Luodong Night Market is the largest night market in Yilan County, centered on Minsheng Road and extending into surrounding streets, concentrating stalls that sell local Yilan dishes such as a-gei, bo-rou, and Sanxing scallion pancakes alongside the toys and clothing stalls common to night markets everywhere. It grew out of food stalls that once gathered around the former Lanyang Theatre after film screenings, and was formally organized by the Luodong Township Office in the 1990s; in 2010 Taiwan's Tourism Bureau named it one of the 'friendliest night markets,' alongside Keelung's Miaokou Night Market. Evenings are the liveliest commercial hours in Luodong town, with especially heavy weekend crowds.
Luodong Night Market grew out of food stalls that gathered around the former Lanyang Theatre after film screenings; the Luodong Township Office formally organized the area into today's night market in the 1990s. In 2010, Taiwan's Tourism Bureau named it one of the 'friendliest night markets,' alongside Keelung's Miaokou Night Market.
Highlights of Luodong Night Market
In Yilan County's tourism landscape, Luodong Night Market is positioned as the main evening dining hub; many visitors to Yilan plan to have a meal here. Yilan snacks sold in the night market include a-gei (tofu skin stuffed with glass noodles), bo-rou (battered fried pork), Sanxing scallion pancakes, and sheep's foot jelly. These items are available throughout Yilan; the Luodong Night Market versions are not necessarily the sole or best option, but the high concentration makes comparison convenient.
Quality and reputation vary noticeably among stalls, and the same dish tastes different at different booths. Weekends are crowded, and wait times at some popular stalls can be long; visiting on a weekday makes for a more relaxed pace. A few established local restaurants on the streets surrounding the night market are smaller in scale but have a steady local following and can serve as dining options beyond the night market itself.
How to make the most of your visit
Practical information
Getting there and travel time
- Walk about 10 to 15 minutes from Luodong TRA Station to the night market; or take a bus from Yilan City to Luodong Station and walk.
- By car to Luodong town center: roadside parking near the night market is competitive on weekends; using a nearby paid car park is recommended.
Nearby connections
- Luodong Forestry Culture Park is within walking distance of the night market; visiting the forestry park in the daytime and the night market in the evening is a smooth sequence.
- The National Center for Traditional Arts and Dongshan River Water Park are both within a 15-minute drive and can be combined into a full-day southern Yilan itinerary.
Sources: Luodong Township Office; Wikipedia entry on 'Luodong Tourist Night Market.' Photos to be replaced with Dio's own shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Luodong Night Market?
It's about a 10–15-minute walk from Luodong TRA Station, or take a bus from Yilan City to Luodong Station and walk from there.
What are the must-try local Yilan dishes at Luodong Night Market?
A-gei, bo-rou, and Sanxing scallion pancakes are distinctively Yilan dishes concentrated in the market, making it easy to compare stalls.
When is the market less crowded?
Weekdays (Monday through Thursday) are noticeably less crowded than weekends and holidays, when lines can be long.
Sources
- 羅東夜市 - 維基百科，自由的百科全書 — 歷史沿革與2010年最友善夜市評選紀錄