10 days in Taiwan. I think even a single day of staying there is enough for me to have lingering feelings over this beautiful country. Truth be told, it is my third time in Taiwan over the past 3 years. However, this is the first time that I am enjoying a free and easy tour there out of the clutches of SAF. I hate to say it, but even watching the annoying 夜市人生 show which has been showing on television since forever has made me reminisce over my time in Taiwan. I guess the best way to commemorate the trip is to do several blog posts about it.

 
What better way to start things off by talking about the good food in the famous night markets of Taiwan. To commence, Raohe Night Market will be my first pick.

Raohe Night Market is ranked one the best few night markets in Taiwan and for good reason. Its sheer size and vast food varieties make this an impressive place to explore. Not only is the food in Raohe delectable and eye-catchy, cheap deals are rife in this venue. Shopping might not be a specialty that this night market provides but it still packs a punch in delivering attractive deals for locals and tourists alike. What is deserving of mention, is definitely the food that this place offers.

Here are 8 of the best from Raohe Night Market.

How to get there from Taipei:

Taipei -> Take the 松山 line to 松山 station. Raohe Night Market is right beside the station



Shark's Fins Stall(北海鱼翅羹)


A step into this shop after ordering their soup showed much evidence on how well received it is to many celebrities. Pictures of different celebrities are ever present and pasted on the walls on the interior of the shop.


However popular the dish might be to celebrities, it does not mean that the dish is good tasting. In this case, I feel the soup certainly lived up to all the hype generated by those pictures on the walls of the shop.


The soup has a host of different ingredients including fish cakes, prawns, meatballs, radish as well as a huge 鱼翅羹. Its soup portion is suffice to fill your stomach and its taste is akin to sharks fin but with a slightly different flavour - not as starchy but still well brewed enough to provide a hearty meal.


The soup comes at NT60 and NT120 for the small and big bowl respectively.

Muah Chee


It has been awhile since I last tried Muah Chee, a term to describe a kind of elastic springy cake coated with peanuts as can be seen in the picture. In Raohe Night Market alone, there are probably around 3-4 shops that sells this dish which is commonly spotted in a Singapore Pasar Malam as well.


Freshly made from the off, the muah chee must be eaten straightaway to taste its texture and flavour. If left to stand for even a few minutes, the muah chee might not be as springy and could lack the full original flavour. The peanut coatings over it certainly makes the dish rich in flavour which irks you to want more of it.

A set of around 6-7 pieces of muah chee costs around NT40.

Tutu(状元糕)

As I walked past plentiful of yam ball selling shops in this particular night market, the first perception I had was one of tutus that one can find in a typical Pasar Malam in Singapore. The closest copy that I chanced upon was this 状元糕 shop in the night market.


The taste bears a close resemblance to those found in Singapore and it provided a nice warm feeling that had me thinking of home. The 状元糕 comes in 2 flavours namely the peanut and sesame flavours with the sesame flavour edging this mini contest due to its stronger imprints on my taste buds. This was a decent small dish that is certainly worth a try.

It costs around NT15 just to get a single piece of the cake.

Crepe


I have never had a proper good impression with crepes especially for the ones sold in Singapore. Thin, overpriced layers on the exterior and minute fillings in the interior has never been well received by me because of how insufficient it may be for a good meal.


However, this crepe in Raohe night market is generous with the amount of fillings it provides and it even has a decent amount of fruit toppings over it such as kiwis and strawberries. Tremendous is the word I would use to describe the amount of whipped cream given in this crepe. The mango and kiwi toppings are highly recommended.

This stall which is the only stall in Raohe that sells crepes has a vast variety and you would be spoilt for choice over what you want to have for a meal or even a snack to delight oneself.

The price range for the crepes are from NT80-120.

Chee Cheong fan

Chee Cheong fan is a well-loved traditional dish due to its softness and sweet sauce that is easy not just on the eye for viewing, but also easy on the throat for one to bite and consume. This stall sells good Chee Cheong fan mainly due to its sweet sauce base. Each serving has around 10 slices and within each slice is a concealed shrimp that is fresh to savour. So imagine a plate having 10 slices...you would have exactly 10 pieces of shrimps to try.


The Chee Cheong Fan is priced between NT60-65 depending on the choice of flavour.

Taro ball

Apart from the usual 卤肉饭, milk tea and chicken cutlet food varieties that have become synonymous with the Taiwan country name, there has also been one other dish that has been making a statement within Singapore that is popular in Taiwan as well.


It is none other than the Taro/black ball. The Taro ball from its country of origin has a way larger serving and it is being sold at NT60 for 5 toppings and an ice cream shave base topped off with black sugar(黑糖) sauce in this shop. The toppings I chose on the day were the sweet potato, yam, grass jelly, flour cake(粉粿) and together with the black sugar sauce, is perfect for those with a sweet tooth.


Due to its large serving portion, it could be an issue trying to finish it up especially after a long walk and binge eating session in this night market.

This however, is full value for NT60 and a certain must try if you happen to go to Taiwan.

Mentai


There they sit. Begging one to consume and savour them. Mentai that is being sold here in Raohe Night Market is coated with pepper and a sauce that enhances the flavour of the tender meat. Its appealing appearance matches the taste that it is able to provide.



One mentai costs NT40 whilst 3 would cost NT100.
 
Pancakes

Remembering my studying days back in JC would make me think of those Mr.Bean pancakes that I used to purchase as a snack as I mugged for my exams. These pancakes taste particularly similar to the ones in Mr Bean but they do sell a unique flavour in which the pancakes are filled with ice cream. Unfortunately, I did not get to try it as that flavour was not available the day I patronised the shop and it kills me to know that I could have tried something spectacular.


Whatever the case, the pancakes come in a variety of flavours namely, red bean, taro, chocolate, cheese and butter just to name a few. The pancakes are soft while the edges are a tad crispy. The flavours even come along with pearls.


Certainly worth a go at just NT15-20 per piece.


There are so many tantalizing looking dishes that I want to try such as the steamed crabs at NT80 per piece and the lamb soup which costs around NT50 but the human stomach can only take that much.


I simply just cannot try them all. Raohe night market definitely packs a punch when it comes to delivering tasty blows to your stomach.

Beyond the food are some cheap deals like caps being sold only at 300 as compared to the usual 350 at the other night market venues. There is even a shop that sells merchandise at only NT19 which equates to less than SGD$1. Simply ridiculous.


To wrap things up, Raohe is a must go-to place in Taiwan.



So with that, Peanut has left a marker on another food place.

Stay tuned for more adventures!

Signing off,
KY