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.

Images of Jhongli City, Taiwan

I captured a lot of photographs of Jhongli or Zhongli City; below are few I've chosen to share, including a few of my birthday cake (thanks Helen!). Our hotel was in walking distance to food, shopping, and the city's night market. I LOVE night markets, they remind me of a Japanese festival mixed with a shopping arcade and they go all... night... long... (yes ladies, eat your heart out). Night markets are a cornucopia of vendors: food, clothing, children's games, you name it, you might just find it at a night market. The variety of food is astonishing and most street-food is on a stick or comes with one. Okay, enough with the night market talk, there will be posts later on regarding us visiting some of the most famous in Taiwan.

Scooters were everywhere, more numerous than cars. We were told the street lights are suggestions (not the law); however, with the number of vehicles on the road, we didn't see any accidents (wish I could say the same regarding Utah drivers on the I-15).

SWEET SHOP! YUM!

Buns with shredded pork on-top; very tasty.

Taiwan sweets; although they look sugary, the sweetness was very subtle.

We found the McDonalds; the sausage McMuffin with egg was close to the U.S. version; however, the bun was way to soft and unburnt to be the same.

B-D-A-Y C-A-K-E ! ! !

Ken punched the hell out of this video game machine.

Mail-lady... of course on a SCOOTER!

Yeah, that is a BIG noodle bowl.

Renhai Temple - it is noted for its traditional Chinese temple architecture.

The night market!

Shop after shop, down the middle of the road.

Smoke shops were everywhere. We were told they are usually staffed with an attractive young girl to entice costumers to chose their shop over the one down the road.

Jungli Chinatrust Hotel

After a rushed transfer in SFO we made it onto our China Airlines flight to Taiwan. We arrived tired but excited for new adventures. That morning we traveled to the households of Helen's family and we were able to meet some of her relatives. Much thanks goes out to her and her family for making us feel welcome and for their generous hospitality. Our accommodations in Taiwan were at the Jungli Chinatrust Hotel in Zhongli City, Taoyuan County. Next to come... photographs from the area near the hotel. Enjoy.

Taoyuan International Airport.

Our hotel.

Sign just outside the hotel.

Night view of our hotel.

Our room was large compared to those in Japan.

Views of the city from our room.