Shida Night Market — Attraction in Taipei

Shida Night Market, nestled near the National Taiwan Normal University, offers a unique and slightly more relaxed vibe compared to Taipei’s larger night markets. This spot is a blend of trendy fashion, local food stalls, and a more youthful, artsy atmosphere that caters well to students and young professionals.

The food scene at Shida is diverse and flavorful. You can find everything from classic Taiwanese snacks like stinky tofu and bubble tea to creative fusion foods and international bites. Some standout eats include crispy fried chicken, dumplings with inventive fillings, and scallion pancake wraps. While Shida may lack the overwhelming size and selection of other famous markets like Shilin, it makes up for it with unique, carefully curated vendors that make it easier to navigate and sample different options without getting lost in a crowd.

In addition to food, the market has a great selection of affordable, trendy boutiques. Here, you’ll find plenty of local, stylish clothing, accessories, and jewelry that stand out from the mass-produced items often found in larger shopping districts. It’s a great spot if you're looking to pick up something fashionable and unique without breaking the bank.

The overall ambiance is laid-back and vibrant, and the area feels youthful and artistic. Given its location near a university, the crowd is mostly students, making it lively without being overwhelming. However, it's worth noting that this market is smaller than others, so if you’re looking for an extensive night market experience, Shida may feel more like a cozy,...

Queued for the pineapple bun and "sheng jian bao". Quite tasty and worth the queue. Don't worry, you won't need to wait long for these two food stalls, the staff are very efficient. At most the wait is about 10mins.

Suggest that you grab a drink or tea from other store and join the queue.

For "sheng jian bao", if you are wondering like me how to join the queue, there is a small machine on the right side of the shop, pull a ticket. Wait for your number to be called and tell the boss what you want. 5 pieces for NT$35 and 1 box (12 pieces) for NT$80. If you missed your queue number, go over and tell the boss. He will take your order nonetheless.

This night market is unlike the rest. Due to it's location near university, there are more shops selling clothing rather than food. Lots of young people shopping there. Also, it feels like there are more locals than tourist there.

You won't be able to find an official sign or sign post to lead you to the night market. Take the location marker on Google map. It...

I spent an evening wandering around Shida Night Market, and it felt like a hidden gem tucked away in Taipei. Don't get me wrong, there were definitely tourists like me snapping photos, but it had a much more local vibe than some of the other night markets I've seen.

Maybe it's because it's right by the university, but the whole place buzzed with a youthful energy. There were stalls selling trendy clothes and accessories next to hole-in-the-wall eateries. I ended up grabbing some insanely good fried chicken from a little stand that seemed to be run by a friendly couple.

It wasn't overwhelmingly huge, which was kind of nice for a change. I could easily browse everything in under an hour, stopping to take in the sights and sounds. Overall, Shida Night Market was a cool, laid-back experience, perfect for escaping the tourist crowds and getting a taste...