Shenkeng Old Street

Shenkeng made tofu with local water and a traditional coagulant long before it became a day trip, and the old street, a restored run of arcaded shopfronts, now sells almost nothing else: stinky tofu deep fried and grilled, braised tofu, tofu ice cream, tofu buns, tofu pudding. The stinky tofu is the reason most people come, and the smell reaches the car park. The street was repaved and restored in 2011, and the shops behind the arcade still grind their own beans, which is the argument they make for why the tofu here tastes different.

What you actually see

• The stinky tofu - fermented and then fried or grilled, the street's signature.
• The tofu range - braised, grilled, iced and in desserts along the whole street.
• The arcaded shopfronts - restored buildings along the short old street.
• The traditional method - shops still using the older coagulant and stone grinding.

When to go

Year round; weekends and holidays are extremely crowded. Weekday afternoons are calmer. Most shops close in the evening.

Honest expectations

The street is short and packed shoulder to shoulder at weekends. Stinky tofu is genuinely pungent and not for everyone. Parking is very limited.

Nearby

Pinglin is southeast, and Taipei is northwest.