Taiwan night markets
    street food, small eat, cheap eats
    
   world No. 1 in   2020~25,  2017~19,  2016 2015,  2014,  2013 2010~12       Top  since 1998     

 


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CNN (2024-10-20): An enduring Taiwan icon - bubble tea is a beloved Taiwan classic, at its core it’s a combination of tea, milk and the “bubbles” – which are essentially little balls made of anything from tapioca to fruit jelly. According to various recent studies, the bubble tea industry in 2024 is valued at around $2.4-3.6 billion globally“It also reflects the special mood of Taiwan in that era – the feeling that the society was transitioning from old to new,”  “It embraces some Taiwanese age-old cultural experiences, with a touch of nostalgic emotion prevailing in this modern society.”edition.cnn.com/travel/bubble-tea-origin-history-taiwan-intl-hnk/index.html

  CNN:  the best street foods in Asia

Taiwan
(3 selected)
nBubble tea: No trip to Taiwan would be complete without at least one bubble tea.   the classic recipe calls for rich, silky, shaken green or black tea with sizable black tapioca balls, which require a special straw to drink.
nSalt & pepper fried chicken Coated in sweet potato flour then double-fried to add crunch and lock in moisture...
nStinky tofu: Essentially, vendors soak bean curd in brine, then let it ferment for hours, days, weeks or months at a time.
China mainland
(5 selected)
Jianbing, Jiaozi, Laping (Tibet), Rou jia mo, Xiao long bao
Hong kong
(4 selected)
Cheong fun, Curry fish balls, Egg waffles, Egg waffles
Japan
(3 selected)
Sofuto kurimu, Takoyaki, Yakitori
S. Korea
(2 selected)
Kimbap, Tteokbokki
best street foods in other Asian countries edition.cnn.com/travel/article/asia-best-street-foods-cmd/index.html   2022-8-24


 

Michelin 2024 /  Street Food Comparisons

Taipei (台北)  

Michelin:“In a destination where delicacies, street food and small eats have always been a major part of the local lifestyle, we believe our Bib Gourmand selection is one of the best ways to explore Taiwan and its incredibly rich culinary scene,”


nguide.michelin.com/us/en/taipei-region/taipei/restaurants/bib-gourmand: The number of Taipei's Michelin "Bib Gourmand" street food is 9;
nguide.michelin.com/en/tw/restaurants/street-food: 12 street food in Taipei on the list

 

公館夜市/ Hsiung Chi Scallion Pancake (Gongguan Night Market, 2, Lane 108, Section 4, Luosifu Road)

饒河街夜市/ A Kuo Lu Wei (Raohe Street Night Market, 226 Raohe Street,

南機場夜市/ Unnamed Clay Oven Roll (Nanjichang Night Market, Stall 74, Lane 311, Section 2, Zhonghua Road)   

南機場夜市/   Wu Wang Tsai Chi (Nanjichang Night Market, 29, Lane 313, Section 2, Zhonghua Road)  

延三夜市/ Cabbage Rice and Pork Rib Soup (Yansan Night Market, 2, Lane 17, Section 3,)

華西街夜市/ Yuan Fang Guabao  (Huaxi Street Night Market, Stall 161, 17-2 Huaxi Street)

士林夜市/ Chung Chia Sheng Jian Bao (Shilin Night Market, 38 Xiaodong Street)   

華西街夜市/ Wang's Broth (Huaxi Street Night Market, Stall 153, 17-4 Huaxi Street,)  

士林夜市/ Good Friend Cold Noodle (Shilin Night Market, 31 Danan Road)

 

Singapore (新加坡) nThe number of Singapore's Michelin "Bib Gourmand" street food and hawker stalls is 65

nmothership.sg (2024-6-18): 7 new hawker stalls added to S'pore Michelin Bib Gourmand list 2024

nmothership.sg (2023-6-15):  the international director of the Michelin Guide, said the 79 Bib Gourmand locations include 21 restaurants, 53 hawker centre stalls, and five street food establishments
nJetStar : Hawker centres are hubs of hawker stalls – small stands selling street food.

