Taipei is famous for its numerous night markets dotted throughout the city where people go to shop and eat after the sun goes down, many staying open till midnight. On my first evening in Taiwan I headed to Shida night market in the Taan district (near Guting MRT station).
Even though it was drizzling outside the market was still bustling with young people, mainly students from the nearby National Taiwan Normal University (I’ve always wondered why in Asia they call their education institutions “normal”?).
It felt a bit like a cross between Hong Kong and Seoul with a mixture of street fashion and local culture.
A wide array of street food called xiaochi meaning “small eats” or finger foods was on offer with a selection of common snacks and more exotic options. Stinky tofu seemed very popular and as the name implies you can smell it a mile off!
Something you’ll notice about Taiwan is that there are 7-Elevens everywhere. In some places, it seemed like every other store was a 7-11 which leads me to conclude that Taiwanese people either really love convenience stores or are just lazy 😉 Either way, you’ll never be short of a fine selection of drinks and pre-packaged foods!
We had dinner at “Sugarcane Hot Pot” a little way down one of the side streets – simple, healthy, and tasty. After this, we headed to Cafe Bastille nearby which boasts a vast selection of European beers in a relaxed atmosphere. Come rain or shine Shida night market is worth a visit.
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