Night Markets

A moveable feast

Popular plate: For a taste of some of the most appealing delicacies track down oyster egg omelet, 蚵仔煎 (ô-á-chian), stinky tofu 臭豆腐 (chòu dòufu) or shaved ice with fruit, 雪冰 (xuě bīng).
Word to the wise: While they close during the day, visit between 5pm and 7pm or after 12midnight, when the crowds are more manageable.

You haven’t fully experienced Taiwan unless you’ve eaten at one of its night markets. Located throughout Taipei, block after block of bustling food stalls sell everything from savoury and sweet snacks to bric-a-brac in a craze of crowds, lurid lights and strong smells.
Navigate the maze of food stalls at Shilin (60 Jihe Road, Shilin district), Taipei’s largest and rowdiest night market, ogling the Taiwanese delicacies amidst the carnivalesque atmosphere, with fair games and screeching vendors adding to the sensory overload.

The popular ShiDa Night Market (off ShiDa Road) attracts a mostly student crowd from the nearby university; seek out Deng Long Lu Wei in the epicentre (52 Taishun Street) with its hanging red lanterns and long lines hungry for the signature braised meat.

The most popular night market is Miaokou near the port in Keelung, a half hour by bus from Taipei. Each booth has an English and Chinese placard making it easy to see what you are eating.