Taipei’s Ningxia Night Market is coming to Singapore from 16 Jan to 9 Feb 2020!

Asian Night Market will be featuring more than 30 food stalls directly from Taipei’s Ningxia Night Market. Ningxia Night Market may not be as well known as the other famous night markets in Taipei—such as Shilin Night Market, Shida Night Market and Raohe Night Market—but it offers just as fantastic street food as the larger ones do and it is one we always visit when we are in Taipei.

For those of you who have never been to Ningxia Night Market, this is a nostalgic night market where you can stuff yourself silly with all the popular Taiwanese snacks available such as fried yam balls, oyster omelette and braised pork rice! It is also less touristy, and less expensive in comparison to the bigger players in Taipei.

Following the successes of overseas night markets opening in Singapore such as Artbox, Chatuchak Weekend Market, and Shilin-inspired Night Market, Ningxia Night Market is set to be the next night market to make an appearance in Singapore.

Being fans of Ningxia Night Market ourselves, we are definitely very excited about this upcoming event in Singapore. We will bring you the latest updates on the opening of Ningxia Night Market in Singapore.

Photo credit: 123rf.com

Taiwan is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Southeast Asia because what is there not to love about that country?

Besides their friendly locals and scenic landscapes, we have always been fascinated with Taiwanese food. Bring on the pungent beancurd and pig’s blood!

But hold your horses and please do not get the wrong idea. Taiwanese classic dishes ain’t a fear-factor show but instead, an exciting exploration of food. From Beef Noodle Soup, Oyster Omelette to Pineapple Cake, here is our guide to 11 Taiwanese Classic Dishes To Eat.

Source: Hufu Wong

#1 BA-WAN

The disk-shaped Ba-Wan is essentially a translucent doughy dumpling with a diameter of approximately seven centimetres. It is filled with minced meat stuffing and then served with a sweet-and-savoury sauce.

Ba-Wan’s texture bears an uncanny resemblance to gummy and the fillings vary across different parts of Taiwan.

#2 BEEF NOODLE SOUP

As its name implies, Beef Noodle Soup, or also known as Niu Rou Mian is exactly what it is. Think noodles and braised succulent beef dunked in an aromatic semi-dark broth. The dish is then topped with chives, leafy vegetables and/or Chinese pickled cabbage. It is a comfort food that can be found everywhere in Taiwan.

#3 BRAISED PORK RICE

Braised Pork Rice—called Lu Rou Fan in Chinese—is basically a piping hot bowl of steamed rice topped with delicious minced pork. The meat’s sauce is key in this delicacy and adds an extra depth of flavour to its overall taste profile. Complement your Braised Pork Rice with a Chinese tea leaf egg and pickled vegetables.

#4 BUBBLE TEA

Bubble Tea was first invented in Taichung in the 1980s and the rest is history. The iconic tea-based beverage is served with chewy tapioca pearls and you can savour them hot or chilled. Other cities, especially those in the United States of America, call these delightful drinks Boba.

#5 FRIED CHICKEN STEAK

The Taiwanese Fried Chicken Steak is beyond sinful but definitely worth all the calories. A tenderised marinated chicken breast is deep-fried till golden brown and seasoned with pepper, salt and (optional) spices. No one leaves Taiwan without trying this iconic Taiwanese snack!

#6 SMELLY TOFU

Caution: the smelly tofu is not for the faint-hearted. The fermented beancurd has such an overwhelming odour that your nose could certainly detect its presence even from hundreds of metres away! This dish is a popular snack amongst Taiwanese and you will definitely find them at the night markets.

#7 MANGO SHAVED ICE

Mango Shaved Ice boasts fine snowflake ice with chunky fresh mango pieces—an ideal treat to combat the intolerable summer heat! The icy treat is a crowd pleaser and Smoothie House located along Yong Kang Street in Taipei has one of the best renditions.

#8 OYSTER OMELETTE

The glorious Taiwanese Oyster Omelette—also known affectionately amongst natives as orh-ah-jian—is a heavenly union of the gelatinous sweet potato starch and the pan-fried omelette with freshly poached oysters that will melt in your mouth.

A sauce made from tomato ketchup, soy paste and sweet chilli is then drenched over the fragrant oyster omelette.

#9 OYSTER VERMICELLI

Oyster Vermicelli features a generous amount of wheat-based noodles mixed with thickened soup. The flour-rice noodle dish is served with fresh oysters but it is also common to see other interpretations replacing oysters with braised pig intestines instead.

#10 PINEAPPLE CAKE

Traditional Taiwanese pineapple cakes or Feng Li Shu are sweet bite-sized squarish cakes with a buttery exterior and filled with thick jam-like pineapple filling. They are best eaten fresh but also make great souvenirs to bring home.

Source: Easy Eat in Taiwan

#11 ZHU XUE GAO

Zhu Xue Gao—made from pig’s blood and glutinous rice—might come across as a terrifying dish but is actually a well-loved street snack amongst Taiwanese locals. In Taiwan, the pig’s blood could be boiled, braised, fried or steamed.

The most popular way to eat it would be a steamed version on a stick coated with cilantro, peanut and soy sauce.

#12 CONG ZHUA BING

Cong Zhua Bing is a type of Taiwanese pancake that is highly raved about by the locals. You can find hawkers at night markets flipping these scallion pancakes with oil before topping them off with a topping of your choice.

