Jingmei Night Market

In Taipei where the prices of land and housing are high, night markets have a different operation mode from traditional ones of early Taiwan. Whether it is Shilin Night Market or Raohe Street Night Market, their lack of hospitality and uniqueness is obvious, not to mention the food. Located in the area far from downtown, Jingmei Night Market does not have the issues of excessive rent rise or resident protest that would force vendors of traditional cuisine to move away or agree with certain compromises. These vendors have gathered here for years and accumulated numerous loyal customers. Many of them often wait in lines just for a taste of delicacies, such as Shanghai Pan-fried Bun (上海生煎包), Mama Goose Soup Noodles (鵝媽媽切仔麵), Tseng’s Sesame Oil Chicken (景美曾家麻油雞) and Achang Thin Noodles (阿昌麵線). Despite people waiting in lines, Jingmei Night Market has fewer crowds than downtown area, allowing visitors to stroll comfortably. Notwithstanding the nice food, youngsters might have less fun of shopping here as the common styles are close to those mostly favoured by elder women. However, its convenient location near MRT station enables foreign visitors to get a better understanding of the culture of traditional Taiwanese night market.