How To Spend An Afternoon In Taipei’s Yongkang Street (永康街）
Yongkang Street is a small neighborhood, but there’s a lot packed into it.
Some of the best shops and eateries are tucked into the alleys, not on the main street itself. Knowing which shops to visit and where to eat is what makes your time worth it.
I’ve been to Yongkang Street multiple times over the years, and there’s always something new to browse, eat, or notice, even after all these visits.
Here’s how I’d spend an afternoon there. Fair warning: this route involves a lot of snacking, so maybe don’t fill up at lunch, and definitely don’t plan on a big dinner afterward.
Getting There
The most convenient way to get to Yongkang Street is by MRT.
Take the Red Line or Orange Line to Dongmen Station (東門, R07 or O06). From Exit 5, walk straight for less than a minute. Turn right on the first intersection, and you are on Yongkang Street.
How to Spend Your Afternoon in Yongkang Street
Start With Tianjin Scallion Pancakes
Tianjin Scallion Pancake (天津蔥抓餅, Google Maps) is your first stop, and you won’t miss it. The stall is tiny, but there’s almost always a long line out front.
The pancake is flaky, and I’d get it with egg. Grab one, then head into the alley next to it to start browsing the shops.
Three Taiwan-Themed Shops
In that alley, you’ll find three shops close together: Lai Hao (來好, Google Maps), HOLI (厚里, Google Maps), and Bao Maison (Google Maps).
All three sell Taiwan-themed design goods, and their inventories overlap quite a bit. What differs is the specific designs each one carries, since they source from different makers. So even after browsing one, you’ll still find things in the others that you haven’t seen.
Lai Hao is the biggest of the three and carries the widest selection, so it’s the one I’d start with, and probably where you’ll spend the most time.
You might see a familiar Taiwanese brand logo turned into a canvas bag, or the cover of an elementary school exercise book used as the design for a zipper pouch. These are the kinds of things that make Taiwanese people stop and smile because they remind us of things we grew up with.
I’m not sure how much of that nostalgia translates to visitors from other countries, but that’s part of what I enjoy about the store. It gives you a glimpse of the everyday things that feel familiar to people who grew up in Taiwan.
You’ll also see plenty of other Taiwan-themed designs, including Zhuyin (注音), traditional cloth bags (茄芷袋), old packaging, and familiar Taipei and Taiwan symbols.
As you browse, keep an eye out for designs featuring huazhuan (花磚), the colorful decorative tiles that were once common on Taiwanese buildings. You don’t see them nearly as often anymore. When I was growing up, though, these tiles were much more common. My grandparents’ house in the countryside had them on the walls.
Now, whenever I see those old tile patterns on a magnet, bag, or other souvenir, they bring back memories of visiting my grandparents. That’s one reason I enjoy these shops. Some of the things they sell aren’t just generic souvenirs. They can be little pieces of everyday Taiwan.
Stop for Mango Shaved Ice
By now, you’ll probably be ready for something cold.
Smoothie House (思慕昔, Google Maps) is one of the best-known stops on Yongkang Street, and this is one I would actually wait in line for.
Taipei summers are hot, and mangoes are in season during the summer, so mango shaved ice just makes sense when you’re here at this time of year.
The toppings are generous, but I also really like the shaved ice itself. The texture is soft and fluffy, almost melting in your mouth.
I went with my son last summer, and he loved it. One bowl is large enough to share between two or even three people, so you don’t need to order one for everyone.
There is usually a line, but if you’re visiting Yongkang Street in the summer, I think this is one of the times when waiting a little is worth it.
A Drink at 50嵐
50嵐 is another well-known Taiwanese chain, and this branch sits in a spot on Yongkang Street that’s hard to miss. You’ll usually see a small crowd waiting outside.
Order a cup of bubble milk tea (珍珠奶茶), Taiwan’s signature drink, and keep walking. Sip it as you continue down Yongkang Street toward Earthtree and Cloudhues Living.
Cloudhues Living and Earthtree (地球樹)
A little farther down Yongkang Street, you’ll find Cloudhues Living (Google Maps) and Earthtree (地球樹, Google Maps) right across from each other.
Cloudhues Living has a more polished, contemporary feel. I like the design of the backpacks and other creative goods there, and the products have a nice quality to them. If you enjoy Taiwanese design and are looking for something a little more sophisticated than a typical souvenir, it’s worth a look.
Earthtree is a little different. The store focuses on fair trade and environmentally friendly products.
Once you understand the idea behind the store, buying something you genuinely like feels a little different. You’re not just taking home another souvenir. You’re also supporting products made with environmental and fair-trade values in mind.
If sustainability and fair trade are important to you, I’d definitely spend some time here.
Tofu Pudding or Ice Cream
Everything in this part of Yongkang Street is close together, so don’t worry too much about direction. Depending on what you’re in the mood for, you have a choice to make.
Bai-shui Tofu Pudding (白水豆花, Google Maps) keeps things simple and classic. The tofu pudding is soft and smooth with a clean soybean taste, and you can add toppings like red beans, peanuts, or brown sugar syrup if you want, though the plain version holds up on its own.
If ice cream sounds better, KaKaZan Ice Club (Google Maps) is a small gelato shop nearby, the kind of place with a cozy, low-key atmosphere and flavors that change depending on what’s in season. Last time I went, they had a seasonal lychee flavor, and it was excellent.
I’ve tried both, and either one makes a nice pause before continuing on.
Take a Break If You Need It
Yongkang Park (永康公園) sits right in the middle of Yongkang Street, with shops and food on all sides of it. It’s not a stop at the end of some long walk, it’s more like the heart of the neighborhood, so you’ll likely find yourself passing by more than once as you wander.
If your feet need a break by this point, 8% Ice Cafe is right by the park, hard to miss. It’s a well known cafe with a nice atmosphere, a good spot to sit for a bit before continuing on.
You don’t need to rush through Yongkang Street. Part of the fun is simply wandering into a shop when something catches your eye.
Buy Some Nougat Crackers
Nougat crackers (牛軋餅) are one of Taiwan’s better known snacks, and they make good souvenirs since they travel well. If you haven’t tried them before, this is a good place to start.
L’Atelier Lotus (甜滿, Google Maps) is also right by Yongkang Park, and it usually draws a long line. I got lucky on my last visit and barely had to wait at all. The nougat crackers were good, not sticky, and easy to eat while walking. I’d recommend their signature scallion flavor, sweet with just a touch of savory, and genuinely good.
A Quick Look at NET
If you’re heading back to Dongmen Station and happen to see NET, you can also take a quick look inside.
NET is a Taiwanese clothing brand, and I stopped in because I was curious to see a local brand rather than another international chain.
It’s not something you need to specifically seek out. NET has many locations around Taiwan. But if you’re interested in Taiwanese clothing brands and happen to pass one, it’s worth stepping inside.
How Much Time Do You Need?
For a first visit, I’d plan on about two hours if you want to browse the shops, have shaved ice, and pick up a few things to take home.
Give yourself closer to three hours if you like to take your time in shops or want to sit down for a break.
Final Thoughts
I’ve walked this street more times than I can count, and I still notice something new every summer. A shop that wasn’t there last year. A flavor I hadn’t tried. Sometimes just a tile pattern in a window that stops me for a second.
That’s what I like about Yongkang Street. It rewards you for slowing down.
So use this route if it helps, but don’t feel like you have to follow it exactly. If a shop catches your eye halfway down an alley, go in. That’s usually where the good stuff is.
