piled tall above a cone and shaped like a sword are now a thing of the past. I remember it was ultra popular in Danshui when we visited more than a decade ago. Jumbo ice creams are still available now, but has lost a lot of its former luster. In its place now is Turkish ice cream. With its elastic and chewy texture, Turkish ice cream is a unique delicacy that is worth trying, especially for those with a sweet tooth! There are at least 2 stalls selling Turkish Ice Cream at Danshui, so be sure to give it a try!

Jumbo Ice Cream at Danshui, Taipei — Jumbo ice creams are a thing of the past, but it is still a fun activity to make your own

Turkish Ice Cream at Danshui, Taipei — Turkish ice creams are the new kids on the blocks are a great thing to try for those who have a preference for sweet stuff

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Grilled Quails Eggs (彭大妈鸟蛋)

This stall sells grilled quail eggs at NT20 (about SGD0.90) for a stick of 7. At less than a dollar per stick, I say it is an ultra cheap delicacy to try. You’ll get to choose and coat it with the flavorings of your choice. The fact that it is skewered makes it easy to eat and share with others. It is one of the best things to eat at Danshui, so don’t miss it.

Quail Eggs store at Danshui, Taipei — Grilled Quail Egg stall at Danshui

Price of Quail Eggs at Danshui, Taipei — Each skewer cost on NT20 which is less than a dollar

Quail Eggs at Danshui, Taipei — DIY application of condiments and sauces

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Iron Eggs (鐵蛋)

Iron Eggs (鐵蛋) are a Taiwan specialty that originates from Danshui. Therefore, don’t ever leave Danshui without getting a few of these to try. The original chef and creator of Iron Eggs is now selling it under the brand Ah Po Tie Dan (阿婆鐵蛋). This shop is incredibly popular at Danshui. If you are thinking of picking up a few souvenirs for friends and family back home, this is where you must go to.

Ah Po Iron Eggs store at Danshui, Taipei — Ah Po Iron Eggs are the original creators of the iron egg. If you want to try iron eggs, this is the only place you should go to

Vacuum packed Ah Po Iron Eggs at Danshui, Taipei — Ah Po Iron Eggs comes in fresh version and vacuum packed versions to suit your needs

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Taiwan Castella Cake – Most Popular Things to eat at Danshui

Taiwan’s version of the Castella Cake is the new fad everywhere now. We first saw this castella cake in Taichung’s Fengjia Night Market where it was ultra popular. At Danshui, there are at least 2 stores selling this. The most popular one is 第一品牌。 This cake must be eaten while piping hot to savor its full taste, so it will be best if there are many of you around to share.

Castella Cake store at Danshui, Taipei — The queue for Taiwan Castella Cake

Taiwan Castella Cake at Danshui, Taipei — Freshly baked castella cake smells incredibly good! It must be eaten hot to derive the best taste

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Ah Gei Lao Dian (阿給老店)

Almost everyone who has been to Danshui will recommend you give Ah Gei a try. There are actually many shops with the name Ah Gei, but you will have to try the original store (ask around if you are unsure). If you are at Ah Po Tie Dan (阿婆鐵蛋) store, the original Ah Gei is down at the alleyway next to it.

At Ah Gei, the must-try disc is their fishball soup. It tends to be ultra crowded though, so be prepared to wait for a seat.

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There’s lot of things to do and see at Danshui. For a day of family fun or some romantic time together, why not try a horse-riding experience at Danshui beach. You’ll not only learn how to interact with the horses, but also to ride it and watch a sunset on horseback!