Photo Credit: Taiwan Food Culture

#13 DA CHANG BAO XIAO CHANG

The English name literally translates to ‘big sausage wraps small sausage’ but this iconic Taiwanese street food is essentially Chinese sausage wrapped with glutinous rice. It usually comes with lettuce, salted vegetables and lots of garlic.

#14 TAIWANESE PORRIDGE

After all that feasting, it would be good to have some Taiwanese porridge to cleanse your palate. Everyone gets a bowl of plain porridge which they can complement with a wide variety of side dishes—really similar to our economic rice stalls in Singapore when you think about it!

Be it your first time or second time to Taipei, one thing that you must include in your itinerary is a trip to one of Taipei’s night markets. We love night markets for the splendid array of street food (at reasonable prices), the lively atmosphere and simply the thrill of getting our hands on cheap clothing or goods!

Admittedly, most would only cater time to visit the more commercialised or popularised night markets such as Shilin Night Market or Raohe Street Night Market, but there are plenty of other undiscovered night markets in Taipei that deserve your time too. And, why only visit one or two night markets during your visit to Taipei when you could go to many more?

Here are 12 Night Markets In Taipei You Should Include In Your Itinerary.

Photo Credit: Alec Travel Guide

#1 GUANGZHOU STREET NIGHT MARKET

For a better feel of what a local and authentic night market in Taipei is like, Guangzhou Street Night Market will be a great place to visit. As one of the oldest night markets in Taiwan, Guangzhou Street Night Market is preferred by locals and is part of the Longshan Temple Night Market area.

Apart from regular street food that you can find in other night markets, some interesting dishes that you can try include pig feet, frog soup and glutinous rice. Visitors can also get up to plenty of fun games where you can play the night away. However, do take note that this is not a place to visit if you are searching for good clothing deals.

Guangzhou Street Night Market
Lane 152, Guangzhou Street, Wanhua District,
Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Daily: 4pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Longshan Temple

Photo Credit: HJ Love To Travel

#2 GONGGUAN NIGHT MARKET 

Located right beside Exit 1 of Gongguan Station, Gongguan Night Market is the biggest night market in the South district of Taipei City. The night market is strategically located in the midst of a business district, which allows visitors to browse through clothing and accessory stores, portrait studios, coffee shops and more.

Due to its close proximity to the National Taiwan University, majority of the traffic at this night market are made up of students. Yes, this means that prices are less steep and in fact pretty reasonable! And why not pick up some QinWaZhuangNai i.e. famous bubble milk tea in the area, whilst exploring the night market?

Gongguan Night Market
Section 3, Luosifu Road,
Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Daily: 3pm – 11:45pm
Nearest Station: Gongguan

#3 HUAXI STREET NIGHT MARKET 

Huaxi Street Night Market is another one of Taiwan’s more traditional markets. You would not have a hard time finding this night market as a large, red palace-style archway marks the entrance to the market which is open throughout the day.

Plenty of old, historical shops occupy the streets of Huaxi Street Night Market and you would be able to find plenty of yummy street foods to indulge in! For instance, this is where the Danzai noodle restaurant business began and something interesting you can try is the snake soup—a dish unique to Huaxi Street Night Market. Otherwise, why not take part in some fortune-telling or simply go for a good massage?

Huaxi Street Night Market
Huaxi Street, Wanhua District
Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Tel: +886 2 2388 1818
Daily: 4pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Longshan Temple

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

#4 LEHUA NIGHT MARKET 

The origins of Lehua Night Market date back to the early 1970s, and this night market is located in the Yonghe District which is famous for its delicious soya bean drink. Offering a wonderful mix of street food stalls, shopping and entertainment facilities, this is an all-in-one market where you will never feel bored.

Another night market that is a favourite of many locals, this night market is wider and easier to navigate even for those who are visiting for the first time. Unfortunately, due to noise complaints from the neighbouring areas surrounding the market, Lehua Night Market may be closed down soon. Quick, make sure this night market is on your to-go list if you are visiting Taipei soon!

Lehua Night Market
Yongping Road, Yonghe District,
New Taipei City, Taiwan 234
Tel: +886 800 000 123
Daily: 5pm – 12.59am
Nearest Station: Dingxi

#5 LIAONING STREET NIGHT MARKET 

Located a stone’s throw away from Fuju Temple, Liaoning Street Night Market is a popular night market that often draws mostly locals, unlike other regular night markets in Taipei. Thus, this is the best night market to visit to avoid tourists but yet have a taste of authentic Taiwanese cuisine.

Some delicious street food that you can try include the oyster omelette, boiled squid, mochi and oden cooking. The seafood stir-fry shop at the night market is also very popular and this is where you can get your seafood fix, cooked according to your preference.

Liaoning Street Night Market
Liaoning Street, Zhongshan District
Taipei City, Taiwan 10491
Daily: 4pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Nanjing East Road

#6 NANJICHANG NIGHT MARKET 

Nanjichang Night Market is another night market which has not been tainted by tourism and is recognised for its ruggedness and truly Taiwanese character. A hot favourite of the locals, you would hardly see any tourists in the area which means that you are in for a night of authentic Taiwan street food and culture.

Albeit slightly smaller in size than other notable night markets such as the Shilin Night Market, the street food offered at Nanjichang Night Market does not pale in comparison. One identifying trait of this night market is that all street foods offered at night will be available even during the day. Rest assured also that Nanjichang Night Market is budget-friendly and would not burn a hole in your pocket.

