In America, watching sports and eating hot dogs basically go together. Whether you're in the bleachers at a ballpark, tailgating outside a football stadium or on the couch for Sunday football, there's usually a hot dog in your hand. Fans in Taipei run into two problems: what time does the game start in Taiwan, and where do you get game-day food that actually tastes right?
Why hot dogs and sports go together
Hot dogs spread through American ballparks in the early 1900s: cheap, easy to carry and eaten with one hand, so you never have to take your eyes off the game. They're still a ballpark staple. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) estimated that baseball fans would eat about 19.1 million hot dogs at Major League ballparks in the 2022 season.
Football adds tailgating: fans drop the tailgate in the stadium parking lot before kickoff, grill hot dogs and burgers, crack a beer, and when it's cold, there's often a pot of chili. For a lot of Americans, those hours before the game matter as much as the game itself.
What time are NFL games in Taiwan?
Taiwan is 12 or 13 hours ahead of the US East Coast: 13 hours after daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday of November, 12 hours after it starts again on the second Sunday of March. Converted from Eastern Time, winter kickoffs look roughly like this:
- Sunday 1:00 p.m. games: Monday 2:00 a.m. in Taiwan
- Sunday late-afternoon games (around 4 p.m.): Monday around 5 a.m.
- Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m.): Monday 9:20 a.m.
- Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m.): Tuesday 9:15 a.m.
- Super Bowl LXI is tentatively set for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which is Monday morning, February 15, in Taiwan.
During US daylight saving time (before November 1, 2026, and from March 14, 2027), everything is one hour earlier.
What time are NBA games in Taiwan?
The 2026-27 NBA season tips off on October 20 (US time). A 7 p.m. Eastern game starts at 8 a.m. the next morning in Taiwan during the winter, and West Coast home games start later, landing around noon or into the afternoon here. The NBA's Christmas Day games run from the early hours through the afternoon of December 26 in Taiwan.
So how do you do game day in Taipei?
Most live broadcasts land in Taiwan's early morning or working hours, while Hotdogray serves Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 p.m. to around midnight (plus every other Saturday). Live games and our kitchen hours rarely line up. The realistic ways to do it here:
- Watch live in the morning, then meet up with your game-watching crew in the evening to talk it over: a proper American game night.
- Catch the replay or highlights on the weekend with some game-day food.
- Around big games like Thanksgiving and the Super Bowl, get a group together for an American-style meal before or after. For Thanksgiving in Taipei, see this guide.
What to eat: order like an American fan
- One-handed: an Original Hot Dog or a Chili Dog. The chili dog is a ballpark and street-cart classic; read how it got that way in the origin of the chili dog.
- No-mess: a Walking Taco, with everything mixed right in the chip bag. It's a staple at school events and games in the US; more in this post.
- For sharing: Chili Fries, Chili Cheese Fries, Chicken Nuggets, Tater Tots.
- With beer: Taiwan Beer, Budweiser or Heineken. Ordering for a group? See what to order for a darts night with friends.
See the full menu.
Can you watch the game at AI DARTS?
Yes. The TVs at AI DARTS can show NFL and NBA games. Message us on LINE with the game and time you want to watch. Keep in mind that most live US games fall in Taiwan's early morning or daytime, and hot dogs are only served during the hours above; the dart machines are self-service 24 hours a day. AI DARTS also has a post on planning a watch party with darts.
FAQ
Q: What time do Sunday afternoon NFL games start in Taiwan?
A: A 1 p.m. Eastern kickoff on Sunday is 2 a.m. Monday in Taiwan during the winter (1 a.m. during US daylight saving time). Sunday Night Football starts around 9:20 a.m. Monday in Taiwan.
Q: What time can I watch NBA games in Taiwan?
A: A 7 p.m. Eastern game starts at 8 a.m. the next day in Taiwan during the winter. West Coast home games start later, around noon or into the afternoon here.
Q: Can I watch NFL or NBA games at AI DARTS?
A: Yes, the TVs can show NFL and NBA games. Message us on LINE with the game you want. Most live games fall in Taiwan's early morning or daytime, and hot dogs are only served during evening kitchen hours.
Q: What's the best game-day order?
A: A Chili Dog you can hold in one hand, or a no-mess Walking Taco. With a group, add Chili Fries and Chicken Nuggets to share.
