When you plan a whole day in Taipei's East District, the hard part usually isn't where to shop, it's what to eat at each point in the day. This guide goes by the clock: an afternoon snack while shopping, dinner, round two, and a hot dog to finish. For which shops to visit and how to explore the area, AI DARTS put together a Taipei East District guide; this one is only about food.
Afternoon: A Snack While You Shop
Most of the boutiques on Lane 161, Section 1, Dunhua S. Rd and Lane 205, Section 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd don't open until after 1 PM, so people usually head out after lunch. When you want to sit down halfway through, the lanes are full of cafes and bubble tea shops. Grab a drink and sip while you browse, and don't fill up before dinner. For a shopping route, see this guide.
Dinner: BBQ or Omakase
For a more proper meal: Pang Du Du BBQ's Da'an branch has over 4,000 Google reviews at 4.8 stars, with staff grilling at your table. For omakase-style Japanese, Yu Zhi near Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall has excellent online reviews, and from the counter you can watch the head chef at work.
Evening: Izakayas and Dim Sum for Round Two
The Zhongxiao E. Rd area is packed with izakayas and bars. Jing Xing Cantonese Dim Sum (Dunhua S. Rd, Exit 10 of the East District Underground Mall) is open 24 hours, so you won't be turned away even in the middle of the night. For a drink, Aplus Dining Sake Bar (No. 16, Lane 236, Section 1, Dunhua S. Rd, 4.4 on Google) pairs Japanese dishes with its own house sake. For more late-night food, see our East District late-night takeout guide.
Last Stop: A Hot Dog to Settle In, or Chili to Take Home
If round two involved a few drinks and you want something hot before heading home, stop by Hotdogray inside AI DARTS on Section 4 of Renai Road in Da'an District. The Original Hot Dog is $50 and the Chili Dog is $70, and the signature is chili made from pure pork simmered with a dozen-plus spices. If you don't want to stay long, both the hot dogs and the chili are available to go. Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 8 PM to around midnight, plus every other Saturday. If it rains or something unexpected comes up we may not open, so check the in-store notice or our LINE announcements.
See the full menu here, and for MRT and bus directions see our getting-here guide.