Nanjichang Night Market
Lane 307, Section 2, Zhonghua Road
Wanhua District, Taipei
Tel: +886 2 2305 3036
Daily: 6am – 12am
Nearest Station: Wanhua

#7 NINGXIA NIGHT MARKET

Like Nanjichang Night Market, Ningxia Night Market is a smaller night market which offers just as fantastic street food as the larger ones do. This is a nostalgic night market where you can stuff yourself silly with all the Taiwanese snacks available such as fried yam balls, oyster omelette and braised pork rice!

If you need a break from all the food, consider participating in some games or shopping in the southern part of the night market. A well-balanced night market adventure, we’d say.

Ningxia Night Market
Ningxia Road, Datong District
Taipei City, Taiwan 103
Tel: +886 915 652 480
Daily: 5:30pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Shuanglian

#8 RAOHE STREET NIGHT MARKET 

Raohe Street Night Market is one of the oldest night markets in Taipei, which has been extremely well-received and usually considered a must-visit for all tourists. Spreading out along a 600-metre path of Raohe Street in the Songshan District, have tons of fun exploring all the different interesting and delicious street foods and snacks, shops and stalls and even carnival activities available there.

A word of advice—7pm would be a good time to drop by this night market as most vendors usually only begin setting up their stalls at 5pm.

Raohe Street Night Market
Rao He Street, Songshan District
Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2763 5733
Daily: 4pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Songshan

#9 SHIDA NIGHT MARKET

Looking for a trendy night market? Shida Night Market is waiting for you! This night market is located within the Da’an District, which is known for its upmarket and hipster vibes and is home to several rock bars, cafes and restaurants. Best of all, visitors would appreciate that Shida Night Market is well-organised, quaint and compact, as compared to other larger and messier night markets.

Offering an incredible selection of delightful street food and cheap clothes from stylish boutiques, you would find plenty of young entrepreneurs cum vendors in this night market. Thus, a visit to this night market would be a great way to extend some support for the local fashion community whilst securing good clothing deals.

Shida Night Market
Lane 39, Shida Road, Da’an District,
Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tue to Sun: 5pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Taipower Building

#10 SHILIN NIGHT MARKET

As one of the largest and most popular night markets in Taiwan, most would usually have Shilin Night Market on their minds when planning their trip to Taipei. And to make it better, this night market is also conveniently located near Jiantan Station.

Shilin Night Market is famous for their impressive selection of authentic Taiwan eateries and fashionable clothing boutiques. A newly-renovated building of Shilin Night Market comprises three basement floors and one ground floor. Just think, 94 food vendors on Level B1; how amazing is that? It is time to get crazy and go all out!

Shilin Night Market
Wenlin Road, Shihlin District
Taipei City, Taiwan
Daily: 11am – 2am
Nearest Station: Jiantan

#11 SHUANG CHENG STREET NIGHT MARKET 

Operating for over 40 years, Shuang Cheng Street Night Market is a hot spot for plenty of Taiwanese food and variety shows. As a relatively low-key market, this is where you can escape for good Taiwanese street food without all the hustle and bustle of overly-commercialised night markets.

Some dishes you can try include steam goose meat in goose soup stock and Chiayi Chick Rice. For desserts, favourites include Granny’s old-style flavour sweet noodles and jelly fig ice.

Shuang Cheng Street Night Market
Shuangcheng Street, Zhongshan District,
Taipei City, Taiwan 104
Daily: 8am – 4pm, 5pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Zhong Shan Elementary School / Mingquan West Road

#12 TONGHUA NIGHT MARKET 

Found along the fringe of a residential area in Da’an District, Tonghua Night Market is often filled with plenty of locals and tourists alike. Specialising in local street foods and more, this lively night market will be sure to thrill you even after your first visit.

One popular dish to try at Tonghua Night Market is yan su ji (Taiwanese salted crispy chicken ), braised foods and Cong You Bing (scallion pancake). When you had enough of street food, there are steak restaurants and teppanyaki eateries for you to dine at.

Tonghua Night Market
Linjiang Street, Da’an District,
Taipei 106, Taiwan
Daily: 6pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Xinyi Anhe

The capital of Taiwan is a short flight away from Singapore and the one-way journey takes only 4 hours and 40 minutes. Taipei might not be as geographically near as its neighbours i.e. Bangkok and Hong Kong, but the Asian city’s cultural attractions are worth a special trip.

From eating fresh seafood from Addiction Aquatic Development, marvelling at award-winning National Palace Museum’s vast collection of artefacts to visiting the grand Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, here are 10 Touristy But Interesting Taipei Attractions That You Should Visit.

#1 ADDICTION AQUATIC DEVELOPMENT

Developed by Mitsui Food and Beverage Enterprise Group, Addiction Aquatic Development is a modern fish market with multiple concepts under its roof. Over here, you can shop for live seafood, purchase fresh sashimi and dine at one of their multiple on-site restaurants.

No. 18, Alley 2, Lane 410, Minzu E Rd
Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 104
Tel: +886 2 2508 1268
Daily: 6am – 12am
Nearest Station: Xingtian Temple

#2 CHIANG KAI-SHEK MEMORIAL HALL

The grandeur of historical landmark Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall will leave you in awe. The octagon-shaped monument houses a massive bronze statue of Chiang and it is protected by military personnel. These armed guards change their shift every hour via a ceremony.

No. 21, Zhongshan S Rd
Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Tel: +886 2 2343 1100
Daily: 9am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Source: Catherine Lee 234

#3 HUASHAN 1914 CREATIVE PARK

Huashan 1914 Creative Park was once a deteriorated factory, but has since then been revamped into a multi-purpose recreational park. Its revamp has drawn many local artists and many exhibitions, events, installations and performances are held here throughout the year.

