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Shihlin Night Market

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Composthp
Composthp
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
Review
4
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Editor Pick

Shilin Night Market

  • February 19, 2007
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Composthp from Singapore, Singapore
Shilin Night Market

This is the largest and one of the most popular night market in Taipei. It is divided into 2 sections: the Shilin Night Market, which is actually a food court housing countless of hawkers selling yummy snacks and local delights; and the Yang-Ming theater section which stretches around Danan, Dadong and Wenlin road. Lanes are choked full of street vendors and shops hawking the latest fashion apparel and accessories, snacks and local delights, all at very affordable prices. Stroll along the Yang-Ming section first for some retail therapy before hitting the food court where you can rest your legs and tuck in cheap food in comfort.

The rain did not deter the crowds from coming to Shilin market, certainly, we came (we had to, its reputation for its good and cheap food just cannot be ignored). We followed the crowd made up of mostly students and teens, explored the smaller lanes and found some gems like the famed oyster mee sua (oyster rice noodles), a concoction of thin rice noodles in thick starchy broth topped with oysters (NT100 per bowl), the fragrant bun in bun freshly baked filled with peppery pork filling wrapped in a crusty bun. It certainly sold out quicker than they could bake them. Other gems we came across was a traditional Chinese bakery selling home made bread and pineapple tarts amongst the hip and trendy shops selling Japanese/Korean inspired accessories and clothes.

The food court was just as crowded and stuffy. With a dizzy array of food selection, it took us some time before we could decide what to have for dinner. It soon became apparent to us that there were many stalls selling similar foods so competition for customers were fierce with stall holders holding banners and placards and shouting for attention. We settled for some comfort food, porridge with assorted fillings from a reputed stall (the queue was never ending but the service was quick). If you still have room to spare, try some of the desserts like shaved ice with toppings like red bean, peanuts, corn etc, the ice is shaved so fine, it was almost like eating ice cream.

For those who need to exercise a little after stuffing themselves silly, there is an arcade nearby with traditional games like "Net a goldfish", shooting games, and of course, the usual video games. A mix of nostalgia for the older generation and modern for the young.

Getting there
Take the MRT red line and alight at Jiantan station. The food court is across the station.

From journal Naruwan Taiwan!

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