The Night Markets of Taiwan

The night markets are the delicious, buzzing beating heart of Taiwanese life and food culture, a nightly institution where crowded lanes come alive with sizzling stalls, glowing signs and the irresistible aromas of an endless array of street food. Taiwan is a paradise of snacks, or xiaochi, and the markets serve it all: fragrant beef noodle soup, oyster omelettes, pepper buns, gua bao pork belly buns, the pungent stinky tofu, shaved ice desserts, and the island's own invention, the beloved bubble tea.

What you actually see

• The street food - the endless array of sizzling snacks and dishes.
• Stinky tofu and beef noodles - the pungent tofu and famous noodle soup.
• Bubble tea - the island's beloved tapioca-pearl milk tea.
• The atmosphere - the buzzing, crowded, neon-lit market lanes.

When to go

Year-round; the markets come alive in the evening and buzz into the small hours, busiest and best after dark. Taipei's Shilin, Raohe and Ningxia markets are famous, and every town has its own; go hungry and graze from stall to stall.

Honest expectations

The markets are crowded, hot and chaotic, which is the fun, but the crush can be intense at the famous ones on weekends. The pungent stinky tofu is a genuine acquired taste, notorious for its smell. Street food is cheap, delicious and generally safe from the busy, high-turnover stalls. Grazing through a night market is one of the great pleasures of visiting Taiwan.

Nearby

Every Taiwanese town and city has its night markets; Taipei and Tainan are especially famed for food.