No. 1, Section 1, Bade Road
Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Tel: +886 2 2358 1914
Daily: 24 hours
Nearest Station: Zhongxiao Xinsheng

#4 LUNGSHAN TEMPLE OF MANKA

Founded in 1738, the Lungshan Temple of Manka was set up by the immigrants from Fujian, China during the Qing dynasty. The site is dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy but you will notice many other deities here too. The government proclaimed the temple a historical site of second grade in 1985 and it will be preserved for future generations.

No. 211, Guangzhou St
Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10853
Tel: +886 2 2302 5162
Nearest Station: Longshan Temple

Source: Travel Taipei

#5 NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM

Taiwan’s National Palace Museum boasts a permanent collection of approximately 700,000 artefacts and artworks – yes, it has more ancient antiques than Beijing’s Forbidden City! A must-visit for those who have a keen interest in Chinese culture and history.

No. 221, Section 2, Zhishan Rd
Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111
Tel: +886 2 2881 2021
Mon to Thu: 8.30am – 6.30pm
Fri and Sat: 8.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Shilin

Source: Travel Weekly

#6 NATIONAL TAIWAN MUSEUM

The National Taiwan Museum is the oldest museum in Taiwan; it has been around for more than a century. The museum was constructed during the Japanese colonial era and remains in its original site. It is designed by Japanese architects Ichiro Nomura and Eiichi Araki.

No. 2, Xiangyang Rd
Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Tel: +886 2 2382 2566
Closed on Mondays
Tue to Sun: 9.30am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Ntu Hospital

#7 RAOHE STREET NIGHT MARKET

Raohe Street Night Market is one of Taiwan’s oldest night markets and the 600-metre street is lined up with a vast number of vendors. There are so many hawkers that you will be absolutely spoilt for choice. Food aside, visitors can also expect old-school game stalls and hip fashion apparels.

Raohe St
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2763 5733
Daily: 5pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Songshan

#8 SHILIN NIGHT MARKET

Shilin Night Market is one of Taiwan’s most famous night markets. Foodies can dig into a plethora of Taiwanese snacks such as deep-fried chicken cutlets, bubble milk tea and oyster omelette, while shoppers can put their bargaining skills to test at the various retail shops.

Lane 101, Wenlin Rd
Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111
Mon: 4.30pm – 12am
Tue to Sun: 12am – 12pm, 4.30pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Jiantan / Shilin

#9 SUN YAT-SEN MEMORIAL HALL

The construction of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Xinyi District was completed in 1972 and it pays tribute to the founder of the Republic of China, Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The hourly ceremony – where the stoic guards formally change their shifts – itself is a popular tourist attraction.

No. 505, Section 4, Ren’ai Rd
Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
Tel: +886 2 2758 8008
Daily: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

#10 TAIPEI 101

Taipei 101 is the most iconic landmark in Taiwan’s skyline. Standing at 508 metres, the tower is almost impossible to miss. The infrastructure is exceptionally sturdy; a gigantic pendulum is mounted between the 88th and 92nd storeys, hence allowing it to withstanding both earthquakes and typhoons. Fun fact: It was the world’s tallest green building until 2011.

Taipei 101, No. 7, Section 5, Xinyi Rd
Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
Nearest Station: Taipei 101

Read our guide on 25 reasons why we love Taipei.

For an authentic Taiwanese experience, head over to Taipei’s oldest night bazaar – Raohe Street Night Market. The bustling market is a stone’s throw away from Songshan MRT Station, hence making it an easily accessible attraction. Vendors will start setting up their stalls at 5pm, but the best time to drop by is around 7pm – where you get to catch the action in full force.

A trip to a night market in Taiwan might be daunting (especially for those who can neither read nor speak traditional Mandarin). Fortunately, our bilingualism has allowed us to compile a useful guide to Raohe Street Night Market. From queuing up for hu jiao bing, eating Chinese sausages to playing old-school games, here are 15 tips on what to eat and what to do at Raohe Street Night Market!

WHAT TO EAT AT RAOHE STREET NIGHT MARKET

Caution: Raohe Street Night Market’s sheer number of food stalls will have you spoilt rotten. We suggest you walk around before diving straight for the first shop that captures your fancy. Many shops sell the same delicacies and most of these vendors do not have English menus.

#1 Baked Pastries

Without a doubt, Raohe Street Night Market sells predominantly Taiwanese and other Asian delicacies. But that’s not all. You can also expect some Western-inspired dishes such as freshly baked French treats. How about some blueberry cheese tarts for those with sweet tooth?

#2 Black Pepper Buns

Upon arrival, you will see a long queue formed outside Raohe Street Night Market’s main entrance. Everyone is queuing up at the market’s most famous stall and it is selling only one item: Black Pepper Bun aka Hu Jiao Bing. These piping hot buns – prepared and cooked in front of you – are stuffed with a peppery minced meat and vegetable stuffing.

#3 Beef Cubes

There are numerous shops selling Torched Beef Cubes at Raohe Street Night Market. The succulent bite-size beef chunks are cooked fresh-to-order and you can complement these tasty flesh with various toppings. We asked for a recommendation and were recommended rose salt.

#4 Beef Noodles

The Beef Noodle is a classic Taiwanese delicacy and every street in Taipei sells this aromatic dish. What you can expect: Tender beef slices served in a rich savoury broth alongside thick bouncy noodles. A bowl of Beef Noodles at Raohe Street Night Market only costs NT$90 / S$4.