 

  Yahoo News (2024-4-30): Taiwan's a number of restaurants including Michelin 3-star Le Palais Cantonese restaurant (君品頤宮) in Palais de Chine Hotel and Michelin one-star MiPon (米香), A-Cut, Tien Hsiang Lo (天香樓) repeatedly failed to pass public health inspections in recent 4 years.  Taipei city councilor questions that if Michelin restaurants got food safety issues, what can our people eat ?  tw.news.yahoo.com/米其林餐廳也不合格-議員揭-食安地雷-君品頤宮-天香樓都入列-095930855.html

 

TasteAtlas Best Rated Street Foods - July 15, 2024
comparisons among Asian countries -  Taiwan is not included in top 25

Indonesia world No.1  Siomay,  No.4 Pempek, No.16 Batagor
China world No.3  Guotie,   No.14 Pan-fried pork buns,  No. 24 Baozi
Vietnam world No.7  Banh mi
Malaysia world No.12 Roti Cannai
India world No.20  Amritsari Kulcha
.tasteatlas.com/best-rated-street-foods-in-the-world

 

Michelin 2023 /  street food comparisons among Asian countries

Singapore 17 newly awarded Bib Gourmand street hawker stalls
79 hawker stalls selected in 2023 Bib Gourmand
Hong Kong 25 Street Food restaurants
guide.michelin.com/en/hk/hong-kong-region/hong-kong/restaurants/street-food
Taipei

12 Street Food restaurants
guide.michelin.com/us/en/taipei-region/restaurants/street-food

 

Taste Atlas Nov. 2023 /  best rated street foods in the world

 Top 50 - Asian countries comparison - number of street foods selected
Indonesia  
China  
Vietnam  
India  
Malaysia  
Lebanon  
Taiwan - no any street foods was selected in world top 50
Indonesia No.1 Siomay, No.2 Batagor, No.15 Pempek, No.43 Bubur ayam, No.44 Nasi uduk, No.45 Serabi
China No.4 Guotie, No.14 Pan-fried pork buns (Shengji mantou), No.23 Baozi
Vietnam

No.9 Banh mi, No.16 Meat and Cold Cut Banh, No.38 Beef pho

India

No. 28 Tikka, No.49 Chole bhature

Malaysia

No.5 Roti canai

Lebanon

No.26 Shawarma

Taiwan No. 84 Taiwanese Acallion Pancake (蔥抓餅, Taiwanese Green Onion Pancake): Though similar varieties of scallion pancakes can be found in other Asian countries, in Taiwan they are a common and sought-after treat that is usually enjoyed as a snack or an accompaniment to other dishes. The pancakes are prepared with an unleavened dough that is flattened, sprinkled with sliced scallions, and then rolled and pressed to form a flat pancake that is pan-fried until crispy.


news
National Geographic (2024-2-16): Today, Taiwan is a melting pot of East Asian tastes, traditions and culinary techniques.   Taiwan has acted as a cultural crossroads for over 500 years, having played host to Japanese, Dutch, Spanish and Chinese settlers.  With its spectacular street vendors and long list of Michelin-starred spots, the capital, Taipei, is often the go-to destination for food-focused visitors to Taiwan.   nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/paid-content-three-cities-to-savour-taiwan

 

NPR (2024-2-22): Even though about 90% of people in Taiwan have Chinese ancestry, they have forged a cuisine that is, in many ways, their own. What distinguishes Chinese food from the unique flavors in Taiwanese food is a bit of a nebulous thing. Taiwanese food is, I would say, a combination of all of our waves of colonization and governance (Dutch, Japanese ...), key difference: Taiwanese food is sweet. Besides, Taiwan is the only subtropical country in the world where short-grain rice are the grain of choice npr.org/2024/02/22/1229886464/taiwan-food-china-colonization-history-cookbook  brief  Mallory Yu , Ailsa Chang , Patrick Jarenwattananon , Jonaki Mehta 

 

Yahoo Life, Daily Meal (2024-2-18): Breakfast In Taiwan Is All About Street Food  From traditional eats like turnip cakes and salted soy milk to more Western-familiar offerings like variations on porridge and fluffy scrambled eggs, Taiwanese breakfast is not just an important meal of the day, it's essential.  

