Hailing all the way from Taipei, the famed Ningxia Night Market has, at long last, arrived on our shores. The critically acclaimed Asian Night Market: Taiwan Food Festival has recreated a mini version of the bustling night market — a popular spot among locals and tourists for Taiwanese delicacies — which will span across Siloso Beach and Siloso Point from 16 January to 9 February 2020 (excluding 20 – 22 Jan).

Coined ‘the stomach of Taipei’, Ningxia Night Market Singapore will be offering a diverse range of mouthwatering Taiwanese street food such as Flaming Beef Cubes, Scallion Pancake and Taiwanese Oden. Locals can look forward to feast on an assortment of Taiwan’s exquisite delicacies in our very own Lion City as we will be featuring more than 30 vendors and chefs from the original market itself.

Here are 12 Taiwanese street food and drinks at Ningxia Night Market Singapore that you should not miss out on. So, put your new year dieting resolutions on hold, bring your family and friends down, and get ready to stuff yourself silly with snacks!

SESAME CHICKEN MEE SUA (STALL #7)

A perennial household favourite dish, Sesame Chicken Mee Sua is a hearty bowl of noodles that makes for a splendid comfort meal.

Stewed with wolfberries and bok choy, the broth was herbaceous with gingery nuances. It was also rich and full-bodied, pairing impeccably well with the silken noodles. Slurp the noodles with the aromatic soup to truly enjoy the dish.

BRAISED PORK RICE (STALL #7)

Braised Pork Rice is a dish testament to Taiwan’s food paradise. Essentially a dish comprising of braised minced pork served on a bed of steaming rice, this comforting bowl is sure to remind you of your grandmother’s cooking.

This simple dish is highly raved about by both locals and tourists and we can understand why. The pork was fork-tender and paired nicely with the fragrant rice, which was coated with a thin layer of flavourful oily sauce. The braised gravy also brought out the innate savouriness of the meat.

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BROWN SUGAR BUBBLE MILK (STALL #11)

Brown Sugar Bubble Milk has captured the hearts of many with its combination of fresh milk, brown sugar syrup and chewy tapioca pearls. Nicknamed “dirty tea”, the original brown sugar bubble tea fad was birthed in Taiwan, where Taiwanese brands pride themselves on their “QQ” tapioca pearls and creamy milk.

First boiled with handmade brown sugar, the sweetness-infused pearls are cooked till chewy. Cold ice milk is then added to the piping hot pearls where it blends to become a “dirty” mixture, allowing the drink to be a harmonious blend of saccharine and rich milk.

SCALLION PANCAKE (STALL #9)

The scallion pancake is an iconic local snack in the “OG” Ningxia Night Market — this well-loved, crispy delicacy is known for its gigantic size and crisp texture, reminiscent of Singapore’s very own roti prata. Customers can eagerly await their turn as they watch their pancakes being expertly prepared right in front of their eyes!

The dough is first flattened, then sprinkled with seasoning and spring onions before it is fried to crunchy, golden-brown perfection. An unpretentious dish, it is simple and prepared quickly, relying only on the strong fragrance from the onions to bring out its savouriness.

FLAMING BEEF CUBES (STALL #9)

Locals will be familiar with flame-grilled beef cubes — we have seen this beloved snack at every night market or festival. A Taiwanese street food favourite, these beef steak cubes are compactly packaged, making it a convenient snack to munch on.

The beef steak cubes are cooked over a grill and sprinkled with seasoning. Each beef cube was caramelised to perfection, giving it an addictive, smoky taste. Grilled to a medium-rare, the exterior of the beef was nicely charred and boasted juicy, tender meat.

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BRAISED BEEF NOODLES (STALL #13)

Taiwan’s “national dish” is none other than beef noodles! Featuring Braised Beef Noodles, this beloved delicacy is whipped up by renowned chef, Cheng Cheng-chung. Boasting a potent broth with morsels of beef, each bite is guaranteed to bring you an authentic Taiwanese experience.

The al dente noodles were infused with the piquant herbal notes of the full-bodied soup, allowing customers to thoroughly savour its distinct, rich flavours. The braised beef chunks were also juicy and tender.

FRIED SQUID (STALL #12)

Stroll along the stretch of food stalls, and this Fried Squid will stick out from the crowd. A giant deep-fried squid skewered on a stick, this snack will capture your attention with its monstrous size. A testament to Taiwan’s rich marine life, this is the treat to go for if you are looking to nibble on something hearty.

The battered squid is garnished with salt and pepper, allowing us to taste its rich and briny seafood flavour. The tentacles were also nicely charred, adding smokiness to the snack. We also appreciated how the meat was chewy and extremely “QQ”.

MENTAIKO PIZZA (STALL #11)

Pizza lovers should definitely check out the Mentaiko Pizza! The mentaiko is imported all the way from Japan to ensure that customers savour the dish only with the freshest ingredients.

The pizza dough is thinly spread and baked, rising to form a crumbly, flaky crust. Toppings such as the cheese and mentaiko are then sprinkled and laden on the base before it is baked in the oven a second time. This allows the layered snack to have contrasting textures of both a doughy middle and crisp exterior.

TAIWANESE SAUSAGE WITH GLUTINOUS RICE (STALL #19)

Sink your teeth in one of the most unique goodies available at the market: Taiwanese Sausage with Glutinous Rice. Known as “little sausage inside big sausage”, a pork sausage is wrapped in a bigger sausage made from glutinous rice. Customers can also spice the snack up with a variety of condiments such as garlic, peppers, or pickled cucumber.

A perfect harmony of sweet and savoury, this pork sausage is addictively good. Chomp on the springy meat and you get a satisfying burst of flavour!

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WINTER MELON TEA (STALL #3)

Beat Singapore’s sweltering heat with a cup of Winter Melon Tea! Attaining the title of Taiwan’s national tea treasure, this chilled drink is made from winter melon and sugar that has been boiled for an hour.

Regarded as a summer beverage with hydrating health benefits, the drink was mellow with just the right amount of sweetness. The usage of fresh winter melon fruits also lent the drink a fragrant, all-natural nectarine aftertaste.

TAIWANESE ODEN (STALL #3)

Taiwanese Oden, also known as Tian Bu La, is a traditional fried fish cake dish that has been moulded into various shapes and sizes. Made from a thick fish fillet paste, the mixture is slathered with sauce and seasoning before it is deep-fried. It is then skewered and enjoyed as a snack to go.

STIR-FRIED BRAISED SNACKS (STALL #12)

Known as Lo-Wei, Stir-fried Braised Snacks features an assortment of vegetables and sides that customers can choose from before it is stir-fried and served. Customers can also have a fun time watching the chefs skillfully toss their ingredients!

Expect a colourful mixture of ingredients such as chicken hearts, livers and drumsticks that individually adds a unique flavour to the dish. Distinct, herbal flavour from its gravy also entirely permeated the various snacks, making it all the more delectable.

Promising good vibes and good food, Ningxia Night Market is the perfect destination to make a beeline for when you are planning a day out during the weekends. Come on down and spoil yourself with Taiwan’s delicacies!

Ningxia Night Market Singapore
Siloso Point, Sentosa
Singapore 098997
Date: 16 Jan to 9 Feb 2020
Time: 5pm – 10:30pm

This post was brought to you by Asian Night Market: Taiwan Food Festival.

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

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