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.

//

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.

//

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!

//

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.

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

Taiwan is a favourite holiday destination in Asia for many reasons. Besides indulging in endless amounts of sweet and savoury street snacks, there are also many places of interests to visit.

You can also experience a little more of the Taiwanese culture by taking a trip down to the more rural areas of the country, such as Hualien—known for their beautiful mountainous areas and landscapes.

Whether it’s your first time visiting the land of night markets, or even if you have already been there multiple times, Taiwan will always retain its charm and city life that will leave you wanting more. Here’s a condensed 6D5N itinerary of our trips, where we explored beyond Taipei and the 22 things to see, do and eat in Taiwan.

DAY ONE IN TAICHUNG

#1 GET THE FAMOUS TAIWAN MILK TEA

3.15pm: You’ve seen them sell out rapidly on Singapore’s 7-11 shelves but in Taiwan, these bottles of milk tea are constantly available in vast quantities. The drink comes in various flavours, such as Café Au Lait, Matcha Latte, Sumiyaki and more. The best part? They’re at least two times cheaper than what you’ll find here in Singapore.

Besides that, the convenience stores stock up on amazing amounts of microwaveable food, chips, pastries and more that make for great midnight snack stashes.

#2 VISIT FENGJIA NIGHT MARKET

7.30pm: The experience here was (and always will be) crazy, to say the least. The crowd—especially during dinner hour—was unbelievable. We had to squeeze through the people-packed streets, but the street food such as the huge takoyaki, sweet potato puffs and taro chips made it all worth it. You could easily spend hours walking up and down the street and trying everything!

Fengjia Road, Xitun District
Taichung City 407
Daily: 4pm – 2am

DAY TWO IN HUALIEN

#3 CHECK INTO PAPAYA RIVER B&B

This B&B is tucked away in a serene, quiet spot in Hualien. It doubles up as an alpaca farm and is also home to two dogs and a cat. These domesticated pets are friendly, so you can even pet them if you like!

The host themselves also offer guide services, and they brought us around Hualien while we were there. Plus point: the incredible landscape around the B&B makes for amazing pictures.

No. 176 Guanghua 8th Street
Hualien County 97357
Tel: +888-3-842-1122

DAY THREE IN HUALIEN

#4 FEED THE ALPACAS

9.30am: If you’re staying at the B&B, you can wake up bright and early and request to feed these alpacas—for free! Start your morning right by getting upclose and personal with these fluffy creatures!

#5 STROLL AROUND NATIONAL DONG HWA UNIVERSITY

10.45am: Just a 20-minute ride from The Papaya River B&B, the school is open to the public, and boasts beautiful scenic views that are perfect for pictures.

University Road Section1
Shoufeng Township, 974

#6 TAKE IN THE SCENIC VIEWS AT LIN TIAN SHAN FORESTRY PARK

1pm: You can’t find any mountains in Singapore, but Hualien is littered with them. The forestry park is relatively quiet, and provides you with an opportunity to trek through the trees. Entry is free!

No. 20, Linsen Road, Fenglin Township
Hualien County 975

#7 TREK AROUND LIYU LAKE

2.30pm: This lake is a must-visit when you’re in Hualien. It is quiet, peaceful, and looks over the beautiful mountainside. There’s a footpath that stretches across 2.4km leading you from one end of the lake to the other, and you can either walk that length or rent bikes.

It’s the perfect place to take in the fresh air and take in the nature surrounding you.

Huantan North Road, Shoufeng Township
Hualien County 974

#8 HAVE DINNER AT EAST GATE NIGHT MARKET

7.30pm: This night market is the most popular one in Hualien, simply because it is huge, and even has little game stores for you to try out. Some of the food we tried included cheese omelettes, grilled squid, and even a kebab wrap!

No. 50, Zhongshan Road
Hualien Country 970
Daily: 6pm – 12am

DAY FOUR IN XIMENDING, TAIPEI

#9 TAKE THE TAIWAN METRO

12pm: The Taiwan Metro is a quick and fuss-free way to get around Taipei and beyond! Similar to the trains we have here in Singapore, their cabins are also clean!

