How To Navigate A Taiwanese Night Market

HOW TO
NAVIGATE A

台
灣
夜
市

的
秘
密

TA I WANESE

C

An Insider’s Guide to
Taiwanese Night Markets.

CONTENTS

01 Introduction of
Taiwanese
Night Market

03 Things you
should know

07 Reasons why
you need
to visit a
night market





台 Taiwanese
灣 Night Market
夜
市 What is Taiwanese Night M
What is Taiwanese Night Marke
01 Introduction of Taiwanese Night Market What is Taiwanese Night Market?
What is Taiwanese Night Marke

What is Taiwanese Night Mar
What is Taiwanese Night Market?

What is Taiwanese Night M
What is Taiwanese Night Marke

NIGHT

Taiwanese night markets are street markets in
Taiwan that operate in urban or

suburban areas between sunset and sunrise.
Most night markets occupy either

sidewalks or even entire streets that
carry vehicle and pedestrian traffic by day.

Some night markets in smaller side
streets and alleys feature retractable roofs.

Most night markets operate daily and
feature a mixture of individual stalls selling

clothing, consumer goods,
xiaochi (similar to snacks or fast food), and
specialty drinks. The atmosphere is usually
crowded and noisy with hawkers shouting and

fast-paced music playing over
loudspeakers. Taiwanese night markets have

evolved over the years from small local
gatherings to noisy streets lined with vendors.

arket?
et?
?
et?
rket?
?
arket?
et?

THINGS
YOU

SHOULD
KNOW

S 02 04

01 Go with the 03 Try everything
flow at least once
Consider the Don’t go too
neighborhood Walk into any busy early In every night
nigtmarket night market, and the market, you’ll find
first thing you’ll notice While some people dozens of food
Practically every (besides the smell of might tell you to hit stalls serving up all
neighborhood in the fried food) is the flow the night markets kinds of delicious
region has its own of pedestrian traffic. early to beat the treats. You can
night market, so you More often than not, crowds, you also run usually buy a small
don’t necessarily have people walk on the the risk of missing portion of whatever
to visit the popular right with those on out on visiting some treat is on sale.
ones. The local night the left coming in the stalls. Besides, half the Now, there are many
markets in quieter opposite direction. fun of Taiwan’s night dishes in Taiwan’s
neighborhoods can Break this rule at your markets is the night markets that
be just as fun, and you peril. You really don’t late-evening crowds don’t look or even
might even uncover want to walk head without dropping your smell too appealing,
some hidden gems. first into someone’s fried squid on a stick. but they’re all
stinky tofu. Anyway, worth trying.
it’s so much easier to
go with the flow.

Things you should know 04

05 07

Must try foods 06 Look for 08
the queues
Stinky tofu – You’ll Don’t bargain Have fun at
smell it before you Taiwanese people are the games but
see it and it’s an Sure, you can ask always eager to try don’t waste
acquired taste. for a discount or a any kind of food, but your money
Green onion pan- ‘best price’ when that doesn’t mean that
cake – A fried flaky buying clothes, shoes, they’ll eat anything. Night markets
pancake that is or pretty much If you see a queue at usually have a few
surprisingly filling. anything else besides a stall, it’s a good stalls where you can
Popcorn chicken – food, but you won’t indication that their play games such as
Small pieces of fried always get it. food is top-notch. throwing darts at
chicken. Delicious. When it comes to balloons,catchingfish,
Wheelcakes – Japa- food, the locals will or shooting air pistols
nese-style pancakes line up for hours to at targets or balloons.
filled with custard or get the right dish, so They’re good fun, but
red bean. it’s usually pretty easy don’t spend too much
Fried squid on a to spot the vendors time on them.
stick – Very chewy, if that sell quality food.
you like squid, you’ll
love this.

05 Things you should know

09

Bring lots 10
of change
Use the
The food at night bathroom
markets usually cost ahead of time
between NT10 to 80,
so the large notes that There aren’t any
the bank gave you washrooms at the
when you exchanged night markets, so
your money won’t do. you’ll want to be sure
The transaction you use a washroom
speed is very quick before you head out
at food stalls—almost to a night market.
literally one hand
receives food while
the other pays and
then they’re onto the
next customer.

What are things you should
What are things you should kn

What are things you sh
What are things you should
What are things you should kn
What are things you should know

What are things you shou
What are things you should kn

Things you should know 06

WEIRD BUT G OOD WEIRD B
UT GOOD WEI
RD BUT GOOD

WEIRD BUT G OOD WEIRD B
UT GOOD WEI
RD BUT GOOD

STINKY

TOFU

09 Weird but good

COFFIN

BREAD

Weird but good 10

OYSTER

OMELET

11 Weird but good

PORK BLOOD

CAKE

Weird but good 12

REASONS
WHY YOU
NEED TO

M

S
U VISIT A
ONIGHT
MARKET

01 Foods in night
markets are
from heaven

02 It’s easy to
taste around in
a short time

03 Food in night
markets are
not expensive

15 Six reasons why

It is a fun

04 night activity

05 You get to
share all the
food with
friends
or family
06 You can always
find something
exciting in
night markets

Six reasons why 16

CREDITS

PHOTOGRAPHY ARTICLES

00 01-02
https://asianamericanpopular https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Night_markets_in_Taiwan
culturew18.wordpress.com/ 03-06
2018/02/18/shilin-or-yanshan/ https://www.vergemagazine.com/
work-abroad/blogs/
06 1023-how-to-navigate-a-taiwanese-
https://whityeat.com/potato/ night-market.html
https://theculturetrip.com/
07-08 asia/taiwan/articles/an-insiders-
http://blog.tutorming.com/ guide-to-taiwans-night-markets/
expats/taiwanese-night-market-snacks- 09-10
https://www.boboandchichi.com/2016/
food-must-eat 10/5-reasons-need-visit-taipeis
11 -night-markets/

https://www.manshokuya.com
12

https://www.meishijournal.com/
2018/09/cszsg.html

S

COLOPHON
Grace Yang Ting Fang
designed this zine in Queens, NY,
and was created in 2022.
Colors used included #fffff,
#c42428, and #000000.
Fonts used included Source Han
Sans TW and Myanmar MN; all
bodies were set in 12pt.

台
灣
夜
市
的
秘
密

HOW TO NAVIGATE A
TA I WANESE

NIGHT MARKET