Hi friends! Happy new year and welcome back to another blog post. This year I’m very excited to announce that a lot of my posts will be more focused on Taipei and neighboring cities in the north. Because my family recently moved to Taipei so I’ve been doing a lot of exploring, and I can’t wait to show you all the fun places waiting to be discovered here!
We’re starting off this Taipei series with Shida night market (師大夜市). Shida night market is a very trendy night market amongst the student population due to its unique shops that houses many alternative styles, rock bars, and aesthetic cafes. It is located near National Taiwan Normal University in the Da’an district of Taipei, and it is more commonly known as Shida amongst the locals (hence the name). To get here, take the green line mrt to “Taipower station” (台電大樓) and it will be within a short walking distance.
Shida night market is smaller compared to many other well known night markets in Taipei, like Shilin or Raohe. However, it is not as busy and much more laid back with a predominantly local population. Today I’ll be taking you to all the stalls that you must try when visiting Shida night market as well as some of my personal favorites!
Table of Contents
Must try stalls at Shida Night Market
The Cinnamon Tree
Discovering The Cinnamon Tree at Shida Night Market was an unexpected delight that completely caught me off guard. Despite my thorough pre-trip research, this gem remained off the radar – a sweet surprise that turned out to be one of my favorites on this trip.
All the cinnamon buns here are straight out of the oven fresh and come in an array of flavors. What’s even better is that if you’re a student, flashing your student ID will also get you a student discount. Upon the friendly recommendation of the staff, I got a double cinnamon bun and it was a choice that definitely did not disappoint. To all my fellow cinnamon bun enthusiasts strolling through the area, The Cinnamon Tree is a must-visit. This unexpected discovery surely added an extra layer of sweetness to my night market adventure!
rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Longquan Fish Soup 龍泉深海魚湯
If I could recommend just one must-try food from Shida night market, it would be Longquan Fish Soup. This place never sleeps, it opens late throughout the night until noon the next day- they always seem to be open whenever I pass by. Do they ever close? I’m not sure. But one thing I do know is that they serve fish soup that’s nothing short of spectacular.
My favorite thing to order here is the oyster soup- so hearty and perfect for a cold winter day. If you’re the kind of foodie who likes to walk on the wild side, then don’t forget to ask for a side of their super spicy ghost pepper chili- it is one of the spiciest I’ve ever had! Their lu rou fan (braised pork rice) topped with fish floss is also something I highly recommend. After all, you can’t say you’ve been to Taiwan without trying lu rou fan!
rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Shi Yun 師園
Whenever Shida night market comes up in a conversation, the first question that pops up is “have you tried Shi Yun?“
Shi Yun is a fried foods stall that has been around for over 40 years, and it is unquestionably the most popular street snack in Shida night market. They are most famous for their fried chicken but my favorite is the fried squid.
It is really easy to overboard here because you’ll want to give everything a try, but remember to curb that enthusiasm and only order what you can handle!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hsu Ji Pan Fried Buns許記生煎包
Hsu Ji Pan Fried Buns are located right next to Shi Yun, and they have also earned their stripes as a local favorite. These pan fried buns are steamed first before being pan fried for a thin and crispy bottom layer. They are bite sized buns so they won’t fill you up fast, which makes them the perfect snack as you navigate the night market for your next street food conquest.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Deng Long Lu Wei 燈籠滷味創始店
Not gonna lie, I had really high expectations for this lu wei store because it is very highly recommended by the locals who come to Shida night market often. Lu wei is one of the must try foods when coming to Taiwan and it basically means food that is braised in a special sauce. But this place was average at best and I honestly don’t get the hype, and their chili wasn’t all that spicy either which is always the most important part of the lu wei! All in all, I don’t recommend but I always say try it out for yourself to see if you like it!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Yong Fung Sheng 永豐盛手工包子饅頭專賣店
Yong Fung Sheng serves steam buns in a variety of flavors and it has earned its reputation in the Da’an district for having huge pillowy buns bursting at the seams with generous fillings. They’ve mastered the art of crafting these clouds of deliciousness, offering a diverse menu that caters to all taste buds – from savory to sweet to vegetarian delights.
I’ll be honest – I’m not exactly on the thick bun bandwagon, no matter how fluffy they may be. But I can totally see why bun enthusiasts who revel in the joy of a substantial, cloud-like creation would love Yong Fung Sheng.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Wenzhou Street Radish Pancake 溫州街蘿蔔絲餅達人
This shop serving their signature daikon radish cake is truly one of the more unique shops you’ll come by in the Shida night market area. These deep fried pancakes are super big and flavorful and also very filling. Other than radish cakes, they also sell scallion pancakes, a Taiwanese classic, and pancakes with red bean fillings, which are my personal favorite.
A pro-tip to elevate your experience: no matter which pancake you get, be sure to add an egg to take the flavor to the next level.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
These are some of the must-try street foods in Shida night market recommended by many of the locals, along with some of my personal favorites! The next time you’re cruising through Shida night market, remember to come back to this post and give your taste buds the treat they deserve- you won’t regret it!
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Until next time,
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