#10 VISIT SUN YAT-SEN MEMORIAL HALL

1.30pm: What is a trip to Taiwan without making a pit stop at the iconic Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall? Paying tribute to Dr Sun Yat-sen, who is affectionately named as China’s founding father, this is where you can learn more about his revolutionary career.

No. 505, Section 4
Ren’ai Road, Xinyi District
Taipei City, Taiwan
Daily: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

#11 SOAK IN A HOT SPRING AT BEI TOU

3pm: Relax your muscles and enjoy a thermal hot spring bath at Bei Tou, a popular tourist destination in Taipei. Just a stone’s throw away from Xinbeitou station, the area has a mix of both public and private baths featuring mineral-rich water. Do note that it is recommended for you to book the private baths before heading over.

Nearest Station: Xinbeitou

#12 SHOP AT XIMENDING

6.30pm: With your bellies filled, you can now shop around the vast shopping district that is Ximending. If you’re a shoe-lover, you’re in luck—the area is home to a myriad of shoe stores like Nike, Adidas, and ABC Mart (this is a multi-label store with tons of amazing shoes). Besides that, there are tons of more souvenir shops selling Taiwanese snacks that you can bring home.

108, Taipei City
Nearest Station: Ximending

DAY FIVE IN TAIPEI

#13 TAKE A WALK AT DA’AN PARK

11am: Just a 15-minute ride from Ximending Station on the metro line, Da’an Park is apparently one of the ‘richer’ parts of Taiwan, but the scenery is no less beautiful. It is located right outside Da’an Park metro station. You can even have a morning run along the park!

Section 3, Xinyi Road, Da’an District
Taipei City 106
Nearest Station: Da’an Station

#14 GO SHOPPING AT ZHONGXIAO DUNHUA SHOPPING AREA

3pm: This is the Southern region of Taipei—within walking distance from Da’an Park—and is arguably the ‘hipster-haven’ of Taipei which is popular among Taiwanese youths.

You’ll find a huge range of stores with different styles to shop from. Look out for a huge Forever 21 outlet located right outside the train station.

Section 4, Zhongxiao E. Road, Da’an District
Taipei City 106
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Zhongxiao Dunhua Station

#15 VISIT TAIPEI 101

7pm: A must-do for all Taiwan first-timers. But if you don’t fancy paying extravagant prices to go up the tower, try hanging around the vicinity around the building instead. It is equally as beautiful.

Xinyi District, Taipei City 110
Nearest Station: Taipei 101 Station

DAY SIX IN TAIPEI

#16 HAVE BREAKFAST AT AH CHUNG MIAN XIAN

10am: The store along Ximending is often populated with people standing around and eating their piping hot bowls of mian xian—which are thin flour noodles cooked in rich broth and topped off with pig intestines.

No. 8-1, Emei Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Sat to Sun: 10.30am – 11pm
Tel: +886-2-2388-8808
Nearest Station: Ximending

#17 BUY PINEAPPLE TARTS AT CHIA TE

3pm: Honestly, no Taiwan trip is complete without buying back some tasty treats from Chia Te. The only outlet in Taiwan is located in Nanjing where snaking queues outside the storefront is a common sight.

Be prepared to queue for about 20-30 minutes but fret not, for the wait will be worth it as their biscuits and pastries taste amazing. If you’re not sure what to get, try their Sun Cakes, Milk Cakes, and Pineapple Tarts.

No. 88, Section 5, Nanjing E Road, Songshan District
Taipei City 105
Daily: 8am – 9.30pm
Tel: +886-2-8787-8186
Nearest Station: Nanjing Sanmin

#18 FEAST AT RAO HE NIGHT MARKET

6pm: This night market might just be one of the better ones in Taiwan, offering a huge selection of different kinds of food such as fried squid, baked cheese potatoes, and the famous Fuzhou Pepper Buns.

Roahe Street, Songshan District
Taipei City 105
Daily: 4pm – 12am
Tel: +886-2-2763-5733
Nearest Station: Songshan

DAY SIX IN TAIPEI

#19 TAKE A DAY TRIP TO JIUFEN

9am: Bus services up to Jiufen are available from Taipei. You can either book a private bus, or go on a public one (which is cheaper). The ride takes about 3 hours.