#5 Chinese Sausages

The Taiwanese natives’ take on Chinese sausages are also known as Xiang Chang. These chunky, fat and juicy sausages have a distinct sweet aftertaste due to the generous amount of sugar used in its preparation. They are commonly seen in night markets and sold on skewers.

#6 Freshly Squeezed Juices

Take a stroll around Raohe Street Night Market and you will come across several vendors selling freshly squeezed juices. From pink guava to watermelon, these nutritious chilled juices are great thirst quenchers.

#7 Fried Chicken Steak

Fried Chicken Steak otherwise known as Ji Pa is a crowdpleaser and the snaking queue around it is a testimony to its popularity. Interestingly, we walked around the entire Raohe Street Night Market and saw only one stall selling these deep-fried poultry cutlets dusted with chilli powder.

#8 Grilled Squid

There are quite a handful of shops selling gigantic grilled squid. These fresh seafood are cooked on the griller till its outsides achieve a golden brown hue. Seafood lovers must not miss out on these chewy calamaris! Choose from either the flattened or unflattened squid.

#9 Lu Wei

The concept of Lu Wei is pretty similar to our Yong Tau Foo i.e. pick whatever ingredients you fancy from the cart and place them in your assigned container. The food will then be chopped up and cooked in a savoury broth. Some stalls will fry or grill your desired ingredients instead.

#10 Pork Rib Soup

Raohe Street Night Market’s Pork Rib Soup is almost equivalent to Singapore’s Bak Ku Teh. The key difference between these two is that the Taiwanese’s interpretation uses a lot more herbs, whereas the Singaporean version focuses on its peppery stock.

WHAT TO DO AT RAOHE STREET NIGHT MARKET

Surprise, surprise! There is a lot more to do at Raohe Street Night Market than just eating. The carnival spirit is alive and you can partake in a series of traditional games such as mahjong, fishing and even pinball. There are even a few fortune telling booths. Sounds like fun huh?

#11 Shopping

Trendy retail stores line the two ends of Raohe Street Night Market. You can look forward to chic clothing, fashionable accessories, cutesy gadgets, stylish menswear and more. These items are surprisingly very affordable and you will probably spend a good some time shopping.

#12 Recreational Fishing

The number of activities at Raohe Street Night Market really surprised us to no end. You can even relive your childhood memories and recreational fish for fishes. Those with little ones will definitely enjoy this leisure activity.

#13 Shooting Balloons

Have a penchant for shooting? Well, put your aiming skills to test and have a go at the shooting games. Those who have ‘shot’ down enough balloons with the pellet guns will be rewarded with plush toys.

#14 Traditional Pinball

Things are indeed kept simple at Taipei’s oldest street night market. You can play a game or two of retro pinball – operated by a marbles and steel pins. The older generation will find these games immensely nostalgic.

#15 UFO Catchers

Most of us have a love-hate relationship with the UFO Catchers. These machines are extremely common in Raohe Street Night Market and each machine contains a diverse selection of prizes. There are keychains, soft toys and even mobile accessories. The odds are mostly against you, but we do see people successfully catching some prizes.

Raohe Street Night Market
Rao He Street, Songshan District
Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2763 5733
Daily: 5pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Songshan

Read: 25 Reasons Why We Love Taipei.

No trip to Taiwan is complete until you have checked out the bustling night markets which boast a plethora of street food and retail options. There are many night markets across Taipei and Shida Night Market is one of the places that you should include in your itinerary.

Located in a university area, Shida Night Market is exceptionally popular amongst the local youth community. But Shida Night Market is not limited to just the natives; it is also a tourist attraction on its own. There are many vendors here – and they do have a tendency to relocate within the compound itself, so keep your eyes peeled as you make your way through the market!

From Arnor Crepe’s cooked-to-order crisp crepes, Hsu Ji’s pan-fried pork buns to Niu Lao Da’s aromatic beef noodles, here is our guide To Taipei’s Shida Night Market.

#1 ARNOR CREPE

A long queue is formed outside Arnor Crepe and you can choose from a wide selection of sweets and savouries. Upon placing your order, the batter is poured onto the griddle and cooked till golden brown. Sauces and toppings are added onto the crispy crepe and viola, these fragrant crepes are good to go.

#2 DENG LONG LU WEI

Deng Long Lu Wei might be pretty difficult to locate for those who do not know traditional Mandarin, but you can easily identify the stall with its hanging red lanterns.

The concept is similar to Yong Tau Foo i.e. pick whatever ingredients you fancy (the variety is amazing!) and place them in a basket. The food will then be chopped up and cooked in a savoury broth.

#3 HSU JI

Established in 1984, Hsu Ji sells only Sheng Jian Baos aka Pan-fried Dumpling stuffed with Minced Pork. The relentless queue formed outside Hsu Ji is a testimony to its popularity—which is unsurprising, given how it has been featured in so many media publications.

#4 LAO TIAN TIAN

Lao Tian Tian specialises in homemade desserts and over here, you can treat yourselves to refreshing grass jelly and shaved ice dessert.

#5 NIU LAO DA

When directly translated, Niu Lao Da literally means Beef Boss. The eatery is best known for its beef noodles, but its other chef-recommended dishes such as handcrafted dumplings and beef roll pancakes are equally well-received too.

#6 SHENG CHAO HUA ZHI

Drop by Sheng Chao Hua Zhi for some wok-fried sliced fresh squid. The succulent and chewy seafood is served in a viscous stock alongside bamboo shoot, carrots, garlic and red pepper etc. The soup is characterised by a distinct sourness.