 

NPR (2024-1-9): Taiwan's long history of colonization has forged its distinct cuisine  npr.org/2024/01/09/1223788655/taiwan-s-long-history-of-colonization-has-forged-its-distinct-cuisine

 

DailyMail (UK), 2023-4-28:  Young Australian student on his dream overseas exchange program is fighting for his life in Taiwan after eating street food laced with rat poison.  He had been misdiagnosed in Taiwan with an immune disorder.  Alex is at the Taipei Medical University Hospital ...The medical services in Taiwan don't currently have the right treatments or drugs to stabilise his condition, Alex's condition has grown worse and he needs to be flown to the Royal Prince Albert Hospital in Sydney via a specialised medical flight retrieval service dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12023841/Toowoomba-student-exchange-Taiwan-fighting-life-eating-food-laced-rat-poison.html
 

 

 


pic.: This site was ranked No.1 by "comment Taiwan night markets" on Bing (US), 2024-7-17, 2024-5-13, 2024-2-24 (Chinese version), No.1 on Bing at 2024-2-24, top 2 at 2024-5-13 (English version)

 

        
pic.: This site was ranked No.1 by "comment Taiwan night markets" on Yandex of Russia, 2024-7-17 ( Chinese version); No.1 at 2024-5-13, 2024-2-24, 2024-2-18, 2023-6-10

 

     

pic. :  No.1 "comment Taiwan night markets"(Chinese version "評論台灣夜市" ) on US Google, 2023-6-10, 2022-10-7, 2022-9-13,  2022-3-30,  2021-9-28, 2021-8-8, 2021-5-30,  12-4-2020, 10-31-2020, 8-25-2020, 7-31-2020, 7-1-2020, 4-5-2020; No. 2 at 2024-2-24, 2024-2-18, 2022-6-13; No.3 at 2024-10-21

 

 

Michelin 2022 /  street food comparisons among Asian countries

Singapore 1 street food stall with 1 MICHELIN Star
5 Bib Gourmand street food stalls (including 1 new)
6 MICHELIN Selected street food stalls (including 1 new)
40 Bib Gourmand hawker centre stalls (including 3 new)

62 MICHELIN Selected hawker centre stalls (including 1 new)
Hong Kong 15 Street Food establishments (including 2 new additions)
Macau 8 Street Food establishments
Taipei

none
PS: intro some street food:
guide.michelin.com/us/en/taipei-region/restaurants/street-food


 New York Times, 2023-3-16:  Because of gentrification and noise complaints, many of Taipei's night markets aren't as robust as they were decades ago. Ningxia Night Market is a distinguished exception, ... many of the food stalls here...  nytimes.com/interactive/2023/03/16/travel/things-to-do-taipei.html

BBC, 2024-1-7: Taiwan's scrumptiously rich cuisine showcases Taiwan's thorny politics / ...the food of Taiwan's indigenous tribes was almost impossible to find outside of the communities. But that has been changing as Taiwan's identity takes shape, often in defiance of Chinese claims.    foodies swarm the island's markets to devour braised pork rice, crispy-fried Taiwanese popcorn chicken, overwhelmingly fermented "stinky" tofu and oyster omelettes. This is the food of Chinese immigrants who came from the 17th Century onwards. Most of them were from Fujian in the east and Guangdong to its south. But the flavours they brought have turned local. The Fujian version uses less batter, while in Guangdong it is crispier and dipped in fish sauce. The Taiwanese version pays a lot of attention to the batter. It tastes a bit thick and sticky but Taiwanese people love it msn.com/en-xl/news/other/how-popcorn-chicken-and-bento-showcase-taiwans-thorny-politics/ar-AA1myW6K

