Raohe night market
If there is a place where intensely feel the heartbeat of Taipei, those are your night markets, An essential on the list of every traveler visiting the city.
when the sun goes down, tourists and locals mingle in the alleys of the night markets to fill your stomach with local snacks, do some shopping, play in the arcades or just walk around soaking up (literally) the essence of Taipei.
From the most popular to the most local, Enter the bustle of Taipei and let yourself be carried away by the aroma of its stalls and the friendliness of its people. Yes indeed, with this guide under his arm.
SHILIN MARKET (JIANTAN): THE ESSENTIAL
Shilin Market is the largest and most famous night market in the city, always full of people, both local and tourist. A whole labyrinth of alleys full of food stalls, clothing, accessories and technology that constitutes one of the nerve centers of the Taipei night.
The Shilin district near the Keelung River has been home to this market since 1909, although trade on the river docks goes back even years. The original market building was demolished in 2002 and for ten years the vendors were in temporary locations.
It was in 2012 that the new Shilin Market building was opened. In the surroundings of the market more and more premises were installed, which constitute the current night market.
On floor -1 we find the Shilin Night Market Food Court. There are those who eat there every day, because it is cheaper than having a kitchen at home.
Both in the underground patio and in the street we find a mixture of smells (for better and for worse), tastes, colors, sounds and people which represents, without a doubt, the essence of Taiwanese night markets.
Shilin night market, the most famous in the city
The culinary display, to say the least, is dizzying. Why start? What to ask for? Tempura? seafood? Tofu? Rice? Pork? Let's go by parts.
One of the foods that you cannot miss in the night market is the oyster omelette. If you like it spicy, add the traditional sauce.
don't miss either Hot Star's fried chicken, fried buns (shui jian bao), known (literally) as stinky tofu (his scent will guide you to him), pork sausages and aiyu jelly.
You will see many people walking with the famous (and instagrammable) bubble tea in the hand. order it at Tiger Sugar.
On the ground floor there is a covered area where we can find the typical 'souvenirs' (pineapple cakes, toothpicks, figures, etc.), arcade games, stalls with skill games where you can take a Pikachu stuffed animal or others where you can get a massage (although we don't think the curtain isolates much from the noise from outside).
You cannot leave Taipei without strolling through its night markets
**RAOHE NIGHT MARKET (SONGSHAN) **
Smaller than Shilin, but probably the second largest night market in Taipei. The market extends along Raohe Street: 600 meters in which food stalls, shops and recreational areas are condensed.
If you start walking it from the east end, the Ciyou Temple will welcome you. Climb its stairs to enjoy the views of the city but don't stop too long, the best is yet to come. Say hello to the owl at the entrance and let's eat!
From restaurants with more elaborate dishes to street stalls, there are options for all tastes. Try the sausage inside a sausage (yes, as you read, worthy of Carnivorous Chronicles) and accompany it with a watermelon juice (also XXL size) .
Raohe, another good option to try traditional food
**TONGHUA NIGHT MARKET (LINJIANG STREET) **
Despite its exceptional location, near the famous Taipei 101, the atmosphere of the Tonghua night market is more relaxed and there are usually not many tourists.
It is characterized by offering a truly local product, in which respect for tradition and recipes that have been passed from generation to generation prevail.
Forget prejudices and go straight to try the stinky tofu –You know, wherever you go, do what you see–. In Shi Family Gua Bao They make one of the best guabao in Taipei – the famous Taiwanese hamburgers.
For lovers of do it yourself, at the noodle stalls you choose the base and add the ingredients that you prefer (something like the equivalent of salad bars where you choose your favorite toppings) .
Another of the specialties that you will find on Linjiang Street is braised pork with rice. For dessert, delicious egg tarts accompanied by a cup of matcha tea.
Linjiang Street, one of the locals' favorite streets to eat
**HUAXI STREET NIGHT MARKET (WANHUA) **
Next to the Longshan Temple we find Huaxi, the oldest night market in the city and it has a past that is less surprising. Until the 1990s, it was a kind of Taiwanese "Red Light District" where the only places there were were sex shops, strip clubs and pornography shops.
Later, when the Taiwanese government banned prostitution, they began to open restaurants specializing in snake meat, which little by little attracted tourists. Hence, today this market is also known by the name of Snake Alley.
Despite the nickname of Snake Alley, currently there are no longer venues dedicated solely to snakes or live shows, due to the respect to animals.
What do remain are some stalls where they still sell drinks based on snake blood or dishes prepared with turtle meat, that cannot be easily found in other markets. There are also massage and manicure salons, karaoke bars, as well as some sex shops, a legacy of the previous "red light district".
One of the Huaxi Street night market souvenir stalls
**JINGMEI NIGHT MARKET (WENSHAN, NEW TAIPEI) **
Jingmei is a market day and night located in the south of the city, right next to the metro station that bears the same name.
During the day, it is a very normal market, where Taiwanese go to do their shopping, both for food and clothing. There are also places that offer facial and body treatments.
As evening falls, Jingmei slowly transforms, welcoming large number of students, It is close to Shih Hsin University and the prices are quite reasonable.
The food stalls offer the classics of any night market: fried buns, rice, soups, teppanyaki, sesame oil chicken, noodles and noodles.
Jingmei, the favorite of university students
SHI-DA NIGHT MARKET: SHOPPING PARADISE
Shi-Da Market is located in one of the most fashionable areas of the city, next to the National Taiwan University.
Although it has food stalls, what is really important here are the clothing stores, mostly from local designers. From the latest trends to the most alternative style, Shi-Da is one of the favorite places for young Taiwanese to go shopping.
**NINGXIA NIGHT MARKET (DATONG) **
As soon as you arrive, the row of Liu Yuzai, a specialized position in taro balls (a tuber widely used in Asian cuisine) : you can order them plain or stuffed with egg and pork.
For dessert? We approach the stalls mochi, a Japanese cake made from rice and peanuts.
ningxia
**YANSAN NIGHT MARKET (DATONG) **
Just get out of the Daqiaotou Subway Station we come across the Yansan night market, which despite being in the heart of the city, has a majority local clientele who come here to drink fried noodles and squid soup.
Another essential of this market is the guabao (the typical Taiwanese burger popularly known as bao) . finish with a mochi ice cream to feel like another neighbor.
The famous oyster omelette
**LIAONING STREET NIGHT MARKET (ZHONGSHAN) **
If this night market in the Zhongshan district is known for something, it is for the seafood. Here you will not find arcade games or clothing stores like in other more touristy night markets. The 200 meters spanning Liaoning Road are dedicated solely to satisfying your appetite.
Get off at Nanjing Fuxing Subway Station and walk for five minutes until you come across the fuju temple, where the culinary adventure begins. The oyster omelette It is one of the best in the city.
Who wants a little bit of stinky tofu?