Shilin Night Market

士林夜市

Is the first and last place I tried 臭豆腐 (stinky tofu). This is the fried kind that comes with cabbage and a spicy sauce. The stink really makes a statement, truly like pure sewage, but I don't remember anything remarkable about the taste. It's not bad. But really there is too much to eat that tastes and smells better by the leagues.



But! If you just walk a few meters past the 臭豆腐攤位 you'll come across the best 熱狗 (hot dog) in Taiwan ever. I still don't know why these are called hot dogs because they seem like corn dogs to me but I won't question the asian diction because it's fruitless every time. Anyway this is the best hot dog/corn dog you will find. This is just my opinion so it doesn't really matter but it also matters a LOT. They come in a few flavors including black pepper, cheese, and spicy. There are spices and condiments on the counter so that you can adjust your dog to taste.


香辣, of course.

Hua Xi St. Night Market

華西街觀光夜市

What better way to spend 情人節 (Valentine's Day 8/7) than at a night market eating snake?


There is this one snake house that does snake-gutting demonstrations. They are hanged (can I say "hung" since snakes are not people?) as such, slit with a scissor in a upward zipper-cut motion, and bodily fluids are collected. Blood from the heart; Bile from the gallbladder; Venom from the fangs (the guy dilutes the blood and bile with water and the venom with alcohol). NTD$100 for a shot of each. So we entered.



I was really nervous and forgot to take pictures before downing these three. The blood shot is more like a doubleshot in volume and it comes with a pill floating on the surface that you're meant to swallow, I trust, for good reason. I had a second shot of venom 酒 when the other table couldn't finish.


We also ordered snake soup which tasted...I don't want to say bland but more mild and clean. It was like having chicken soup without the dancing oil globules. The goji berries in the soup made it fragrant.

After drinking snake fluids there is a need for a bit of kuchi naoshi. Although it's not bad, you just naturally would not want it to be the last thing you put in your mouth before sleeping. Zhuang yuan gao was very appropriate. It is a steamed dessert with sweet 花生 (peanut) or 芝麻 (sesame) filling. The white cake reminded me of Korean baekseolgi (white rice cake) which you get on your first birthday as the centerpiece to a staggering table of fruit. It's really the next best thing to having authentic Korean rice cake in Taiwan. With yummy filling. My friend ordered 一份 to share so I only got to eat one which had peanut filling. I want to go back to try the sesame.

Baekseolgi texture? Yes?

One or two stalls down there is a 雞排 (chicken steak) vender with an eclectic selection of fresh and fried things which they will fry or refry for you upon selection. There were so many goodies like 地瓜 (sweet potato) and veggies and meats but being me, I ordered the mantou. The mantou was pretty, knotted, and two-toned in white and tan. Even prettier after deep-frying and light salting. A new twist on a twisted favorite. Gaa the puns must stop.

My mantou next to fried shrooms


So here's to my Valentine's day spent with no valentine.

And no complaints from the happy tummy.

Cheers!

華西街
Closest MRT 龍山寺

Long Quan St.

Aside from the famous Salty Chicken and Sheng Jian Bao that Shida night market is known for, there are a few other vendors along Long Quan that I like. I'll start locationwise starting from the end closest to the He Ping Rd. entrance.


Cong bing vendor

Blisters are always a good sign. I love this vendor because he's very generous with his green onions and black pepper. The onions are chopped thick so they have a pulpy bite--green with substance! This is nearly marinated in black pepper. So even if it looks harmless, the numbing sensation will cue you in on the non-red heat.



Two Peck jipai

Two Peck is a chain in Taipei. They just finished constructing a new vendor right outside Guting station exit 5 but I've only been to the Shida night market vendor. You can choose from two flavors spicy and black pepper. The picture above is 香辣 as I think most things taste better hot. This one is even better than the jipai that is famous at Shilin night market. They're confident enough to post a sign in front that says "You must be patient."



Further down right past the 100yr-old Lu Wei stand is this place that sells breakfast items like danbing, fantuan, youtiao, doujiang, etc. I often come here for the seating because as long as you spend NT$15 they won't kick you out for bringing in xiaochi from elsewhere.




This is the only place I know of that sells Jiucaihezi, chives pancake. I'm surprised that a lot of Taiwanese don't know what this is when I ask about it because it is only one of the most delicious things ever. It's something like an oversized guotie with vermicelli noodles, egg, and jiucai (chives, not scallions) as stuffing. Compared to the jiucaihe I've had in the states, this one is smaller and has thinner skin.


Were you to make a detour off of Long Quan towards Shida you'd pass by




Taro glutinous rice cake. A no-brainer for people who love the delicious purple tuber.


And Ke li bing

Many times better than the crepes at the 101 foot-court. I recommend the Mexican Sausage and Super Mango Sundae. There aren't any pictures because I was too hungry both visits.





師大夜市
龍泉街