New York Times, 2022-6-28: Taiwanese Fried Chicken Meets the Moment / As crispy chicken soars in popularity, Taiwanese American chefs are reimagining the street-food classic.  nytimes.com/2022/06/28/dining/Taiwanese-fried-chicken.html    New York Times, 2022-1-19Many of Taiwan's residents are now proud of their island's culinary offerings, whether it is the classic beef noodle soup — a mix of mainland influences unique to Taiwan — or bubble milk tea, a modern invention.  nytimes.com/2022/01/19/world/asia/taiwan-china-identity.html    BBC, 2022-3-30: Today, stinky tofu ( that's reminiscent of sour milk and rotting garbage) is still primarily a street food throughout Taiwan, where it’s as synonymous with the country’s outdoor night markets as beef noodle soup. Shenkeng Old Street is an entire boulevard dedicated to the dish, Dai's House of Stinky Tofu is Since 1989   Taipei Times, 2022-9-10:  classic Taiwanese street food — oyster omelet, guabao (pork belly buns), beef noodles, xiansuji (Taiwanese-style crispy fried chicken), stinky tofu and pot stickers. taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2022/09/10/2003785064   Taiwan News, 2022-3-23: Pizza Hut unleashed the "Cilantro Century Egg Pig’s Blood Cake Pizza" (香菜皮蛋豬血糕比薩), which was well-received by some Taiwanese but met with disgust by many foreign readers.   In Michelin 2021, Taipei's food was ranked behind Japan's Tokyo, Hong Kong, Kyoto, Osaka, Singapore, Seoul Korea, Shanghai

 

 

   Lonely Planet, 2022-9-30: What to eat and drink in Taiwan / Yongkang Beef NoodlesTaipei.  pearl milk tea, zhenzhu naicha (珍珠奶茶) in Chun Shui Tang, Taipei.  gooey oyster omelets (蚵仔煎), ‘salt-crisp’ fried chicken tossed with basil leaves and five-spice, and shaved ice desserts (剉冰) in Miaokou Night Market, Keelung.  aboriginal Formosans cuisine: wild boar served with onions and greens, steamed rice stuffed into bamboo tubes, and millet wine – once the tonic of tribal rituals. You might also encounter dishes of betel-nut salad, bird’s nest fern and even flying squirrel try it in Taiya Popo, Yilain. lonelyplanet.com/articles/what-to-eat-and-drink-in-taiwan   

 

Economist  /    Global Food Security Index 2022
Taiwan is not included

world rank country Overall Score Affordability Availability Quality & safety Sustainability & Adaptation
6 Japan 79.5 89.8 81.2 77.4 66.1
14 NZ 77.8 91.6 67.7 73.1 75.1
22 Australia 75.4 93.3 61.1 84 58.8
23 UAE 75.2 86.7 73.8 81.3 55.2
25 China 74.2 86.4 79.2 72.0 54.5
28 Singapore 73.1 93.2 77.8 69.7 44.3
30 Qatar 72.4 88.6 72.9 71.7 51.0
39 S Korea 70.2 76.8 71.5 71.5 58.5
41 Malaysia 69.9 87.0 59.5 74.7 53.7
46 Vietnam 67.9 84.0 60.7 70.2 52.2
63 Indonesia 60.2 81.4 50.9 56.2 46.3
64 Thailand 60.1 83.7 52.9 45.3 51.6
impact.economist.com/sustainability/project/food-security-index/

 

 

Best Cuisines in the world
Taste Atlas   tasteatlas.com/best/cuisines
TasteAtlas Awards: World’s Best Cuisines - TasteAtlas Awards 2021

No. 1. Italy, score 4.72 14. Poland 26. Georgia Bosnia
2. Greece, score 4.68 15. Germany 27. Czech Malaysia
3. Spain, score 4.59 16. Indonesia 28. Bulgaria Lebanon
4. Japan, score 4.59 17. Croatia 29. UK Ukraine
5. India, score 4.54 18. Argentina 30. Thailand Palestine
6. Mexico 19. S. Korea Belgium Bangladesh
7. Turkey 20. Vietnam Nederland Lithuania
8. USA 21. Hungary Austria No. 45  Taiwan,
 score 3.96
9. France 22. Romania Algeria
10. Peru 23. Philippines Denmark
11. China 24. Iran S. Africa
12. Brazil 25. Serbia Syria
13. Portugal      


