Shilin Night Market - Guide to Taipei's Largest and Most Popular Market

*Busy street with shops and stalls in the Shilin Night Market in Taipei*

Shilin Night Market has everything from street food vendors, games stalls and of course plenty of bubble tea. This brightly lit foodies paradise is considered by many to be one of the best attractions in Taipei. The streets of Shilin Night Market are filled with endless shops and food choices and it is easy to see why this is one of the most popular night markets in Taiwan.

History of the Shilin Night Market

The Matsu Cixian Temple is a Buddhist temple located in the heart of the Shilin Night Market. In 1909 the Shilin day market established itself as a way of serving food and other goods to the temple and the locals. The Cixian temple was of great importance to the market as it was one of the main sources of income for the food vendors.

*The Cixian Matsu Buddhist Temple in the heart of Shilin Night Market*

Shilin was also an agricultural port area which was used to ship goods to other wharfs in Taipei like the Dadaocheng Port. This meant that the area was particularly busy and had many customers to serve.

*Fruit stall selling fresh fruit in Shilin*

The busyness of the Cixian Temple combined with its closeness to the Keelung River ports is what made the market prosper over the years and eventually transform into the famous bustling night market that it is today.

Planning a visit to the Shilin Night Market

The best way of getting to the Shilin Night Market is taking the Tamsui–Xinyi line also know as the red line. This will take you to the MRT Jiantan Station. The night market is around 2 minute's walk from this station. Another option is to go to Shilin station which is also a stop on the red line. This will take you to the other side of the market and it is a few minutes walk from there. Either option is good but I personally prefer the MRT Jiantan Station as it brings you closer to the main area of the market.

If this is your first visit to Shilin Night Market be prepared to spend at least a few hours walking its bustling streets, tasting its amazing foods, buying some cool souvenirs, and playing some really fun arcade games. The night market has plenty to offer, so a good 2-3 hours should be reserved. The Shilin Night Market is open from 4pm to midnight, giving you plenty of time visit. If you you aim to fully enjoy the market then I recommend getting there early as it is usually very busy after 7 pm. If you don't mind the large crowds then feel free to visit at anytime.

Shopping in the Shilin Night Market

The Shilin Night Market is packed with shops and stalls which sell anything from clothes to hand-crafted goods and souvenirs. The night market is one of the best places to shop in Taipei. You can find everything in this bustling shopper's paradise. They even have pet shops in the Shilin Night Market! So whatever it is you are looking for they will likely sell it here.

*Shops and stalls selling a variety of items in the Shilin Night Market*

There are some pretty cool souvenirs here and you can find almost everything from every other night market combined. Overall it's a really great place to shop and the prices are good too.

Cool Things to Buy at the Shilin Night Market

Taiwanese Tea

Taiwanese Souvenirs
Gadgets and small electronics
Stationery
Toys
Ornaments
Clothes
Shoes

Best Food at the Shilin Night Market

The streets of the Shilin Market are filled with endless food choices. Vendors are dotted all around the Night Market and are very easy to find. The market's easy access to street food and snacks is one of its best attributes. The food court downstairs might suit you better than the stalls if you're not a fan of walking around and eating. There are also some more traditional sit-down restaurants if you need a dinner break.

*Food vendor selling baked pork dumplings in the Shilin Night Market*

Stinky Tofu

Stinky Tofu is one of the most popular foods in the night market. For those of you who are wondering what this dish is, it is a 6 month fermented tofu dish that basically stinks. Some can't even bare the smell whilst others love it.

I tried stinky tofu on my first trip to the Shilin night market and I have to admit it's not really my kind of thing. However, many Taiwanese locals do love Stinky Tofu and believe it is one of the best foods in Taiwan and if you're interested the night market is a great place to try it.

Ji Pai - Fried Chicken

Ji Pai is a very popular Taiwanese street food that translates to Chicken Flat in English. This large piece of flat and battered deep-fried chicken is a must. The chicken has a spicey powder added to it which gives it an amazing flavor but don't worry it's not too hot, and most people can handle it.

*Hot Star Chicken, a famous fried chicken vendor which sells Ji Pai in Shilin*

Hot-Star Fried Chicken is a very popular stall in Shilin which serves Ji Pai. They serve some of the best deep-fried chicken you'll find anywhere on earth and it is one of my personal favorites when it comes to night market foods.

Oyster Omelette

The Oyster omelette can be found at stalls in the food court. This dish is famous amongst locals and many visit Shilin night market just to try Oyster omelettes. From all the food on offer at Shilin this is one of the most popular. A food stall named Zhong Cheng Hao located in the food court is said to be one of the best to serve oyster omelettes in Taipei.

*Street food vendors at Shilin Night Market*

Hot Pot

Hot Pot is a large soup which can be filled with a variety of vegetables meat and seafood of your choice. In some restaurants you share hotpot and in others you can get a small personal hot pot. There are spicey options and more mild options so the choice is all yours.

If you would like to try hotpot then I recommend visiting Double Happiness Hotpot or Gobo. There are of course plenty of other hotpot restaurants scattered through these lively streets and the market is generally a great place to try it.

Bubble Tea

Bubble tea is an obvious choice on any night market food list and there is no shortage in Shilin. For those of you who have never tried this delicious drink, Bubble tea is a milk tea with chewy tapioca balls. This Taiwanese drink has recently become known worldwide, but make no mistake the best Bubble Tea shops are still in Taiwan.

Some great bubble tea stores are 50 Lan, CoCo, Comebuy and Truedan. Another one of my favourites is Ten Ren's Tea which is actually a traditional Chinese teashop that also sells bubble tea in some of its stores.

Wheel Cakes

Wheel Cakes are yet another Taiwanese dessert which is just as good as Bubble Tea. These are small cakes that have a pancake on either side and a custard filling in the middle. You can choose different fillings for these tasty pancakes but custard is the original flavor. Wheel Cakes can be found at many food stalls throughout the market.

Arcade games and Leisure at the Shilin Night Market

One of the best parts of the Shilin Night Market is the huge variety of games and arcades. Visitors can enjoy traditional arcade games and amusement park-style games. Most vendors allow players to win prizes and it's actually not too difficult to win something at some of the stands.

*Taiwanese board game where people can win prizes*

There are so many game stalls to choose from. If you want to pop some balloons with a dart or catch a toy fish. There are heaps of fun to be had here and this is probably my favorite part about the Night Market.

*Arcade crane claw games with in Shilin Night Market*

After visiting countless night markets in Taipei the Shilin Night Market still remains to be one of my favorites. This attraction is in the hearts of locals, tourists, and ex-pats. Just about anyone looking for great food, endless entertainment, and awesome shops should pay a visit to the Shilin Night Market.