Hearing about Taipei's street food scene went way back to my mom's solo trip to Taiwan in the late nineteen-sixties. Although my mom was not adventurous when it came to food, she would later tell me when I started traveling that I had better try as much local food as possible when I got the chance. Indeed, I did just that in Thailand, Vietnam, India, Hong Kong, and the rest of the countries I had visited thus far.
Food-tripping in Taipei’s Raohe Street Night Market | Taiwan
During my first visit to Taipei as part of a familiarization tour organized by EVA Air, my travel companions—who were also travel writers—and I decided that we had to explore the city's street food scene during our free time.
Because our media trip hosts had already spoiled us with an amazing gastronomical experience during our cross-country tour, aside from having a whirlwind daily itinerary, we only got to check out the small night market in Kaohsiung in the southern part of Taiwan during the first few days of our trip.
On our last night, though, when we finally got back to Taipei, we made plans to meet in our hotel’s lobby one hour after our dinner, so we could all grab a ride to Raohe Night Market.
During the day, Taipei appears as a busy metropolis where hurried footsteps reverberate to signify an extended rush hour. Come nighttime, the city brims with life as if it has finally decided to take it slow amidst the blinking neon lights and the humming markets set up across various districts.
One popular destination is the Raohe Night Market. There, people—unmindful of time—slowly walk past food stalls in search of that savory scent (or in stinky tofu’s case, the most pungent aroma) or a fascinating dish that best typifies the street food culture of Taipei.
Stinky Tofu: Love It or Hate It
While we assigned ourselves the mission of ordering the stinkiest tofu we could find, we settled for a milder version being sold at one of the stalls we passed.
It was not as intimidating as I had expected. The distinct aroma added a unique layer of depth to the experience of eating it. It was noticeably juicier than the dry-fried tofu variants I was familiar with.
Taiwan's renowned love-it-or-hate-it delicacy is far from the only star in Raohe, as a staggering array of street food dishes comes in a variety of grilled, fried, steamed, skewered, sauced, and flame-torched options.
Through the course of our slow walk in Raohe, I managed to sample several local street food specialties. My absolute favorites included oyster omelets, flame-grilled beef cubes, grilled squid, octopus takoyaki, and savory bacon wraps.
While there were many other tempting choices, I had to stop since my stomach was completely full. Despite the market spanning a length of only six hundred meters, we reached the end of Raohe Market near midnight due to our numerous pit stops at random food stalls.
The Call of the Culinary Night
Among the many appealing facets of Taiwan—from the scenery of lush nature to historic monuments, bustling cities, and a thriving arts scene—the country’s mouthwatering street food culture remains one of the strongest draws in enticing travelers. Who wouldn’t be tempted to explore the vibrant night markets located all over Taiwan? Walking through narrow lanes lined with stalls emitting mouthwatering aromas is an adventure in itself.
I finally understood why, despite my mom’s trip to Taiwan happening decades ago, memories of the island's street food culture were what she remained fondest of over the years.
