Taiwan's Night Markets

Let The FOODENING begin! Helen and Sandy weren't joking when they said there was going to be a lot of eating going on in Taiwan. In the evenings, we hit Taiwan's night markets with Helen and Sandy's family and started tasting everything suggested! Below are photographs from three of the night markets we visited.

Feng Chia Night Market - Situn District, Taichung City

A search on information regarding this market showed this market may be the biggest in Taiwan, with an estimated 15,000 shops, restaurants, and stalls and around thirty to forty thousand shoppers on weekday evenings. Taichung is Taiwan's third largest city. This is the first night market we visited, during our first day in Taiwan; I have to admit, I was taken back by the sheer number of people and shops.

Jeremiah happy to find spiced corn on the cob.

CLAW MACHINE OVERLOAD!

Ken and boba!

Boba (a.k.a. "pearl milk tea" or "bubble tea"): milk tea with tapioca on the bottom.

B-O-B-A time!!!

The guys in their Yamaha jackets.

Famous stinky tofu.

Stinky tofu (or chou doufu): tofu marinated in a fermented brine and then usually deep fried (it can also be steamed or grilled). An internet search to discover the the ingredients of the brine was not promising; however, I found most brines consist of fermented vegetables plus any of the following additions: milk, meat, greens, dried shrimp, Chinese herbs, and/or bamboo shoots.

My take on stinky tofu? Poor, poor soybean curd; I don't even recognize you! The adjective"stinky" is an understatement; walking the night markets, one knows a stinky tofu vendor stand is coming-up even before seeing it. At least I can say, "I've tried it" and the next time I encounter it, I am going to take a pass (sorry Sandy; on a positive note this means there is more for you!).

Huasi (Huaxi) Tourist Night Market - Taipei City

This market is located near Longshan Temple and is famously known as Snake Alley. In early days, Huasi Street was the red-light district in Taipei. How can you go to Snake Alley without eating snake? We couldn't resist! The snake was covered in a teriyaki-type glaze and was super tough; I don't think I will be requesting to eat snake again for a while.

Shops are lined-up on both sides of the 352-meter (0.22-miles) covered walkway.

S-N-A-K-E

After eating the snake, we were permitted to take a photograph with the albino snake displayed at the entry of the restaurant (before, photographs were forbidden).

We returned on a high-speed train.

Shihlin Night Market - Taipei City

This market is one of the largest night markets in Taipei and it is famous for its various eateries selling authentic Taiwanese snacks. Even after snacking all day, we continued to snack into the night. :)

Sausage wrapped in glutinous rice (Asian version of a hot dog).

The making of oyster omelets.

Oyster omelet: made from fresh oysters, eggs, and vegetables.

Sparerib soup with Chinese medicine: herbal stew of ribs in a soup stock, which usually includes more than ten varieties of Chinese herbal medicines.

Goodbye night markets, I shall return.