 

 Seattle Times, 2021-8-14:  In Taiwan, big data turns pig’s blood and century eggs into hot pizza toppings  /    In 2019, Domino’s Pizza created the boba — a pizza served with sweet tapioca pearls as an homage to the popular bubble milk tea.  ... ramen and spicy hot pot pizza. It even made a pizza topped with durian — a thorny fruit ... The latest invention — featuring a street delicacy made of sticky rice and pig’s blood, and preserved eggs.  “Every now and then, Taiwanese will go crazy over a new popular, well-talked about food” . “Taste does not seem to be their top priority.”  seattletimes.com/nation-world/in-taiwan-big-data-turns-pigs-blood-and-century-eggs-into-hot-pizza-toppings/ ●  Bloomberg, 2021-4-16: Total arrivals last year crashed 88%... life isn’t quite normal. For example, at the Ningxia Night Market in Taipei, masks and plastic screens are among the precautions used to prevent the virus from spreading. With a lack of foreign tourists, Shilin’s market has been shifting its focus to the 100,000-plus students who study nearby.  brief from: bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-04-15/in-taiwan-s-night-markets-locals-sip-bubble-tea-and-wait-for-tourists    Apple Daily, 2021-3-12: Shi-lin night market "miserable street scene" , more bosses than customers, “expensive”, "smoke smells", "too homogeneous & unattractive", "delivery platforms are emerging", "no foreign tourists"... most ever stores closed in recent 30 yrs   Apple Daily editorial, 1-5-2021:  chaos !  Taiwanese people lost confidence in gov. pork control strategy.  famous shop "Formosa Chang" was questioned too.  AP 11-23-2020: Taiwanese business may not be ethical ... mix the U.S. pork ( Ractopamine pork banned by 150+ countries ) with Taiwan pork   Yahoo News, 12-16-2020: Singapore’s hawker culture was officially approved  (Dec.16, 2020) to be inscribed into UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity.  But Taiwan's night market hawker culture was not selected     China Times 7-15-2020,  till now the govt. only work on night market's toilet room, the rest is far behind the standard int'l metro's needs...    Taipei mayor Ko: Our night markets and markets are too dirty !   The best-known expert in toxic study, professor Yen: Minimize the times of dining out to protect your health !

   jump to:    ●   night markets  ●   Chinese restaurants   ●   int'l restaurants  ●   buffet    ●     Fast foods & burgers

Taiwan

                      Taiwan night markets

 cheap foods, cheap environment

 

 

 

              

 pic.: This site was ranked No.1 by "comment Taiwan night markets" on Yahoo Taiwan, 2023-6-10, 2022-10-7, 2022-9-13, 2022-6-30, 7-16-2019; pic.: This site was ranked No.1 by "comment Taiwan night markets" on US Bing, at 2024-2-24, 2023-6-10, 2022-10-7, 2022-6-30, 7-16-2019, 1-29-2019, 10-15-2018, 9-3-2018, 3-19-2018; No.2 at 2022-9-13  

       

pic. :  No.1 "comment Taiwan night markets" (Chinese version "評論台灣夜市") on Google, 2023-6-10, 2022-10-7, 2022-9-13,  2022-3-30,  2021-9-28, 2021-8-8, 2021-5-30,   2021-3-17, 12-4-2020, 10-31-2020, 8-25-2020, 7-31-2020, 7-1-2020, 4-5-2020; No. 2 at 2024-2-18, 2022-6-13 

 

pic. :  No.1 "comment Taiwan night market" on Yahoo Japan (largest search engine in Japan),  2022-6-13, 2022-3-30, 12-11-2020, 10-31-2020, No.2 at 2022-6-30, No.3 at 2021-8-9

 

 

            

pic.: No.1 "comment Taiwan night market" on US Google, 2022-3-30; No.2 at 2022-6-13; "comment Taiwan restaurants" on google, 2023-6-10, 2022-3-30,