Walking along the Tamsui River and turning onto Zhenli Street, the bright red aroma of sweet chili sauce hits you before you even arrive. A row of triangular fried tofu pouches sit plump in the iron pan, each one stuffed full with glass noodles and fish paste. The shopkeeper ladles a spoonful of red sauce over the top, sunlight gleaming off the tofu skin. This is Tamsui Agei — a street food that belongs entirely to Zhenli Street, to this old hillside neighborhood in Tamsui.
What is Agei?
The "ge" in agei comes from the Japanese word "あげ (揚げ)," meaning fried tofu skin. The method involves cutting open a triangular fried tofu pouch, stuffing it with stir-fried glass noodles, sealing the opening with a layer of fish paste, and steaming it before topping it with a sweet red chili sauce. One bite delivers the oily richness of the tofu skin first, then the silky, well-seasoned glass noodles, and finally the chewy fish paste seal — distinct layers that flow together seamlessly. It's a Taiwanese street food that cleverly wraps bean products, seafood flavor, and starch into one.
Zhenli Street in Tamsui is the birthplace of agei. Along the hillside near Aletheia University and Danjiang High School, several half-century-old shops like Wenhua Agei and Laopai Agei stand side by side, each with its own loyal following. Wenhua Agei has been open for over half a century and has accumulated more than 4,000 Google reviews — on weekends, the queue stretches to the corner by early morning. Laopai Agei is known for its original-style preparation. The entire street fills with students, office workers, and visitors from early morning, making it a neighborhood that has earned its landmark status on the strength of its original street food alone.
How to eat it like a local
Local knowledge
Verified credentials (sponsored content filtered out)
- Zhenli Street is the recognized birthplace of agei. Several long-standing shops line the street, and there is no single "authentic" version.
- Wenhua Agei is a half-century-old institution on Zhenli Street with over 4,000 Google reviews — one of the highest review counts in the area.
- The name agei comes from the Japanese word "揚げ (あげ)," reflecting the influence of Japanese-era food culture on Tamsui.
Visitor tips
- Zhenli Street sits on a hillside and requires about a 15-minute uphill walk from Tamsui MRT Station — wear comfortable shoes.
- On weekends both the old street and Zhenli Street see heavy traffic. Drivers should park further away and walk up.
- Most shops make agei to order, so expect to wait in line during peak hours. You can place your order first and then find a seat.
Information compiled from the Michelin Guide, New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau, and large volumes of public reviews, with sponsored content filtered out. Photos will be replaced with exclusive channel footage after Dio's on-site shoot.