Jiufen 224, Ruifang District, Taipei City

#20 TRY THE FAMOUS A-ZHU PEANUT ICE CREAM ROLLS

You’ve probably heard of these peanut ice cream rolls. After all, they’ve been flooding Instagram feeds for a long time now. These ice cream rolls are made of taro ice cream, topped with peanut shavings and wrapped in spring roll skin.

No. 45, Jishan Street, Ruifang District

#21 SNACK ON LAI AH PO YU YUAN

These are traditional handmade taro, sweet potato and green tea balls mixed with sweet soup, and can be eaten hot or cold. They cost just NT$40 (S$1.72) per bowl!

No. 143, Jishan Street, Ruifang District

#22 SPEND YOUR LOOSE CHANGE ON GRAB-CLAW MACHINES

Ximending has stores that house many different grab-claw machines, and they’re relatively easy to win too! If you have any extra loose change before you head home, you can try your luck at these machines and see whether you can bring home any adorable plushies or toys.

In fact, you’re likely to find shops dedicated to grab-claw machines at literally all the night markets scattered around the city.

What do you first think of when someone mentions Taiwan? For most foreigners, the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper is the first thing that comes into their minds. However, there is so much more to do and see besides marvelling at the grandeur of Taiwan’s tallest landmark!

Taiwan is one of our favourite Asian countries and the island-country is famous for its inviting hot springs, impressive mountains and bustling night markets. From Chiayi, Hualien, Taipei to Tainan, here are 7 Best Cities In Taiwan to Visit – And The Highlights You Must Not Miss.

Source: Inspiration Seek

#1 CHIAYI

Located in southwestern Taiwan and formerly known as Kagee and Kagi, Chiayi – also spelt as Jiayi – is the gateway to one of Taiwan’s most beautiful attractions i.e. Alishan National Forest Scenic Area. The provincial city is also renowned for tasty huo ji rou fan aka turkey rice.

#2 HUALIEN CITY

Hualien City is situated on Taiwan’s east coast and has a population of approximately 106,500. Most travellers drop by this serene coastal city to visit the nearby Taroko National Park and 21-km long Qing Shui Cliff. The former spans across 920 km² and boasts spectacular geological features formed 200 million years ago, while the latter is characterised by towering cliffs.

#3 NANTOU

Nantou – the only landlocked county in Taiwan – is home to Taiwan’s highest mountain, Yushan and largest body of water, Sun Moon Lake. More than half of Yushan National Park is elevated at above 2,000m, hence those suffering from altitude sickness should avoid it.

Despite being a countryside destination, Sun Moon Lake itself attracts six million annual visits for its diverse ecological system, indigenous tribes and gorgeous scenery.

#4 NEW TAIPEI CITY

No trip to New Taipei City is not complete until one has visited Jiufen and Shifen—two popular destinations amongst both locals and travellers from all walks of life. Over here, you can savour a vast variety of Taiwanese delicacies.

#5 TAICHUNG

Municipality Taichung is an industrial city located on the western coast of central Taiwan. Visitors must make a special trip to Feng Jia Night Market, a marketplace that draws over 110 million visitors on an annual basis. Do also make time to visit the 921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan and National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts.

#6 TAIPEI

The capital of Taiwan has a few world-famous attractions, namely Taipei 101 and Shilin Night Market. The former is a 101-storey tall infrastructure that was once the tallest in the world, while the latter is a world-famous bazaar where you can sample the best Taiwanese street food. Do also check out the National Palace Museum which showcases more than 650,000 artefacts.

#7 TAINAN

Situated in the south of Taiwan is Tainan – the nation’s oldest city. The Taiwanese municipality is well-loved by natives and foreigners alike for its century-old historical landmarks such as Fort Provintia and Tainan Confucian Temple. Unwind over a pampering spa at Guanziling Hot Spring and stuff yourselves silly with divine street food at Tainan Flower Night Market.

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