#7 SHI YUN

Shi Yun has been around for more than three decades and its deep-fried chicken is arguably the most famous dish. But take a closer look at the display and you will see a display of beancurd, mushrooms, vegetables and more.

Place your desired ingredients into the basket, hand it over to the chef and he/she will fry them into a glorious mess.

#8 SINGAPORE CURRY

Venture into one of Shida Night Market’s smaller alleyway and you might chance upon Singapore Curry.

The mini eatery is also known as Ah Li Ma Ma. Already craving for Singaporean cuisine after all that deep-fried chicken cutlets and bubble tea? Well, visit Singapore Curry to satisfy your cravings.

#9 YU BAN BU NENG

Yu Ban Bu Neng piqued our attention with its seemingly dodgy set up and snaking queue formed around it. Initially, we were mistaken that they might have been selling raw boneless chicken—but it turns out that the makeshift stall is selling Salted Water Chicken served in plastic takeout bags. You can choose from a handful of ingredients to complement the chicken.

#10 SHOPPING

The trailing retail stores actually constitute a huge component of Shida Night Market. There are many trendy fashion stores selling accessories and apparels for both men and women. It is also worth mentioning that a significant number of stores are dedicated to mobile gadgets.

Shida Night Market
Lane 39, Shida Road
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Closed on Mondays
Tue to Sun: 5pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Taipower Building

For more recommendations, read our food & travel guides to Taipei.

Taipei might just be one of the most underrated cities to visit. It doesn’t matter whether you are a foodie, a shopper, or if you simply enjoy marvelling at the wonders of nature – Taipei will have you covered.

So many street snacks to love, so many night markets to roam at, so many more karaoke sessions that we need, so many cultural centres to visit. Taipei is one destination in Asia you must visit.

Here are 25 Reasons To Love Taipei.

#1 THE CITYSCAPE AND ITS ORGANISED MESS

You’ve longed to see iconic skylines in cities like Paris and New York, but Taiwan’s scenic cityscape also holds its own charm. Signboards are everywhere, mostly with Chinese characters that we can’t read – but this mess is precisely what we appreciate.

#2 TAIWAN MILK TEA

Taiwan is home to many good milk teas. They come in bottles of all sizes and patterns, and can be easily found at all the convenience stores. Just pick one up at random and chances are it won’t disappoint.

#3 STEAMED DUMPLINGS

Taiwan might not be the origin of dumplings, but you will be able to find tons of these all over the streets. A plate of piping hot steamed dumplings are what we yearn for the most when we visit in the cold December.

#4 THE EFFICIENT METRO SYSTEM

Getting around the country is easy, especially when their metro system is clean, organised and very efficient. And inexpensive, of course.

#5 THE SHEER NUMBER OF NIGHT MARKETS

This goes without saying. Taiwan’s sheer number of night markets means every night will be occupied and fulfilling. We love roaming these markets and hunting for the best street hawkers and snack stalls.

#6 DIN TAI FUNG

Taiwan is, after all, the birthplace of the world-famous Din Tai Fung. Take things up a notch by visiting the brand’s very first outlet in Xinyi road.

#7 THE ARRAY OF CONVENIENCE STORES AT THE READY

Sounds silly, but if you’ve stepped in to one at Taiwan, you would realize how much it eases your life! Apart from the usual routines like picking up a snack or a drink, you can pay your utility bills, buy movie tickets, use the ATM, have your blood pressure measured, print documents and so much more – all within one convenience store.

Read more about the 12 Things That Make Taiwanese Convenience Stores So Awesome.

#8 YONG KANG STREET – A DINING DESTINATION IN TAIPEI

Yong Kang Street is a dining destination in Taipei. Whether its cheap and delicious Taiwanese snacks like ‘cong zhua bing’, shaved ice mountain or beef noodles; nice and chic cafes where you can get a cup of good coffee and desserts; or niche boutiques selling lifestyle products – there are plenty of options at Yong Kang Street. You can easily spend a day wandering in the alleys.

#9 TAIPEI 101 TOWER

When in Taipei, the Taipei 101 Tower is a must-see. The magnificent giant houses offices and many retail shops. Going up the tower will allow you to get an aerial view of the entire city too.

#10 CHIA TE’S SUNCAKCES AND PINEAPPLE TARTS

Chia Te makes some of the best Taiwanese pastries, and the queues outside their stores – comprising both locals and tourists – is proof of that statement.

#11 THE BEAUTIFUL STREETS OF JIUFEN

Jiufen retains an old-world charm; think bright red lanterns and cobbled pavement. The narrow, snaking streets are made up of souvenir and snack stalls. Jiufen is also a popular filming spot for Taiwanese TV programmes!

Read about the 7 Must-try Local Food at Taiwan’s Jiufen Old Street.

#12 PETS ARE PART OF BOUTIQUES

It is not every day that you get to play with Toy Poodles while shopping for your clothes in a local boutique. Taiwanese sure love their pets and they bring them along to work!

#13 FUJIN STREET – THE OTHER YONGKANG STREET

This is the other Yongkang Street you never knew about.

Primarily a residential area, Fujin Street is an upcoming area in Taipei that is littered with coffee shops and lifestyle boutiques. It is still pretty untouched by tourism, and the quaintness is exactly what we appreciate.

Read our guide on What To See & What To Eat at Fujin Street.

