Jiaoxi Food Guide: What We Ate During Our 2-Day Stay

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We spent 2.5 days relaxing and enjoying the hot springs of Jiaoxi, one of Yilan county’s true gems in Taiwan, and we are already looking forward to returning. Although it is a compact little town, its culinary scene doesn’t disappoint.

In this Jiaoxi food guide, we’ve pulled together all the spots we tried ourselves and genuinely loved, alongside trusted recommendations from local friends. No hours of endless research required – just an honest list of the best bites to help you plan your trip and focus only on relaxing and soaking in the baths.

Jiaoxi Food Guide: Tips for Eating Out

Before heading to Jiaoxi to enjoy the hot springs and local food, keep a few practical tips in mind:

• Most eateries accept cash-only: While larger establishments or hotel restaurants might take cards, we didn’t encounter any that did; we paid cash everywhere we went.
• Tipping is not required: This is standard across all of Taiwan. You might occasionally see a service fee added to the bill at upscale restaurants, but true tipping isn’t a thing.
• Double-check opening hours: Google Maps can sometimes be unreliable here. A couple of places we wanted to try were closed despite what the app said, so it’s always smart to have a backup plan if you are eating outside normal hours.

Where to Eat in Jiaoxi: Our Top Recommendations

Breakfast & Brunch

宅男蛋餅: This is a traditional Taiwanese batter-style egg crêpe shop that is fantastic for starting your day. The crêpes have a thick, soft, and chewy texture, with creative fillings like bean curd skin rolls and crispy scallion wrappers. It is typical to have these with a warm soy milk.

It is best to arrive early or order take-away as this is a casual local spot with limited seating. They are open only in the mornings around 06:00 (closed on Thursdays), so the later you go, the higher the chance they will sell out for the day. Cash only.

Yih Shun Shiuan: This is a famous local bakery with things like fresh pastries, egg tarts, or their famous red bean/taro pastry. It is an easy and quick solution if you’re looking to grab breakfast on the go and continue exploring the town.

永和豆漿大王: Another classic Taiwanese breakfast spot great for early risers, as it opens at 5:00 AM (closed on Wednesdays). They serve fresh soy milk, rice balls stuffed with pork floss and crullers, pan-fried pork buns, and flaky egg pancakes. It has affordable prices, fast service, and is cash-only.

Restaurants & Local Eateries

滷之鄉 (Braised Duck): f you are looking to try local flavors and something a bit different from your typical dishes, this is a must-visit addition to your Jiaoxi food guide. It specializes in traditional Taiwanese cold-braised delicacies like duck wings, legs, pig knuckles, tofu, and tender pork intestine vermicelli soup.

The most typical dish is the duck or chicken noodle soup but there are also options with pork intestines, duck legs, fish balls and much more. We tried the duck leg and glass noodle soup and it was just perfect after a couple of hours soaking in the Forest Bath onsen nearby.

There is spacious indoor seating with a dedicated take-out counter if you prefer. Open daily from late morning through midnight. Cash only.

Rakuzan Ramen: One of Jiaoxi’s most famous dining experiences, as it combines Japanese ramen with soaking your tired feet in a warm hot spring water pool while you eat. Popular dishes include classic chicken broth and tonkotsu ramen, katsu curry, and side gyoza.

Note: You have to pay extra if you want to sit at the foot-soak outdoor tables. Since the Jiaoxi hot springs park is right next door and is free to use, you can easily just have a normal meal here and do your foot soak at the park instead!

Expect a short wait during peak hours. Cash only.

Phở Wild: By the time we visited Jiaoxi, we had already spent 4 weeks in Taipei and were eating Taiwanese food daily, so we needed a little break. Luckily, we came across this cozy Vietnamese spot serving aromatic beef pho loaded with tender beef slices, mixed meat combos, and crispy fried spring rolls.

They also make banh mi, a classic Vietnamese baguette sandwich stuffed with savory meats, pâté, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs. Everything we tried was delicious and we recommend it if you’re looking for a comforting alternative to Taiwanese food. Cash only.

Weng Yao Chicken Jiaoxi (甕窯雞礁溪總店): If you don’t mind a short walk, this place is an absolute favorite among both tourists and locals. It is famous for its tender, juicy duck slices served over fragrant rice. There is plenty of seating inside and a huge selection of side dishes (have your translator app ready!). Although it attracts many people, the line moves fast. Cash only.

Street Food Stalls

柯氏蔥油餅: Almost every Jiaoxi food guide includes this famous scallion pancake street stall, so we went to see what the fuss was about. There is almost always a queue, but the line moves surprisingly fast.

They serve thick, fried scallion pancakes packed with sweet Yilan green onions and a fresh egg on top. They are crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, but personally, we found them very oily and heavy. I don’t know if it was just the batch we tried, so do give it a go and let me know in the comments if you had the same experience

We’ve tried scallion pancakes across Taiwan and honestly, these were our least favorite. Open roughly 09:00–18:00 (closed on Wednesdays). Cash only.

Wu Ji – Peanut Roll Ice Cream (吳記花生捲冰淇淋): Right next to the scallion pancakes, you’ll find a stall serving peanut ice cream rolls. This has become our favorite sweet street snack in Taiwan. It has shaved peanut brittle, traditional ‘ba-bu’ ice cream, and fresh cilantro (you can ask to omit it) wrapped in a thin popiah spring roll wrapper. It is sweet, refreshing, and completely unique to the region. Cash only.

Dessert Shops

冰雪 礁溪店: A Jiaoxi food guide wouldn’t be complete without talking about dessert! We absolutely loved the shaved ice here. This spot has been around for over 40 years, and they specialize in massive plates of fine, fluffy snowflake ice piled high with things like fresh fruit, taro, tapioca pearls, and rich condensed milk. Open typically from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Cash only.

慕嶼商行: This is a minimalist Japanese-style dessert shop tucked into a quiet alley, specializing in handmade caramel puddings with creative flavors (like matcha, black sesame, and Earl Grey) alongside refreshing citrus iced coffees.

Dine-in rules: If you choose to dine in, the price is higher because they add decorative elements to your pudding. There is also a 60-minute time limit and a minimum spend of 130 NTD (~ €3,60 / $4,10) per person. We visited late and couldn’t be served, but the place looks lovely and is worth a stop as long as you’re aware of the rules. Cash only.

Where to Eat in Jiaoxi: Interactive Food Map

To make planning your trip effortless, we’ve pinned every single spot mentioned in this guide onto the interactive map below. You can click on individual markers for quick details, or expand the map (top right expand button) to save it straight to your Google Maps account for easy navigation around town.

Jiaoxi Food Guide: Final Thoughts

Even though we only spent a couple of days exploring, Jiaoxi proved that you don’t need to be in a metropolis to eat well. It has both local eateries that give you a more authentic experience as well as cosy places with unique flavours.

Knowing where to eat in Jiaoxi can completely transform a short weekend trip from stressful to seamless. We hope this Jiaoxi food guide helps plan your trip, avoid the overly-oily traps, and enjoy the absolute best local bites this Yilan gem has to offer!