Taichung Second Market
Taichung Second Market is a historic traditional market full of local food such as braised pork rice, turnip cake, rice sausage, and meat pies, loved by locals and visitors alike. The building is distinctive too: walkways radiate out from a hexagonal tower, which is the market's landmark.
Local Food
Taichung Second Market
- Opening hours
- 07:00–14:00
- Distance from Mr.Mantter
- 0.22 km
- Walking time
- 3 min
- Driving time
- 1 min
- Phone
- 0422254222
About Taichung Second Market
Taichung Second Market (officially the Taichung City Public Second Retail Market) is at the corner of Sanmin Road and Sec. 1, Taiwan Boulevard in the Central District, a traditional market full of local character and history. The site covers about 7,900 m², and the main building covers about 1,070 m². The building has three wings radiating out from a central hexagonal tower. There are 54 shops, about 200 fixed stalls, and about 100 temporary stalls. The market is managed by the Second Market vendors' association.
The market dates back to the Japanese colonial era, when it was called Shintomi-cho Market. It was one of the largest markets in Taichung and a center of daily life for the city's Japanese residents. The hexagonal tower design made it easy for shoppers and vendors to move around and meet. The tower is one of the few Japanese-era buildings in Taichung still fully preserved.
The market is best known for its food: braised pork rice, turnip cake, rice sausage, meat pies, sesame noodles, yi mein, wontons, sushi, and sashimi, plus well-known stalls such as Lu Rou Qiu, Lao Lai Black Tea, Lan Rou Zao, and Wang Ji Turnip Cake. For many Taichung people this is the city's kitchen. Prices are low and the flavors are authentic, drawing both locals and visitors. Many stalls have been run for decades, some for close to a century, keeping old-style recipes alive, and they often appear in media and online lists of must-try Taichung food. Tiantian Mantou is also nearby.
Besides food, there are shops selling dried goods, household items, Japanese goods, and souvenirs. Vendors are friendly and happy to chat about the market's history and their dishes. The market is clean and has public restrooms and a parking lot. It is about a 12-minute walk from Taichung Station, or 5 minutes by bus.
Taichung Second Market is worth a visit for both its food and its history, and there is something new to find each time.
The Second Market is close to Mr.Mantter. Walk over for breakfast after you wake up, then pass Wan Chuen Gung on your way back to the hotel. Mr.Mantter does not serve breakfast, and the market's snacks fill the gap. Book a room at Mr.Mantter
Address
No. 87, Sec. 2, Sanmin Rd., Central District, Taichung City 400
Name and address in Chinese (show this to your taxi driver)
臺中市公有第二零售市場
400台中市中區三民路二段87號