#14 SMITH & HSU TEA & SCONE SALON

For us, no trip to Taipei s complete without visiting the renown tea salon. They serve some of the best scones we’ve ever tasted, along with a myriad of fragrant tea flavours to choose from.

#15 XIMENDING

Ximending is probably the most bustling area in Taipei. This is where youngsters head to for some shopping fix and food. While the retail aspect is pretty acquired, we love Ximending for its food options.

#16 ALPACAS

Alpaca Cafe is real, and Oia Cafe is where you need to be at.

Oia Cafe is home to a few alpacas and they roam around freely in the cafe. Play with these adorable white creatures and feed them with carrots or food that are approved by the cafe’s owner—this is also the best way to get the alpacas to take a selfie with you.

#17 THE ENDLESS STREET FOOD

Fried squid, fried XXL chicken, sweet potato balls, taro chips, Taiwanese hot dogs, pork buns, milk tea, bittergourd juice… and the list goes on and on. Taipei is not for those who are on slimming diets.

And we say just eat to your heart’s content. The myriad of street food options is simply mind-boggling!

#18 ADDICTION AQUATIC DEVELOPMENT

Addiction Aquatic Development is a massive space that houses fresh seafood and aquamarine products, a large Japanese-style supermarket, and many themed restaurants and food kiosks under one roof.

It stands head and shoulders above other famous seafood markets in the world such as Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market, Seoul’s Noryangjin Fish Market, Sydney’s Fish Market, and Perth’s Fremantle Market.

Watch our video of Addiction Aquatic Development on our Facebook page.

#19 KARAOKE SESSIONS

Because karaoke sessions are the best in Taipei. Holding personal concerts are what we do best, especially when the karaoke systems and rooms in Taipei are so impressive.

The song list is unbeatable too, for after all, Taipei is home to Mando-pop.

#20 AY-CHUNG MEE SUA

Yes, it is touristy. And yes, there are better mee sua in Taipei. But you know what? We still go to Ay-Chung Mee Sua every time we are in Taipei. It always hits the spot.

#21 THE PHOTOGENIC CITY STREETS

Let’s face it—Taipei has clean streets and you like your nice OOTD shots taken against the iconic background of motorcycles and yellow taxis, yes?

#22 DUNHUA SHOPPING AREA

This district in Taipei is home to a huge amount of stores selling new-age clothing. It is where the shoppers should know about.

#23 THE NEVER-ENDING AMOUNT OF SHOE STORES

Taiwanese seem to be really into the sports-luxe trend. Bagging home a pair of sneakers or two is easy peasy with the sheer number of options availabile—New Balance, Nike, Adidas, Ked’s and more.

#24 SUN YAT-SEN MEMORIAL HALL

It is almost like a ritual for all first-timers to Taipei—a visit to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, who was the National Father to The Republic of China. It is a multi-purpose centre to learn more about Dr Sun’s contribution and his life.

The main entrance to the hall also contains a statue of Dr Sun Yat-sen. The renown guards-changing ceremony takes place hourly at the memorial hall’s entrance too.

#25 TRAIN RIDES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

You can take train rides to get from the city to more rural areas like Hualien. The trains are very comfortable, making the ride so much more painless. The trains will go past forests and mountains and rivers, and we love admiring those scenic landscapes along the way.

FOR MORE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHERE TO GO, READ OUR TAIPEI’S FOOD AND TRAVEL GUIDES.

Oh, the glorious Taiwanese Oyster Omelette, or orh-ah-jian as they call it. Where do we even begin about this? As much as we love the Oyster Omelettes in Singapore, the ones found in Taiwan has undoubtedly racked it up a few notches.

Whether we are talking about the heavenly union of the gelatinous sweet potato starch and the pan-fried omelette with the freshly poached oysters that will melt in your mouth or the signature red sauce that you can only find in Taiwan – we are extremely certain that once you try them, you cannot (and will never want to) go back.

Not only is it a crowd favourite dish amongst the locals in Taiwan, many tourists have also sworn by it.

HOW IS IT PREPARED?

Primarily, the 3 main ingredients of this dish are Sweet Potato starch, Eggs and Oysters. Yes, three simple ingredients that will deliver a truly amazing concoction. The sweet potato starch is first mixed with water, topped off with salted and pepper before pouring into the heated pan.

After which, fresh oysters are gently added in to the mixture then stir-fried. The finishing step involves cracking in a beaten egg and tossing the ingredients together before they become a delicious mess.

However, the addition of a key ingredient makes the oyster omelettes served in Taiwan different. A sauce made from tomato ketchup, soy paste and sweet chilli is then drenched over the oyster omelette, giving the dish a harmonious combination of sweet and savoury. Sometimes, Taiwanese A-Choy vegetables are mixed in for a healthier choice.

HOW MUCH IS IT SOLD FOR?

Most Taiwanese Oyster Omelettes are sold at an affordable price of NT45 to NT60, which translates to approximately S$1.60 to S$2.80 per plate – depending the exchange rate. It might not be the cheapest Street Food around, but we assure you it will be worth every penny (and calorie) once you take a bite into this irresistible plate of goodness.

For those who have a penchant for spicy food, you can request for additional dollops of chilli and they will kindly add it for you.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND IT?

It can be found almost everywhere, whether is it in their restaurants, popular shopping districts such as Xi Men Ding, or even at their local night markets. You can spot tourists and locals consuming it almost everywhere, so why not take the leap and join in the crowd? We promise you will not be disappointed.

