Eating Schedule
Taiwan’s eating schedule differs somewhat from Western patterns, and understanding typical meal times helps you find restaurants open and operating at peak freshness.
Breakfast（早餐）
Taiwanese breakfast culture runs early. Breakfast shops and traditional markets buzz from 6:00 AM, with peak hours between 7:00 and 9:00 AM as workers and students grab morning meals. By 11:00 AM, most breakfast-specific establishments close. If you want to experience authentic Taiwanese breakfast culture, plan to eat between 7:00 and 9:30 AM.
This early schedule initially challenges Western travellers accustomed to leisurely 10:00 AM breakfasts. However, adapting to Taiwan’s breakfast rhythm provides access to experiences and foods unavailable later in the day. Tainan’s beef soup, for instance, usually is only available early morning—by late morning, the best cuts are sold out and restaurants close.
Lunch（午餐）
Lunch service typically runs 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, with peak crowding between 12:00 and 1:00 PM. Many office workers take lunch breaks during this window, making popular restaurants extremely busy. If you want to avoid crowds at famous establishments, eating before 11:45 AM or after 1:15 PM improves your experience dramatically.
Business lunch sets offering fixed menus at reduced prices appear at many restaurants during lunch hours. These provide excellent value and simplified ordering.
Afternoon Tea（下午茶）
The concept of afternoon tea exists in Taiwan but differs from British traditions. Tea houses and cafés serve continuously through the afternoon, whilst hand-shaken drink shops experience afternoon peaks as people seek refreshment. Some restaurants offer afternoon tea sets (typically 2:00-5:00 PM) featuring small plates and tea or coffee.
This period between lunch and dinner (roughly 2:00-5:00 PM) sees many restaurants closed, particularly family-run establishments where staff take breaks. This can frustrate Western travellers accustomed to all-day restaurant service. Night markets typically haven’t opened yet. Your best options during this period are chain restaurants, cafés, convenience stores, or hand-shaken drink shops.
Dinner（晚餐）
Dinner service begins around 5:30 PM, though many Taiwanese people eat somewhat later, between 6:30 and 8:00 PM. Restaurants stay busy through 9:00 PM, with popular establishments experiencing waits during peak hours (7:00-8:00 PM).
Night markets begin opening around 5:00-6:00 PM and hit peak energy between 7:00 and 10:00 PM. If you want the full night market atmosphere, visit during this window. Arriving earlier (6:00-6:30 PM) means less crowding but less energy; arriving later (after 9:30 PM) means some popular vendors may have sold out.
Late Night Eating（宵夜）
Taiwan’s late-night eating culture thrives, particularly in cities. The concept of late night eating encompasses everything from night market grazing, food from convenience stores, to proper restaurant meals consumed after 10:00 PM. Many stir-fried restaurants and certain noodle shops specifically cater to late-night diners, staying open until midnight or later.
This late-night culture makes Taiwan remarkably forgiving for travellers on odd schedules. Jet-lagged visitors craving food at 11:00 PM will find ample options. Convenience stores operate 24 hours and stock decent prepared foods. However, the selection narrows considerably after midnight, and by 2:00 AM, options become quite limited outside major entertainment districts.