If self-sufficient traveling, the best way to solve a dinner is to visit the night market to enjoy countless delicious street food. The night markets in Taiwan in general and Taipei in particular are operated by traditional eateries, unchanged over time as well as by generations, they together renew the food associated with the Taipei culture and turn them into the inexpensive street food but tasty. The sweet, cool taste of the bubble milk tea or fragrant of oyster omelette will not disappoint visitors when discover the cuisine of Taiwan.
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These delicious food can be easily found in the night markets of Taipei such as: Shilin Night Market, Raohe Night Market, Huaxi Street Night Market, Shida Night Market, Ximending Night Market… Now, let’s check it out our Taipei night market food guide with top 10 best Taipei street food night market you definitely have to try below.
Grilled mushrooms
Grilled mushrooms is one of the diners favorite snacks at the night markets. A huge of King Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus eryngii Chicken) like adult wrist, is covered with a layer of brown sauce, then slowly grilled on the charcoal until cooked. Although the outer skin layer is shrinking, it is slightly tough, but the mushroom inside is very crunchy, yummy chewing.
You can choose the light spicy of chili powder, or add seaweed for the full flavor. Fresh mushrooms and sweet, so aromatic, makes you want to eat forever. A portion of mushrooms cost about $2.15.
Change the taste a little, then you can choose fried batter shiitake mushrooms. The thin batter layer, just enough to cover a small mushroom, so you can eat forever without insatiable. The smell of shiitake mushrooms is characteristic, no need to added sauce or any kind of spices also make you fascinated.
Wheat gluten
Besides, the wheat gluten (Seitan) – the familiar vegetarian food – a quite good food when will be deep fried. However, if you want to taste a round of food around the night market, you should only order a small part, or two, three people buy a meal to avoid to be satiated. A normal part is priced at around $1.71.
Grilled lobster
Grilled lobster with cheese, fatty and aromatic is one of the most expensive foods at Taipei night markets, with an average price of $8.56/portion. The flesh of lobster is quite fresh and sweet, the thick cheese layer will satisfies the eaters who love fatty taste.
Grilled sea snails
Soft-boiled sea snails, skewered into a string and grill on charcoal makes diners fall in love with the freshness of Taiwanese seafood. A snail skewer is priced at $2.57. This is one of best foods you should not miss if you have the opportunity to visit Taipei.
Grilled squid
Among of countless grilled seafood dishes at Taipei night markets, the grilled squid is the most popular and most favorite. Fresh squid will be grilled on charcoal for medium cooked without being dry, so fragrant. Diners can eat with original taste to feel the freshness, sweetness of the squid meat, or dip in the sauces. Average prices range from 60 – 100 TWD ($1.95 – $3.25) / squid.
In addition, there are also grilled squid skewers, very soft, soaked in spices because the seller always brush up sauce. A large squid skewer, price of $3.42, enough for 2 people to eat to satiated.
Grilled sausage
Not only at the Taipei night markets, but you can also find “The king snack of Taiwan” in many places in the city – The grilled sausage served with fragrant garlic. Sausage added more fat, the taste like Chinese sausage but much easier to eat, just a bite will make you want to eat forever. Price for a skewer about $0.86.
Tanghulu (Candied Fruit Covered / Sugar Coating) – Chinese Candied Fruit on a Stick
The childhood of most Taiwanese people is associated with the sweetness of Candied Fruit Lollipop (Tanghulu). The kernel of Tanghuru is usually made from fruits such as kiwi fruit, strawberries, raisins and even chocolate, but the most common is still from hawthorn. The red bright of each candy not only appeals to many diners but also to the people here, it symbolizes good luck and wishes good things. The average price for a Tanghulu skewer ranges from 30 TWD (more than $0.97) and more.
Oyster omelette
Fresh oysters after being cleaned, will be finely chopped, added with potato batter and tapioca. Then these oysters will be mixed with the egg and some finely chopped cabbage. This dish will be served hot when diners order. The chef will turn on the big heat to heat the pan, spreading the eggs over the pan, forming a round, slightly thick shape.
The chef can add some spices and sauces to add increase the flavor to the dish, depending on the private recipe. According to many visitors, the restaurant at 198-22 on Minsheng Road, Datong District is a well-known address for enjoying this dish.
Stinky tofu
Surely many people will hesitate to eat this dish by its name, and stinky tofu is also compared to the “weight” of taste like durian. The way to make this dish also is as special as its name and taste.