When it comes to night markets in Taipei, most people are familiar with the famous ones such as Shilin, Raohe and Shida. However, not many know about Linjiang Street Night Market (also known as Tonghua Night Market) which is located on the fringe of a residential area in Da-an District, near to Taipei 101 and Xinyi.

For first-timers to Taipei, stick with Shilin and Shida night markets as they are bigger in scale and much more accessible. However, if you have been to the other markets before, you might want to check out Linjiang Night Market.

One of the most popular street food in night markets is yan su ji (Taiwanese salted crispy chicken). Small chunks of chicken are deep-fried and sprinkled with pepper salt, and they are offered with a variety of other ingredients such as Taiwanese tempura, fish ball, pig’s blood, squid, mushroom, tofu, and intestine. At the intersection of Linjiang street and Tonghua street, you can find this stall which has been around for 20 years.

Just across the street, there is a popular yan shui ji (steamed salted chicken) stall. It offers side dishes like vegetables, intestines, and different parts of chicken. Everything is chopped into small pieces and stirred with a pepper sauce.

Lu wei, or braised food, is also another must-try. A lu wei braised snacks stand typically offers a good selection of food such as vegetables, bean curd, intestines, and meat. Pick your preferred ingredients and the chef will cook it in a special sauce.

My favourite in Linjiang Street Night Market is this stall (pictured above) selling Cong You Bing (scallion pancake), a savoury flat bread with green onions and pork. It is greasy and sinful, but oh so delicious.

Besides having the usual oyster omelette, tian bu la (Taiwanese tempura), pig’s blood rice pudding, Taiwanese sausage and stinky tofu, Linjiang Night Market also has several stalls which offer something different. The appearance of German’s pork knuckle in a night market seems like a stroke of genius as it combines two favourite things: deep-fried food and pork knuckle.

Over at a corner, you can find an old lady making zhuang yuan bing (scholar’s cake), a traditional Chinese cake that comes with either peanut or sesame filling.

Surprisingly, I spotted two stalls selling Vietnamese street food such as banh mi sandwiches, salad and pho. It is really fascinating how different cuisines from around the world can be found in Taiwan’s night markets.

Other than street food, there are also steak restaurants and teppanyaki eateries. You can get a huge steak on a hotplate for NT$150 (S$6.50), while a delicious teppanyaki meal starts from as low as NT$100 (S$4).

If you are staying in the Da-an or Xinyi district – well, even if you are not, there is absolutely no reason to not pay Linjiang Street Night Market a visit.

For more recommendations, read my Guide to Taiwanese Night Markets and Street Food

Mention Taiwan and anyone would immediately think of night markets and street food. In Taipei alone, there are many night markets that offer an amazing array of mouth-watering street food. Below, we explore three of the most popular night markets in Taipei – Shilin, Raohe, and Shida.

Let’s eat our way through Taipei night markets!

Shilin Night Market

Shilin is probably the most well-known name in Taipei. While some people do not like Shilin because the market is perpetually packed with tourists, it is definitely the place to start if this is your first time visiting the city.

Walk around the market and you will see a few stalls selling Da chang bao xiao chang – a Taiwanese sausage sandwiched in sticky rice bun – which is one of the most popular street food in Taipei.

A few stalls down, we made a pitstop for orh ah mee sua – another must try Taiwanese snack – a bowl of hearty oyster vermicelli that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.

And of course, nobody leaves Shilin Night Market without having the famous Hot Star large fried chicken (Hao Da ji pai): crispy and delicious fried chicken cutlets that go best with bubble tea. Nothing beats the combination of greasy ji pai and bubble tea.

Most of the stalls have moved to the underground basement “food court”, and they are still as crowded as usual. Orh ah jian (fried oyster omelette), ru rou fan (braised pork rice), sheng jian bao (pan-fried pork bun) and guan cai ban (coffin shaped bread) are just a few of the options that you would be tempted with.

Raohe Market

The Raohe Night Market, a stone’s throw away from Wufenpu wholesale market, is one of the oldest night markets in Taipei. You can find the usual Taiwanese street food like oyster vermicelli, fried chicken and stinky tofu, but what you must not miss is the famed hujiao bing (pepper pork buns). There are several stalls selling the same thing, but for the best, you have to go to the one located at the entrance of the night market, which is not difficult to spot as there is always a long queue.

Some of the other things that we tried include waffles, grilled mushrooms, and spare ribs stewed in herbal soup. Wash everything down with bitter-gourd juice, which is surprisingly not bitter.

Shida Night Market

Of the three night markets in this post, my favourite is Shida Night Market – located near National Taiwan Normal University – with niche fashion boutiques, cute cafes, and affordable street food catering to the students.

There have been rumours that Shida Night Market has closed down due to complaints from residents, but that is not true. While a part of the old market was forced to shut down, the main market is still around, and they cover several small streets along the main Shida Road.

Start off by having tian bu la (tempura soaked in sweet gravy), and share a serving of aiyu bing (jelly served with lime) – a refreshing dessert that is perfect to go along with everything. Also, you must try the sizzling giant steaks with noodles and sunny side-up. They are so cheap and good!

There are several hot stew stalls in Shida Night Market, but one of the most prominent names is Lantern Hot Stew where you can choose from a variety of food – including fishballs, vegetables, different parts of duck and pig like innards, and pig’s blood cake – and it is served in a braised sauce.

If you are still hungry, there are other night markets in Taipei like Liaoning market, Huaxi Street market, and Ningxia night market. But that’s a story for another day.

For more recommendations, read my guide on where to eat in Taipei