Keelung Night Market: Welcome to Taiwan’s Snacking Culture

The northern port city of Keelung is known for its night market (Miao Kou) at the mouth of a grand old temple. It’s so famous that the Taiwanese head up north just to try the food before shuttling back on 45-minute train to Taipei.

At first whiff and glance, it’s an amazing array of food.

Sadly, it’ll spoil you for other night markets. After all, having seen and experienced one, you’ve experienced them all. Now… where’s a good restaurant to try ‘em all?

It’s like a massive deep-fried dumpling with loads of stuff in it.

What’s inside that package.

Glutinous Rice stuffed into pig intestines and steamed. Reminds me of the Korean Soon Dae.

Said pig intestines cut up and served with a dollop of tomato sauce.

My first meal – lamb stew on rice with thick soup. The rice was good, skip the soup.

Stalls vie for customers.

She’s coaxing a meatball out of a bamboo steamer.

Prawn with chunks of pork wrapped in glutinous flour and steamed until chewy and stretchy. Goes well with the even thicker sauce and cilantro.

“You Fan”: Oily Rice. Watch her fluff up the rice like she’s doing someone’s hair!

More glutinous rice with preserved sausage, meats and oil.

Oyster Omelette: Just like the one in Singapore but with better oysters.

You take a basin, pick what you want, the hawker will chop it up, toss it with pepper, sesame oil and chilli powder before stuff the mix into a bag.

Just another day in the Night Market