Shilin Night Market is the largest and most popular night market in Taiwan. Located in the Shilin District of Taipei, it has an incredible selection of food, which is what it is known for worldwide. This hot spot has tourists flocking to it year-round, having a sure place in most travelers’ itineraries. Despite being known for offering a variety of dishes, it also boasts other activities that visitors can enjoy. These include shopping for clothes and accessories as well as entertainment in the form of carnival games. If you need more insight on what to do and what dishes to try when you get to this destination, read this guide to Shilin Night Market, Taipei.
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How to get to Shilin Night Market
There are many forms of transportation in a bustling city such as Taipei. The best way to get around definitely has to be taking the subway, or the MRT as they call it. The MRT line that should be taken to the night market is the “Red Line”(Tamsui-Xinyi).
There are two potential subway stations to get off, and these are Jiantan station and Shilin station. Jiantan station is a five-minute stroll to the night market. If you want a little more of a walk to work up an appetite before indulging in the vast amount of food, go to Shilin station instead. It is a 10-minute walk from the market.
Jiantan station
Opening hours: Train towards Tamsui (North) 6am - 12:45am (daily); Train towards Xiangshan (South) 6am-12:31am (daily)
Shilin station
Opening hours: Train towards Tamsui (North) 6:02am - 12:47am (daily); Train towards Xiangshan (South) 6:02am - 12:28am (daily)
What to do in Shilin Night Market?
1. Indulge in a variety of food
The absolute number one thing that Shilin Night Market is known for is its food. It has an incredible variety of dishes, from traditional Taiwanese cuisine to innovative fusions. Because of that, it is the perfect place to expand your gastronomical horizon. Here are some of the top dishes that you have to try when you visit this destination:
Stinky tofu (Chou dou fu): This dish is very well known for its distinct smell and absolute deliciousness. To try this food, you’ll need to have an adventurous palate and a not-so-sensitive nose.
Fried chicken steak (Ji pai): This dish is a huge slab of deep-fried chicken cutlet, usually bigger than an adult’s head. A really popular vendor of this meal is Hot Star.
Pork sausage in rice sausage (Da chang bao xiao chang): For this dish, a rice sausage is cut in the middle to look like a bun. A single pork sausage is put in the middle, doubling the meaty delicious.
Oyster omelet (O-a-tsian): This dish is made out of a combination of oysters, starch, and eggs. This mixture is then fried and garnished with a sauce on top.
Scallion bread (Guo jia cong you bing): This deep-fried dish is the Taiwanese version of a savory pancake peppered with scallions.
Pork ribs soup: A very fragrant warming soup, this dish is filled with pork ribs and herbs. An interesting fact about this soup is that there are 15 different herbs that the ribs are simmering in for a long period of time.
Peanut ice-cream wraps (Huasheng bingqilin juan): Also known as the Taiwanese ice-cream burrito, this refreshing dish is a blend of fresh ingredients. It has taro and pineapple ice, along with cilantro and peanut brittle shavings.
2. Shop 'til you drop
Before stuffing your face with all that delicious food, you might want to work up an appetite. For that, try exploring the night market for shopping opportunities. Shilin Night Market doesn’t just offer food stalls. There are also a bunch of vendors selling non-food products. The bottom level of the building is where you can buy clothes and souvenirs to bring to your family back home.
Outside of the building, there are stalls set up along the pedestrian street. They sell the same products but in the open air.
3. Have fun with some games
If you want the full experience of Shilin Night Market, you’ll need to check out its entertainment options. Why not try playing a few carnival games they have in the vicinity? These include typical games such as throwing darts at balloons and shooting at targets.
You’re sure to have fun here whether you go by yourself, with a group of friends, with your partner, or with the whole family.
Spend your night eating, shopping, and having fun
Be sure to visit Shilin Night Market when you visit Taipei. Try the vast variety of foods available, shop until you drop, and entertain yourself with carnival games. There is something for everyone to experience in this hot spot destination.
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