Tonghua night market - A mix of popular and unique street eats
Also known as Linjiang street night market, Tonghua night market is located in Taipei. The street comes alive as night falls, transforming the peaceful lane into a carnival of different sights and aromas as the different vendors start pouring in to set up shop.
Tonghua is an excellent first-time night market for those who are totally new to Taiwan. It isn’t as massive as Shilin, nor is it as quaint as Ningxia. A medium-sized night market with great quality food, Tonghua slots itself neatly in between, in terms of size and street food variety. You’ll be struck by a tidal wave of sights and scents as you venture deeper into the market. There are so many street snacks, from soup-filled, crispy-bottomed sheng jian bao (similar to pan-fried xiaolongbao), to sticky-sweet candied fruit on a stick.
Shilin night market - A crazy huge variety of street food
Some people may have the opinion that Shilin night market is overrated and touristy, but you should experience Shilin at least once in your life. With both a street level and underground section, this is by far the largest night market in Taipei.
The sheer variety and quantity of the street food offered at Shilin are insane with the road to the main part of Shilin night market paved on all sides with food stands.
Try not to get derailed by the sudden onslaught of delicious aromas and tantalizing sights. A common first-time mistake would be to stuff yourself silly at all the stalls leading to Shilin before you even reach the main part of the market.
Ningxia night market - Enjoy freshly grilled seafood and Taiwanese delights
Ningxia night market is one of the smaller night markets in Taipei, only consisting of one long, narrow street. However, don’t demean Ningxia based on its size. It’s extremely popular with the locals, and for good reasons too. With tons of unique seafood-based snacks and dishes, Ningxia is the place to head to if you’re a seafood-lover.
At weekends, the narrow laneway is packed. Do be warned, it can be quite a bit of a squeeze. However, despite the apparent chaos, human traffic flows in a surprisingly organized manner.
Raohe night market - An oldest and most traditional night market
One of the oldest night markets in Taipei, the Raohe street night market is a must-visit destination. The epitome of a traditional Taiwanese night market, this 600-meter path along Raohe street in Songshan District is packed with fun and interesting night foods and snacks, quaint shops and stalls, and carnival games with prizes.
Bargaining for something you like made an exciting shopping experience at Raohe street night market. The most special feature here is the variety of local snacks, including pork feet noodle string, beef noodle soup, herbal stew of ribs, bubble tea, etc.